Universiteit Leiden

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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?

Find out what you need to know and arrange by clicking on your exchange faculty tab.

Following courses at more than one faculty? For course-specific information, select the relevant exchange faculty (top of the page). For general information, select any of your exchange faculties

Start of the academic year 2024-2025

We look forward to welcoming you to our institute in the upcoming academic year. Below you can find all the information you need to prepare yourself well.

What to arrange before your studies begin

An introduction week is the best way to get to know your new city, student life and your fellow students.

Read more about introduction weeks

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.

Read more about ULCN accounts

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.

Read more about the LU card

Make sure you know where you have to be and when on your first day.

Take a look at your timetable

We are still working on the schedules for next year. As soon as they are final, we will publish them in MyTimetable.

Details about the specific courses you will follow in the first year, can be found in the Prospectus. Here you can also find CADS bachelor’s curriculum and required reading materials.

Prospectus CADS 2024-2025

In your first year you do not have to register for your CADS courses and examinations: we will do this for you. This also goes for the re-takes. You will receive more information about this during the introduction day.

Just before the start of the academic year, study association Itiwana arranges a book sale where you can buy new study books at the lowest price: with a 20% discount compared to their regular prices.

Only members of Itiwana can get the book discount. The cost of the Itiwana membership is lower than the book discount, so becoming a member saves you money. Read more about becoming a member of Itiwana or sign up directly.

Don’t forget to complete our online matching module, if you have not yet done so. All students are required to complete our online matching module before they can finalise their registration.

Finish your Matching Module

International student? Start preparing!

International students coming to Leiden requires lots of preparation. Here you will find all the information you need to make a good start in the CADS programme.

Prepare for your Stay website

For a list of things to take care of before you leave, please carefully read the Prepare for your Stay website with information about housing, visa, insurance, registrations and more.

Prepare your stay

Support and advice

In your first year of studies you will have a tutor, who will teach workgroups to help you familiarise yourself with university life. You will also have peer mentors (students of the second or third year of the bachelor’s programme). The peer mentor programme focuses on the social aspect of your studies. Your mentor will help you find your way and guide you through the challenges you might face in your first year at university. Your tutor (a teacher) and your mentor (a student) will keep in touch with each other on a regular basis.

  • Caro Aalderink Study advisor

    You can contact the Study Adviser with questions about:
    ·        personal circumstances which are having an impact on your studies;
    ·        your academic progress and planning;
    ·        Binding Study Advice;
    ·        academic delay;
    ·        your choice of study programme and your future career path.

The Student Services Centre FSW can help you with questions about timetables, grades, study results, etc.

  • Kiara Kennedy Study adviser

    You can contact the Education Secretary with questions regarding: 

    • Internships
    • Exchange programmes
    • General information and questions about the Bachelor, Master and Pre-Master Programmes

Studying with a disability may require additional time and effort. The Fenestra Disability Centre is part of Plexus Student Centre. On their website you can find out what support is available at Leiden University so you can consider what might be helpful in your particular situation.

Website Fenestra Disability Centre

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

Get to know key facilities

Here, on the student website, you can find a wide range of practical information about your studies.

Select your study programme

When you first visit the website, you will be asked to select your study programme to continue.

  • By selecting your study programme, 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, you will sometime 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 from your study programme.

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.

Read more about uSis

Brightspace is Leiden University’s online learning environment.

Read more about Brightspace

We use offline and online forms of education. Our new online learning environment is called Brightspace. Here, instructors place additional information about their course. To get an idea how it works, watch this video about Brightspace.

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.

Read more about uMail

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.

Download the app

 

Get more out of your student days

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.  

Read more about associations

Itiwana Logo

Itiwana

Itiwana is the study association of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology students in Leiden. We are the link between the students and the institute. We look after our students interests by selling study books, publishing magazines and organising study-related activities.

WDO logo

WDO

The WDO is an Interfaculty Ethnological Association. In 1928, students of ethnology -what is now called ‘’anthropology’’- felt the need to expand their conversations on anthropological subjects outside of the lecture halls. Thus, the WDO was founded. Over the years, the main concept of WDO has stayed the same; students from Leiden University meeting up on a monthly basis to discuss anthropological themes.   

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.

#LeidenAnthropology goes social

Stay up to date with the latest news of the CADS Institute by following our socials:

  • Read inspiring anthropology blogs. Our staff and professors write about anthropology in daily life.
  • Become a member of the Discord group to get to know your fellow anthropology students. You can find the invite in your email. 
  • Connect with  our Institute's LinkedIn and Facebook pageKeep up to date with news of the Institute, such as seminars, grants and (student) job vacancies.
  • Follow leidenculturalanthropology on Instagram and become part of the community online. 
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