Welcome to Leiden University
Will you soon be joining Leiden University? Here you can find all the information you need to get your studies off to a good start.
Joining a bachelor's or master's programme?
Find out what you need to know and arrange by clicking on your faculty or study programme tab.
Following exchange or study-abroad courses?
First, select your Exchange - Faculty at the top of the page as follows:
Then click on your Exchange - Faculty tab to find out all you need to know and arrange.
Following courses at more than one faculty? For course-specific information, select the relevant exchange faculty. For general information, select any of your exchange faculties.
Welcome to the Leiden University Medical Center. We hope you are excited to start with the master’s Biomedical Sciences! Here’s an overview of preparations to ensure you get off to a flying start!
What to arrange before your studies begin
On Monday 2 September, the programme will kick off with an introduction on campus.
An introduction week is the best way to get to know your new city, student life and your fellow students.
As a student of Leiden University you’ll receive a student account (ULCN account). This gives you access to the university’s systems and work stations. You'll first need to activate your ULCN account.
Students of Leiden University have access to the Eduroam network. Login with your ULCN account one time, and after that it will connect automatically (at all universities in Europe).
Your LU card is your university ID card. It gives you access to a range of facilities. Make sure to request your LU card before starting your studies.
In addition to your LU-card, you will need a LUMC badge. To receive it, fill out the badge request form you received by mail (only for students new to the LUMC).
For identification purposes, it is mandatory for all LUMC students and employees to wear their LUMC badge visibly. You will also need your LUMC badge for other purposes, such as accessing entrance doors and printing.
Make sure you know where you have to be and when on your first day.
In the Prospectus you will find all detailed information about the courses you will follow, including the learning objectives, assessment method and literature per subject. You will also find the registration codes for courses and exams here.
Compulsory for all components
You must enrol for all components of your study programme, such as lectures, seminars and exams. This applies to both compulsory elements and elective credits. If you are not enrolled, you may not participate. You can enrol via MyStudymap.
Exceptions
Are you a full-time first-year bachelor's student, are you following a pre-master programme, or are you following courses whilst being registered at another Dutch university? If so, different enrolment procedures apply. You will receive further information by email.
Read more about course and exam enrolment via MyStudymap
Study material will be available in the electronic learning environment: Brightspace
A laptop is required. You will need it to access study materials during (online) lectures, workgroups and seminars. We recommend a laptop with the following specifications:
Operating system: Windows 10/11 (up to date)
Browser: Chrome (up to date)
At least a dual core processor
At least 8GB RAM
A LAN networkcable (for a stable internet connection)
A minimal upload/download speed of 4Mbps
It is possible to buy your hardware and software at reduced cost via Surfspot using your ULCN-account.
During your studies, you should have access to the complete Office software package. You can download the Office package for free through the University:
- Go to the Office portal on your device (portal.office.com)
- Log in with your ULCN credentials: ULCNstudentID@vuw.leidenuniv.nl or ULCNusername@vuw.leidenuniv.nl and your ULCN password
- Click “Install Office” > “Office 365 apps” and follow the instructions
Leiden University offers you software discounts, such as Adobe or Microsoft products. You can get these at Surfspot by logging in with your ULCN account. Please know that the LUMC uses the UK-varieties of software as a standard. You will receive your ULCN credentials before starting your studies in September.
Please refer to the Student Affairs website for information on obtaining housing. We advise you to start looking for housing as soon as you can.
If you want to change the requirements set by the study programme, as you have already acquired the knowledge taught during one of the courses, then you can petition for an exemption. Your petition has to be supported with substantial evidence.
Please note that the exemption procedure can take up to eight weeks. If your exemption request concerns a course taught early in the academic year, then be sure to fill in the exemption form as soon as possible.
Code of conduct and confidentiality
The University and the LUMC regard fraud and plagiarism as serious offences. Whether it is intentional or unintentional, it is forbidden to present someone else’s work or ideas as your own without full acknowledgement. Examples include: cheating at exams, copying passages from books/articles into your work without referencing, or using a report written by a fellow student. The Board of Examiners is entitled to withdraw your right to take exams for a year, or even remove you from the Master’s programme. Participation in fraud or plagiarism can also lead to sanctions.
The best way to avoid fraud and plagiarism is to learn and employ the principles of good academic practice. These principles are taught in our academic skills courses and you can consult our library staff, who can help you with your questions on plagiarism and how to avoid it.
As a LUMC student you will be in contact with patients and/or have access to patient records and hospital facilities. This is private data, which is why we require you to sign the confidentiality agreement (all students)
You can read more about confidentiality in the protocols mentioned in the agreement.
