Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (BA/BSc) - Leiden University College

Application and selection

The application procedure

The application for LUC's programme consists of several steps: 

1. Apply for Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges in Studielink. To create a Studielink account and for additional instructions, please view these step-by-step plans.
2. Activate your account for the Leiden University application portal.
3. Submit your application in the Leiden University application portal.

To understand what you need to do and submit in the application portal, please view this manual. You can find the required documents under the 'Required documents' section.

The selection procedure

All applicants go through a selection procedure that consists of three elements:

1. Assessment of the paper application
2. LUC Preview class and reflection
3. Selection

Your application is holistically evaluated on various aspects, taking into account all components and not focusing on one in particular. The Admissions Committee also looks for students who are self-motivated and are enthusiastic about what is on offer at LUC, in particular the theme of Global Challenges.

1. Assessment
The Admissions Committee reviews your application to assess whether you have a diploma that is considered sufficient for admission and how likely it is that you meet the diploma and English language requirement. If you do not meet the minimum diploma requirements, you will be informed. 

The Admissions Committee reviews your academic skills and potential, English proficiency and writing, mathematics skills, motivation for the programme, extracurricular activities and willingness to engage.

2. LUC Preview class and reflection
Because studying at LUC is a unique experience with small classes, high student participation and a thematic focus on global challenges, a part of the selection process focuses on experiencing what it would be like to be a student at LUC through an online class, and reflecting on this experience.

The Admissions Office will provide you with an online form through which you submit a 150 word reflection on your LUC Preview class. This reflection will be added to your application and will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee together with the documents you submitted when you applied.

Aligned with the Liberal Arts and Sciences ethos, you get to choose when you wish to attend the LUC preview class and in which topic. 

Online LUC Preview class - available in January, February, April and May
Once your application is assessed on admissibility to LUC you will receive a link to sign up for an LUC preview class.

3. Selection
Once the Admissions Committee reviewed your application including the online reflection form, a final decision about your admission to LUC’s programme will be made together with the Dean of LUC. 

Because there are limited places in our programme, with the guarantee of housing on the LUC campus for 200 first year students, not everyone who applies can be admitted. In a few situations Early Bird applicants can be re-considered for admission in the second round. Decisions are communicated on a rolling basis, depending on when you submit your application and provide the online reflection form.

Please note that it is not possible to defer the start date of your studies if you receive an offer. Should you wish to start the following academic year, you will have to re-apply.