Each major has an assigned peer advisor, a 3rd-year student with more in-depth knowledge about their respective major, there to help you plan your way through your education at LUC. From research methods to planning your courses, peer advisors are an easy, approachable place to get academic support.

The study advisors are responsible for advising students on the practical aspects of their academic choices: study load, graduation requirements, study plan, what to do in case of extenuating circumstances, and advice on rules and regulations. The study advisors also monitor all students to ensure their study progress. Students can contact the study advisors if they have questions regarding a possible Reduced Course Load, Leave of Absence, the Leiden Study System and studying with a disability.

If needed, the study advisors can refer the student to the Student Life Officer, the Student Life Counselors or other professionals within Leiden University.

When you have a physical or learning disability, you are entitled to extra facilities during your studies. Examples of extra facilities are extra time for exams, the use of a laptop or later deadlines. The first step in the process of asking for extra facilities is to discuss your situation with the LUC Study Advisors. Please make an appointment before the start of the academic year (first week of September), but preferably earlier. Information exchanged with the study advisors is always kept confidential and doesn’t influence the admissions process in any way. 

The Student Life Officer is in charge of all residential aspects of student life and oversees the Resident Assistant team twho are responsible for creating a sustainable community on  the residential floors. 

The Residential Assistants (RAs) are students who are committed to ensuring the personal well-being of the resident-students at the Anna van Buerenplein, and help to foster a sense of community. Every floor has 1 RA and they are the first point of contact for personal concerns and issues related to residential life. The RAs also take initiative to organize floor events and activities outside of LUC.

To ensure the well-being of all residents, and that everyone in a diverse community has a suitable place to live and study, the RAs also help to see that the rules of the College are observed.

Conor Holden

Head Residential Assistant and student at LUC

Living and studying at Leiden University College (LUC) is an amazing journey, and being Head RA has been very rewarding. RAs understand the challenges of student-residential life, and are open to hearing your doubts, worries or struggles and to helping make a plan forward.  It is through this living situation that balances privacy and vibrant community, and which allows for support, peace, and community that let the LUC experience feel dynamic and alive.

You keep a close connection to the spirit of community that courses through the University College, yet have your own private room to rest and relax. I love those early mornings before class, getting up just in time to sprint down, with breakfast eaten haphazardly as I do. The late evenings too, up into the night laughing and talking, or even watching a movie in our common room with my floormates. Knowing that, should I feel social, I can easily be social, but also just as easily snuggle up in my room with a nice book if I so wish, is frankly amazing. And the Residential Assistant (RA) system is there too, meaning that there is always a supportive network to lean on if things get tough. 

LUC has two Student Life Counselors who are fully trained psychologists with years of experience. They are here to help students who are experiencing difficulties on a personal level, such as difficulty adjusting to life at LUC, the pressures of living abroad, issues to do with stress or anxiety, personal problems and more. Depending on your problems and circumstances, support may be offered in the form of advice, referral to a workshop or training course and/or referral to individual sessions with a SLC or an external psychologist.

To receive extra facilities, you need to contact the Fenestra Disability Center. The LUC Study Advisors will help you to book a meeting. The specialists of Fenestra will assess your situation and advise the LUC Board of Examiners on the extra facilities you are entitled to.  

Our campus and select student rooms are wheelchair accessible. If you choose to live on campus, all individual accessibility changes can only be made after a discussion with our housing office. You are more than welcome to visit our campus to assess the situation and to discuss what is needed. Please make an appointment via the LUC Housing office via housing@luc.leidenuniv.nl as early as possible.

The small-scale learning and interactive education offered by LUC is academically rigorous and challenging. You are expected to physically attend all classes. In case you already know that physical attendance might not always be feasible for you, please get in touch with the LUC Study Advisors as early as possible.