The one-year, English-taught master's programme in English Literature and Culture focuses on the interaction between literature and key political and social issues such as identity, migration, memory and the metropolis, but also between literature and the literary tradition, and literature and film.
Why study English Literature and Culture at Leiden University?
The specialisation in English Literature and Culture gives you access to excellent teaching and resources including Leiden University’s unique collection of manuscripts, books, periodicals and electronic media. The expansive curriculum spans the Middle Ages to the present day, allowing you to pursue your personal area of interest. You can choose from ‘popular’ culture to the classics, moving from Beowulf to James Joyce. It is also possible to focus on speculative fiction, 'the fantastic', and film.
The curriculum goes beyond the traditional canons of British and American literature. The programme prides itself on the diversity of its courses, including the possibility to study literature from the Caribbean, Africa and India. A special feature of the programme is the option to focus on the study of medieval texts (Old and Middle English) and text media in their cultural-historical contexts.
This Master's prepares you for a wide range of positions related to your expertise in the English language. Our graduates work at different types of organisations, such as education, the government, communication and marketing, financial institutions, publishing and media. Our students have gone on to work in such jobs as language teacher, editor, and communications officer.
Is English Literature and Culture the programme for you?
Do you want to explore English-language literature from all around the world? Do you want to know more about the interaction between literature and key political and social issues? Then English Literature and Culture at Leiden University is the right Master's programme for you. Find out if you are eligible for this Master's programme by checking the admission requirements.
A centre of expertise on languages and cultures of the world
If you’re interested in languages and cultures, Leiden University is the best place to study. The university’s global expertise places our programmes at the top. In Leiden and The Hague, we study languages and cultures from all regions of the world and from prehistory to the present day. In this way, we create a broad view of the world; the key to mutual understanding.
Video: Our experts on Languages and Cultures explain
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Leiden University offers students a rich environment in which to reach their potential.
Reach a high level in the English language
Our approach to learning at Leiden University is focused on the individual and their unique profile.
All courses are taught in English, in small-sized classes. This gives you the opportunity to greatly improve your oral and written language skills.
The right location to study Literary Studies
This year The Times Higher Education Supplement ranked Leiden University 21st in the world for the study of Arts and Humanities. Leiden University's Faculty of Humanities is also consistently ranked among the top 30 Humanities faculties worldwide in the THE World University Ranking. At Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands, you can access the best teaching staff, the latest research, and a wealth of resources found nowhere else in the world. With Leiden’s world famous collections of original manuscripts and periodicals, you have the literary world at your fingertips.
Our expertise
The scholars teaching the Master’s programme in English Literature and Culture are experts in their respective research fields and integrate their research in their tuition. They form an integral part of the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS), a leading European centre for research and teaching in languages, literature, art and culture.
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The Humanities Hub in Leiden houses some great facilities to support your studies—like the AI Lab, Digital Lab, MediaLab, Translation Lab, Journalism Lab, Editorial Room, podcast studio, and film studio. Whether you're into AI, media, or storytelling, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to build hands-on skills. Best of all, these are exactly the kind of skills that stand out on the job market after you graduate. Want to find out more? Take a look here!
Preparing your career
Our reputation means that your qualification is respected by organisations worldwide. Our graduates enjoy successful careers thanks to their broad and global mind-sets, specialised and in-depth knowledge, and strong critical-thinking skills.
Diversity and inclusion
We are convinced that our education can only flourish if everyone within the programme feels supported, respected and empowered to do their best work. We find it important to offer a learning environment that allows for different perspectives and points of view that students bring with them, depending on their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, health, religion, age or socio-economic background. Every new generation sees the world from a new perspective – and our students are the newest generation. We look forward to hearing more about your perspective. Leiden University has been pursuing diversity policy since 2014, with the aim of creating a diverse and inclusive learning and working environment for all staff and students.
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The master's programme in English Literature and Culture spans two semesters and consists of four courses and an MA thesis:
Courses 1 and 2: Any two courses from the English Literature and Culture programme
Course 3: Any course offered in the English Literature and Culture programme; or any other course offered in the other Literary Studies tracks (German, French, Italian, Literature & Society).
Course 4: Any course offered in the English Literature and Culture track; or any other course offered in the other Literary Studies tracks; or a course on a literary subject taught in another MA programme (for example, North American Studies); a course offered in the MA in Linguistics: English Language and Linguistics; or a course offered via Masterlanguage (do note that Masterlanguage courses are 5 or 6 EC instead of 10).
