Via Leiden University

Every semester, Leiden University reserves a number of rooms for international students via DUWO, a local housing agency. As there is limited availability, you are highly advised to request housing as early as possible!

Fall 2024: housing full

The number of housing applications received has now exceeded the number of rooms available. You can therefore no longer request housing via Leiden University for fall 2024. Instead, please look for your own accommodation by following the tips and advice on the finding housing yourself page. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

Who is eligible?

Accommodation is intended for new short-stay international students who are joining Leiden University for an exchange or degree programme. The maximum rental contract duration is one year and extensions are not possible. As priority is given to short-stay students, we advise students staying for longer than one year to seek housing themselves via other routes. See our Finding Housing Yourself page for advice.

Housing via Leiden University is not intended for students' partners or family members. If your partner or family will accompany you to the Netherlands, we advise you to search for your own housing well in advance.

Deadlines and limited availability

Accommodation is offered on a first-come first-served basis, according to the date we receive your housing fee. Due to limited availability, we cannot guarantee that there will be sufficient accommodation available for all students who request housing before the deadline.

Deadlines:

1 June: for studies commencing in August/September
15 November: for studies commencing in in January/February

We will let you know if you requested housing on time and are eligible for accommodation two weeks after the housing deadline.

How does it work?

Students who request housing and pay the housing fee in time will be granted access to a housing reservation portal. Here you can find all the accommodation set aside by DUWO for Leiden University’s international students.

Apply for admission to a degree or exchange/study abroad programme at Leiden University.
In the online application system (uSis), indicate that you want to request housing.
Pay the €285 housing fee as instructed in uSis as soon as possible.
Two weeks after the housing application deadline, we will send you an email letting you know that either:
- you applied in time and will soon be given access to the housing reservation portal, or
- too many students applied before you, so you can choose to either request a refund of your housing fee, or be put on a waiting list and given access to the housing reservation portal if other students withdraw.
  
  Please patiently await this email as we are unable to provide details before this date.
Soon after, we will begin sending emails with log-in details for the ROOM-University housing reservation portal. Here you can find all the accommodation set aside by DUWO for Leiden University’s international students.

Log-in details will be sent in batches
Students who paid the housing fee earliest will receive their log-in details first, followed by the next batch and so on. Remember to check your emails (and junk mail) frequently from the housing deadline onwards!
Immediately after receiving your log-in details, log into the ROOM-University housing reservation portal and reserve your accommodation. Be quick! Remember that other students will be reserving rooms at the same time as you. And the longer you wait, the more students will be granted access to the portal so the less choice you will have.
After reserving your accommodation, make sure you have sufficient funds available to make your first payment. Before signing your tenancy agreement, DUWO will ask you to make an initial payment that includes 3 months rent. See the DUWO - Leiden University website for details.

Once you have reserved your room, you will receive information from DUWO on further procedures and payments. For further details see:

On the DUWO terms and conditions page you can find information on matters such as tenancy regulations, cancellation policies and contract termination and extensions.

If you decide not to join Leiden University or you find your own place to stay, remember to cancel your housing request right away!

If you cancel before the housing deadline, your housing fee can be refunded.
If you cancel after the housing deadline, your housing fee is non-refundable in all cases. Even if, for example, you are not admitted or fail to meet your admission conditions.

How to cancel

To cancel your housing request, send a message via the Housing contact form stating your name and student number.
Note: if you cancel your application for a study programme in uSis, your housing request will not automatically be cancelled.

About the accommodation

There are a range of accommodation types available, from rooms with shared facilities to individual apartments.
Prices range from € 425 to € 1000 euro per month (including utility charges).
All accommodation is furnished.
Accommodation is located in either Leiden, The Hague or the surrounding area and is easily accessible by public transport.
Rental contract periods may not correspond exactly with the start/end date of your study programme.

On the DUWO-Leiden University website you can find an overview of all accommodation types and locations.

Residence Life Programme

At most accommodation complexes for international students Leiden University offers the Residence Life Programme. The goal of this programme is to help international students feel happy and at home in Leiden. Read more about the Residence Life Programme.

Students with a disability

If you have a disability you may require additional facilities in your living environment. Finding suitable accommodation can be time-consuming, so please contact the Housing Officer for advice well before the housing application deadline. Also visit our webpages about studying with a disability or contact Fenestra Disability Centre.