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Financial matters

What are the costs involved in studying abroad and how can you finance your stay? Avoid unexpected expenses by researching financial matters thoroughly in advance.

Budget

Make an overview of anticipated expenses and sources of income, to make sure you have sufficient funds for your studies abroad. Consider the following:

  • Tuition fees
  • Travel expenses (to/from your destination and during your stay)
  • Rent
  • Other living expenses (food & drink, clothing, etc.)
  • Visas and residence permits
  • Vaccinations, medication, health certificates
  • Insurances
  • Telephone costs etc.
  • Student finance
  • Scholarships
  • Language tests
  • Study costs (books etc.)
  • Sports/recreation

Take financial risks into consideration

Studying abroad is always at your own risk, also in financial terms*. You are responsible for any costs incurred for your stay abroad, even if your trip has to be cancelled or cut short due to safety reasons.

*Exceptions may be made for activities abroad that are a compulsory part of your study programme. 

Precautions

  • Buy a flight ticket with a flexible departure date or purchase cancellation insurance, just in case you have to change your plans. 
  • If your destination becomes unsafe whilst you are abroad, you may have to come back to The Netherlands. Any costs incurred are your own responsibility so make sure to take out a good insurance policy. Check with your insurer exactly what is covered depending on the colour code of your destination.
  • Be aware that any scholarships you are awarded will be cancelled or stopped if your activity  abroad is cancelled or cut short due to health and safety reasons. This might mean you have to wholly or partially repay your scholarship. Check the rules with your scholarship provider.

Student finance

Under certain circumstances you may be eligible for Dutch student finance and travel subsidy during your stay abroad. You can submit an application via the DUO website (in Dutch).

Scholarships

There are a number of scholarships available for study, research and internships abroad. If you have completed your studies but want to do an additional programme abroad, for example a master’s, there are also scholarship options.

Points to remember

  • Before applying for a scholarship, check carefully that you meet all the criteria.
  • You can apply for multiple scholarships. One scholarship alone is generally not enough to finance your whole stay.
  •  Some scholarships may only be requested once during your academic career. Keep this in mind if you want to go abroad during both your bachelor’s and master’s programmes.
  • Apply on time: many scholarships have early deadlines!

Find a scholarship

On the scholarships page you can find all the scholarships managed by Leiden University. Use the filters to search for scholarships that are relevant for you.

Find a scholarship

Worldwide

Beursopener (mainly in Dutch)
Global Scholarships

Within Europe

European Funding Guide
Scholarshipportal EU

Brazil

GCUB International Mobility Program

Canada

Scholarships in Canada

China

China Scholarship Council
Schwarzman Scholars

Germany

German Academic Exchange Studies (DAAD)

Italy

Study in Italy

Japan

Study in Japan
Japan Study Support
Japan Student Service Organization

Taiwan

Study in Taiwan
Taiwan Embassy Taiwan

United Kingdom

British Council

United States

Fulbright
Dutch2USA Internship Grant

There are also sources of private funding available. The student counsellors can provide you with further information, or take a look in the ‘funds book’ which can be found in the University library.

Funding for students with a disability

If you will incur additional costs while studying abroad due to a disability, you can request additional funding. 

  • Are you going to a European country? Request additional funding from the Erasmus+ programme.
  • Are you going to a country outside Europe? Request additional funding via Fenestra Disability Centre.

No funding for non-approved activities

You are only eligible for funding if your activity abroad has been approved in advance by the university. In other words, you must meet all the following conditions:

  • You have gained approval to undertake the activity in the context of your studies from your study programme or faculty. 
  • Your activity is entered and approved in the study abroad portal;
  • You are permitted to travel to the destination in question according to Leiden University’s travel policy.

You can find out how to gain approval from your study programme or faculty and how to use the study abroad portal on the pages about exchange, studying abroad independently and other activities abroad.

Do not go without permission

If you do not meet all the conditions for funding but you go abroad for study-related activities anyway, you will not receive a scholarship or any kind of funding via Leiden University. If you have already obtained a scholarship or funding via Leiden University, you will be obliged to pay it back. In the case of exchange programmes, you may also be obliged to pay tuition fees to your host institution.

International Discount Card

With an International Student Identity Card (ISIC card) you can get discount on a range of products and services in more than 130 countries, including flight tickets. Purchase your card from ISIC Netherlands.

Photo: Lana Liem

Sustainable Humanities Internship Fund

The Sustainable Humanities Internship Fund has been set up especially for students doing an internship. The fund provides an allowance for the travel and living expenses that an internship outside of Europe entails.

More information

Uhlenbeck scholarship programme

The Uhlenbeck scholarship programme has been set up especially for research master and master students who are doing mandatory fieldwork abroad. The programme provides a (supplementary) scholarship for your stay.

More information

Onderzoeksbeurzen NIP (Sint-Petersburg)

The Netherlands Institute in Saint Petersburg (NIP) offers a number of research scholarships to MA students, recent graduates PhD students. You can find information about these scholarships at the NIP website.

Deadline

Requests should be made before 1 September or before 1 April.

Vreedefonds

MA students of Russian and Eurasian Studies can also apply for scholarships at the Vreedefonds. See the website of the Vreedefonds for more information (in Dutch).

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