Course overview
For a more detailed programme and an overview of all the possible electives, please check the Prospectus.
Please note that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may differ slightly.
Full-time and part-time
You can follow all Literary Studies tracks both full-time and part-time. Please note that the part-time study mode does not offer any evening classes.
Research and academic rigour
All of our teaching staff are internationally active scholars. We regularly update our courses to reflect contemporary academic debates and the very latest insights – many from the research conducted by lecturers on the programme. The academically rigorous design of the programme enables you to develop essential skills in academic writing, critical thinking, and independent, high-quality academic research, culminating in your master's thesis.
Combined Literary Studies and Linguistics
We also offer a combined programme of Literary Studies/English courses and Linguistics/English courses:
Two courses (20 EC): MA Literary Studies/English
Two courses (20 EC): MA Linguistics/English
MA thesis Literary Studies/English (20 EC)
This programme is particularly recommended if you plan to apply for the Educational Master offered by the ICLON afterwards.
Topics
You have the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics and seminar options, some of which are taught on a yearly basis (such as on James Joyce’s Ulysses), and some of which vary from year to year.
In the past we have offered courses on 'Chaucer’s Dream Poetry', 'Early Modern women writers', 'the fantastic', 'Climate Fiction', 'Old English literature and Tolkien' and 'Heroes and Heroines of Faith: Saints in Anglo-Saxon England'.
Philology
The courses offered for Philology can be combined with linguistics courses in earlier stages of the language, such as Old and Middle English, as offered by the English Language and Linguistics.
Peter Liebregts
Professor of Modern Literatures in English
"I'm passionate about the texts and topics I teach, and I hope that my enthusiasm conveys to students why the texts that we study in class are important to discuss."
Extensive feedback
"I help students to prepare for the job market by further sharpening their academic skills, that is, their ability to focus for an extended period of time on a specific topic and deal with its complexity, and to be able to report on this in the form of oral presentations or written essays. I provide extensive feedback on presentations and written work so students know how to improve and apply these skills."
Is English Literature and Culture the programme for you?
Check the admission requirements to find out if you are eligible for this Master's programme.
Get the most out of your studies at Leiden University by taking part in our extracurricular activities.
Community-building
Throughout the year, the programme hosts events that connect students, alumni, and staff. These include:
Career talks with alumni
Internship information sessions
Cultural and social activities organised by student associations
Masterlanguage Courses
As a literature student, you can take part in Masterlanguage—a national network offering advanced courses in German, English, French, Italian, Classics, and Dutch literature and culture. Courses are taught in the target language and held at universities across the Netherlands.
Leiden Leadership Programme
If you’re interested in developing your leadership potential, the Leiden Leadership Programme offers training sessions, seminars, and a Personal Leadership Roadmap to help you grow.
Study at the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts
The Academy of the Creative and Performing Arts (ACPA) is a research institute and part of the Faculty of Humanities. The ACPA offers education such as electives, and talent programmes such as the Practicum Artium (PA), which gives you the opportunity to study photography, graphic design or drawing, and the Practicum Musicae at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague, where you can study classical music, singing, early music or jazz. Find out more about ACPA.
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Nadine Akkerman, FRHistS, MAE is a Professor of Early Modern Literature & Culture at the Centre for the Arts in Society. She leads a large-scale project on early modern manuscript culture and the mediation of authorship. To distinguish between authorial and scribal voices the project analyses 3 distinct manuscript types: Historical letters, Legal documents, and Literary works. In doing so it addresses 3 questions: who were these scribes; what was their role or function, and where did their influence end and their employer’s begin? View her full profile here.
Dr. M.H. Porck
Thijs Porck teaches Old English, Middle English, Tolkien and Medieval Studies at the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society. He is a cultural historian of early medieval England, with a background in medieval history as well as English language and literature. The common strand in his research is gaining an understanding of Anglo-Saxon culture and of how modern generations have interacted with this early medieval heritage, in both scholarship and popular culture. View his full profile here.
Dr. E.J. van Leeuwen
Evert Jan van Leeuwen is a University Lecturer at the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society. His fields of interest includes Fantastic fictions from the eighteenth century to the present: gothic, horror, supernatural and science fiction and Countercultures and critical theories from the Romantic Era to the present. View his full profile here.