Your rights and obligations as a Biomedical Sciences student are stated in the Course and Examination Regulation, as well as the Rules and Regulations, so make sure to read them here.
Support and advice
Student mentoring will be offered to each student as part of the programme. During the beginning of the first year, a student mentor will have several meetings with the mentor group.
Reach out to our study advisor if you need help with your study planning, organization and study skills. You can also reach out to our study advisor in case of exceptional (personal) circumstances, such as a disability, top-level sport, board membership, or a PhD-track. Our Studyadvisor can help you in different ways:
- Extra supervision;
- Study delay registration;
- Referrals (to e.g. student counsellors, student psychologists);
- Mediation for extra facilities (e.g. additional time for examinations, examination papers in a larger font)
What you discuss with your study advisor is confidential to the Study Advice team. Data is stored and handled securely, and records can only be viewed by the study advice team. We will not disclose any information about you to anyone without your consent. Do not hesitate to contact the study advisor.
You can always schedule an appointment with the study advisor yourself, via this link.
During your time as a student you will probably face a variety of challenges. Both in terms of studying and personal development, you might need a little help from time to time. Find out how you can boost your wellbeing and who you can turn to for support. Read more about wellbeing
We offer a wide range of disability support to assist you through your studies. This can include physical or sensory disabilities, long term medical conditions, specific learning conditions (e.g. dyslexia, ADD) as well as developmental conditions (e.g. autistic spectrum disorder). We can support you in a variety of ways, but we need to discuss how your disability affects you in order to make appropriate adjustments. Please get in touch with us as soon as possible, preferably before starting with your studies, by filling out the form ‘Request for extra facilities’.
Get to know key facilities
Brightspace is Leiden University’s online learning environment.
MyTimetable & MyStudymap
In Leiden University’s student portal you can organise your studies with ease. From enrolling for courses and exams to checking your schedule and grades.
Read more about MyTimetable & MyStudymap
Here, on the student website, you can find a wide range of practical information about your studies.
Select your study programme or exchange faculty
When you first visit the website, you will be asked to select your study programme or exchange faculty to continue.
- By selecting your study programme or exchange faculty, you can access information that is specific to your particular programme and faculty.
- By visiting the site as a guest, you can only access general, university-wide information.
The website will remember your selection. This means you won’t have to make a selection next time you log in from the same device.
Tabs: from general to specific
If you have selected your study programme or exchange faculty, you will sometimes see more than one tab on a page:
- The tab on the left contains general information.
- The tab in the middle contains information from your faculty.
- The tab on the right contains information for students on your study programme, or for exchange students at this faculty.
Your student card is your proof of registration as a student of Leiden University. The student card is a digital card and can be found in the University Leiden app after activation.
All the details of your studies are recorded in uSis. From your first registration as a student until your graduation.
As a student of Leiden University you will be issued with a university email address: uMail. All correspondence from the university will be sent to this address. You can set up your uMail account so that all mails will be forwarded to your own email address.
The indispensable app for Leiden University students. Here you can find all your personal study information in one place. Log in once and access your schedule, results, available computers and university news anytime and anyplace.
Enjoy student life to the fullest
By joining an association you'll meet lots of people and get more out of student life. As well as student and study associations, there are also a range of social associations in Leiden and The Hague, for example sports, religious or cultural associations.
Being a student at the LUMC means that you are automatically a member of the M.F.L.S., this is free of charge and without any obligations. Being a member of the M.F.L.S. offers you a variety of advantages:
- Discount on books and instruments bought through the M.F.L.S. web shop;
- Access to member-only activities: M.F.L.S. parties, gala, or study and ski trips;
- Our own bar ‘HePatho’ with a wide selection of beverages, food, and activities.
You can follow us here:
Not interested in being a M.F.L.S. member? Let us know by sending an e-mail to secretaris@mfls.nl. Do you want to remain a member but not recieve the newsletter? Let us know via this link.
The JVT is formed by a group of five to seven Master students. The JVT is the link between students, teachers and staff of Biomedical Sciences. By representing the Master’s students in important educational committees, the JVT helps to evaluate and improve the programme of master BMS .
The JVT also organizes activities such as drinks, parties and symposia. Preferably, at least one of the members of the JVT is an international student. If you would like to be part of the JVT, or if you would like to receive more information, please contact lidBW@mfls.nl.
As a student of Leiden University, you have access to a wide range of affordable sports via the University Sport Centre (USC) in Leiden and The Hague.