Studying at Leiden University

By choosing Leiden University, you’ll be choosing to broaden your personal and academic horizons. You’ll be in excellent company too, because you’ll be part of an inspiring community of students, lecturers and professors from all over the world. Founded in 1575, ours is the oldest university in the Netherlands.

Teaching and research

Leiden University enjoys an excellent reputation as a research university, attracting talented researchers who are eager to share the most recent insights into their specialist fields. With people like these as your teachers, you will be a part of a research-rich environment that will encourage you to develop your own scientific perspective.

The Leiden approach

Leiden University champions freedom. Our motto: Praesidium Libertatis, Bastion of Freedom, says it all. In an increasingly complex world, we think that what you think matters, which is why we give you the freedom to think for yourself, acquire knowledge and form opinions. Being encouraged to form your own opinion and develop your critical thinking skills is integral to the Leiden experience. Student-teacher interaction here is probably less formal than you might be used to. In small study groups, your teachers will stimulate discussions to fire your curiosity and develop your outlook.

Where do our students come from?

Leiden University has international students from about 115 countries. The top 5 countries with the most students currently studying at Leiden University:

• 16 % Germany
• 8.7 % United Kingdom
• 7.4 % Italy
• 6.1 % Greece
• 5.9 % China