Prof.dr. P.T.M.G. Liebregts
Peter Liebregts is a Professor of Modern Literatures in English at the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society. In his research on the Nachleben of classical culture in Modern(ist)/contemporary English-language literatures/cultures, he emphasizes the intertextual and appropriating aspects of the relationship between the source and its user while placing them in a wider historical-cultural context. View his full profile here.
Dr. S.A. Polak
Sara Polak is a University Lecturer at the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society. Her long-term research focus is on the cultural and media politics of image-making of US presidents, and on presidents and their use of media in a broad sense. Currently she is working on a book about playful politics and Donald Trump’s use of Twitter, as part of the NWO project Playing Politics: Media Platforms Making Worlds. View her full profile here.
Dr. J.J. Morgan-Owens Ph.D.
Jessie Morgan-Owens is a university lecturer at the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society. View her full page here.
Because of the extensive curriculum and specialisations, the career opportunities after completing the Literary Studies specialisation in English Literature and Culture are broad. Our graduates have landed jobs in various sectors of the job market, such as education, communication and marketing, financial institutions, publishing and media. Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:
Photo editor at the Rathenau Instituut
Communications Officer
English teacher
University lecturer
Translator
Journalist
Senior Legal Advisor
Editor in a publishing firm
‘tekstschrijver’ for the ‘Tweede Kamer’ of the ‘Staten-Generaal’
Teacher qualification
If you are interested in a career in teaching, you can apply for the Dutch-taught teacher-training MA at the ICLON Graduate School of Education after graduating from the master’s programme. To be admitted, you need to have a master’s degree in the relevant discipline. Fluency in Dutch is mandatory, and additional entry requirements may apply. Please visit the ICLON website to learn more about the different teacher training programmes at ICLON.
Two-Year Educational Masters
You start this degree directly after completing your bachelor degree in English Language and Culture.
It is possible to enrol following many different degrees, although you might have to complete a pre-master first.
You combine the Master in English with the Teaching Master. You will be challenged to draw connections between the courses at the Faculty of Humanities, and your teaching practice.
You follow courses within different fields of English Language and Culture (both linguistics and literature).
Over the course of the two-year degree, you will intern at two different secondary schools. This way, you get acquainted with different types of education.
You follow the courses of the Teaching Master in Dutch.
Master English + Master Leraar VHO
You must first complete the Master in English. After that, you can enrol in the Master Leraar VHO.
You start with the master in German after you have completed a bachelor degree in (or connected to) German Language and Culture; you might have to complete a pre-master first.
First, you follow the Master in English, in which you specialise further in a specific field. Then, you focus on learning how to teach within ICLON’s teacher education programme.
You specialise in one specific field of English Language and Culture.
During the Master Leraar VHO, you will intern for one year at one secondary school.
It is possible to combine the Master Leraar VHO with the World Teachers Programme (WTP), a bilingual (Dutch-English) profile.
Dieneke Boer
Graduated in English Literature and Culture (MA Literary Studies) and Journalism and New Media (MA Media Studies)
"I have now been working for a year at Amsterdam FashionWeek on the online editorial of Fashionweek.nl. I write articles, manage social media channels, produce videos and essentially combine all my knowledge from the JNM master’s into this job. In particular, the focus on New Media in this master’s perfectly fits the current demand on the journalism job market, where you are expected to be a jack-of-all-trades and be up-to-date with the latest developments. We have an English-language website as well, for which I do some translation work. I also have regular contact with fashion agencies abroad, including other FashionWeeks. So, my English Literature master’s is also coming in handy."
Going for two MA degrees
"During my BA in English Language and Culture, I also followed courses for the minor in Journalism Studies which triggered my interest in combining the two. So, after obtaining my BA, I decided to go for two MA degrees: Journalism and New Media and English Literature and Culture. Both were very different in their structure, the one focused on practice, while the other provided a more literary background. Language has always been one of my main interests and combining both studies has certainly enriched me."
Annamika Singh
Graduated in English Literature and Culture (MA Literary Studies)
“I work in London as a sales assistant for a large publisher. When the rights to a book are sold to a Dutch publisher, I help with the entire production process. I send out the materials for the translation, I draw up a contract, we discuss how the book will look, I make sure it gets to the printer, and so on. I suppose I’m the middleman between the Dutch publisher and Penguin Random House, and I help wherever I can.”
