Admission requirements

Admission as an exchange or study abroad student is based on a number of factors.

1. Nomination by home university (only for students from partner universities)

• Not applicable for independent fee-paying study abroad students, or if you are applying for a traineeship, research project or internship.
• Be aware that some exchange agreements are limited to a specific faculty or discipline, which means you will not be able to follow courses at other faculities/institutes. Check with your home university coordinator whether there are limitations on the type of courses you may follow.

2. Academic requirements

• You should have completed at least two years of university education.
• You must have a GPA of at least 3.2 out of 4.0 (or equivalent).
• Your academic background must be relevant to the courses you are applying for. For some courses, specific prerequisite knowledge is required – see the prospectus for details.

3. English language requirements

The minimum test scores required are:

• TOEFL: 90 (internet-based) 
  • We do not accept the following types of test: TOEFL My Best™ scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials™  or institutional tests such as ITP.
  • We do not accept the TOEFL IBT Home Edition™, except in the following situations only:
    • You took the test before 1 Sept 2022 (and it is not more than 2 years old),
    • or you are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres are inaccessible or closed due to unsafe conditions in a country.
• IELTS Academic: 6.5 (on paper or on computer)
  • We do not accept IELTS Academic online
  • We do not accept IELTS General Training or IELTS Indicator
• Cambridge English Exam: C1 Advanced with a minimum score of 180, or C2 Proficiency.

Other criteria

Test results may be no more than two years old. 

Exemptions

Submitting an English language test result is not required if: 

• You are an Erasmus+ applicant and have been granted exemption from submitting an English test by your home university coordinator.
  Note that Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility students are not exempted.
• You have completed your secondary education in the USA, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada), Singapore, South-Africa or Malta. 
• You have an (English-taught) International Baccalaureate secondary school diploma.

Note that Leiden University has strict measures in place for the verification of language test results. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they submit only authentic test results.