Working overseas
“I always planned to find a job outside the Netherlands, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. London is really competitive; there has to be something about you that makes you stand out. My work as a student assistant in the faculty helped there, as did my bilingualism and my master’s degree. It’s quite unusual to have one of those in England, because it’s more expensive to study there.”
Useful skills
“During my course I found history and literature especially interesting. I’ve always loved books, and I was fascinated by literary history. It helps you place books in a particular historical context. In Leiden I also had the opportunity to study American literature, which offers a really broad, interesting reading list.”
“I’ve noticed that I get to use my presentation skills in the labour market. You have to give presentations a lot more often than you might think, even if the setting isn’t always as formal as I was used to during lectures. I also learned to write well in English during the course.”
The graphs below are based on alumni data from the MA English Literature and Culture 2020 through 2024.
In which sector do students find jobs?
29 %Education
10 %Financial institutions
10 %Communication and marketing
10 %Media and journalism
5 %Business services
5 %Information management
5 %Wholesale and retail
5 %Art and culture
5 %IT
5 %Research
14 %Other
Career preparation
Find out how this programme prepares you for your future career and check our career preparation activities.
Knowledge and skills
A unique strength on the job market
The Master's programme in Literary Studies at Leiden University equips you with a range of transferable skills and knowledge that will help you stand out in your future career. Your specialised knowledge is complemented by a broad and contextual understanding as well as critical-thinking skills that can be applied to complex conceptual problems. Other skills you may encounter in the various Literary Studies courses are:
Analysis
Oral and written communication
Research
Intercultural skills
Creative thinking
Internships
You have the opportunity to do an internship at an organisation in the Netherlands or abroad. Internships are a great way to gain first-hand experience in your area of interest and deepen your expertise. Organisations that our students have interned at include:
Royal Library The Hague, Koopman Collection
Dutch Embassy in Paris
Royal Brill Editions
Please note that you will need to find your own internship and have to follow an internship procedure for approval. Pursuing an internship may have consequences for the date of your graduation.
Literary Studies Career Colloquium
The Literary Studies Career Colloquium enables you to actively prepare your future career by providing you with information and inspiration. This programme, specially tailored for Literary Studies students, consists of a series of meetings over the year on your personal profile, academic and practical skills.
Humanities Career Service
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Our staff can help you identify both the career that is right for you, and the necessary steps to get you there. Our team at the Humanities Career Service provides all Leiden University Humanities students with professional advice and guidance on everything from internships and career planning to job applications. The Humanities Career Service also organises regular workshops on topics such as effective interview skills and creating a successful CV. Check our video and hear from our alumni how they have benefited from our services!
The Leiden University Career Zone is an online career portal that helps you to prepare for the job market. Here you can find information, tools and tips to help you gain more personal insight, learn about the job market, develop your application skills, plan your academic and professional career, find job vacancies and discover what the Career Service can do for you.
Ask Alumni: Leiden University Mentor Network
Join the Mentor Network to contact alumni with experience on the labour market and ask them for advice. More than 1200 alumni are happy to help you!
Jelle on finding an internship via Leiden University's Mentor Network
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Find out how to apply for English Literature and Culture at Leiden University by following our step-by step guide.
This specialisation is part of the MA in Literary Studies. If you would like to apply to this programme please first select the MA Literary Studies (CROHO code: 60813) in Studielink and then select English Literature and Culture.
Step-by step guide
This guide clearly explains the steps you need to take to apply, and the subsequent admission process.
To be eligible for English Literature and Culture at Leiden University, you must meet the following admission requirements.
Diploma requirements
General requirements
You are eligible to apply for the MA Literary Studies: English if you have:
A bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university in English Language and Culture, European Languages and Cultures: English, or Literature and Society: English; or
A bachelor’s degree from a research university, equivalent to the level of a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree, with:
Active (writing, speaking) and passive (reading, listening) proficiency in English at the final level of the degrees referred to in the first bullet point; and
At least 45 EC of courses in English Literature and Culture; and
Demonstrable knowledge of and insight into into English-language literature and culture (British, Irish, American, Australian, West Indian, etc.); and
Demonstrable knowledge of and insight into the historical development of English literature (Medieval, Early Modern, and Modern); and
Substantial literary research skills, demonstrated in a BA thesis and/or substantial research papers written as part of a BA programme.
The Board of Admissions will assess whether your degree and background are sufficiently related to the level and content of a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university in English Language and Culture on the basis of the requirements specified above.
Students with a Bachelor in English Language and Culture from Leiden University are directly eligible for admission. Students can apply in Studielink. There is no need to submit an application for admission using the online application portal.
Pre-master’s programme
If you have a bachelor’s degree from a research university that does not meet the requirements specified above, you may be eligible for the pre-master’s programme. After submitting your application in Studielink, the Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be directly admitted to the master’s programme or whether you will first need to complete a pre-master’s programme. It is not possible to apply for a pre-master’s programme directly. Once you have completed the imposed pre-master’s programme, you will be admitted to the relevant specialisation of the Master’s programme. Read more about the pre-master’s programme.
Bachelor’s degree of a university of applied sciences (hbo)
If you have a Bachelor’s degree in English from a university of applied sciences, equivalent to the level of a Dutch hbo bachelor’s degree (i.e. lower secondary education teaching qualification, or tweedegraads), the Board of Admissions may impose the 60 EC pre-master’s programme. Read more about the pre-master’s programme.
Please note: the pre-master's programme for English Literature and Culture (60 EC) starts in September only.
Language requirements
English language requirements
In order to successfully participate in this programme, you must be proficient in English. The following requirements apply:
IELTS: 7.5 (a minimum score of 7.0 is required for each of the four components)
We do not accept IELTS General Training or IELTS Indicator.
TOEFL: 113 with at least 5.0 (new 1-6 scale as of 21 January 2026) or 25 (old 0-30 scale) for each separate component.
We are not able to 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.
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.
Cambridge English C2 Proficiency, or C1 Advanced with overall score 191, where each separate component score must be at least 185.
Note that English test results may not be more than two years old.
* New TOEFL grading scale 2026 In January 2026, TOEFL introduced a new grading scale. Test certificates issued in 2026 and 2027 will show overall scores in both the old grading scale (0-120) and the new grading scale (1-6). Component or band scores will only be shown in the new grading scale.
Leiden University’s 2026-2027 overall score requirements will continue to be based on the old grading scale. If you took your test on or after 21 January 2026, you must meet the overall score requirement shown on our website in the old grading scale (0-120), and the component score requirements shown on our website in the new grading scale (1-6).
*You do not have to submit an English proficiency test if you have completed your education in the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada) Singapore, South-Africa or Malta; or if you have obtained an English-taught International Baccalaureate™; or if you have completed a Dutch VWO diploma or an English-taught bachelor at a Dutch research university or a diploma of an English-taught higher professional education (hbo) programme at a Dutch university of applied sciences.
For detailed information, including exemption criteria and methods of submission, refer to English language proficiency.
Applicants who need a visa or residence permit or need to extend their residence permit must apply for admission before 1 April.
All other applicants must apply for admission before 15 May.
Starting in February
Applicants who need a visa or residence permit or need to extend their residence permit must apply for admission before 15 October.
All other applicants must apply for admission before 15 November.
Please note: You must submit your application via Studielink and Leiden University’s application system (uSis), before the deadlines mentioned above.
Apply early!
We advise you to apply as soon as possible. The earlier you apply, the more time there is for us to help you if your application file is not complete. If you do not have a Dutch diploma that grants direct admission or you need to meet additional admission criteria, you’ll have to complete a two-part application procedure:
First register your application(s) in the national system Studielink.
A day later you will receive log-in details for Leiden University’s application system (uSis), where you can complete your application.
You must submit your application via Leiden University’s application system (uSis), before the deadlines mentioned above. So don’t delay; if you haven’t registered in Studielink and activated your uSis account in time to apply by the deadline, you’ll miss out!
Other deadlines
Housing deadlines
Leiden University reserves a limited number of rooms each year for international students. However, as the number of housing requests always greatly exceeds the number of rooms available, we strongly recommend that you also look into other housing options at the same time. Read more about how and when to arrange housing. If you want to request accommodation via Leiden University, submit both your application for admission and your housing request well before the deadlines! Accommodation is offered on a first-come first-served basis and is not guaranteed. You don’t have to await admission before requesting housing.
Scholarship deadlines
If you want to apply for a scholarship, grant or loan, please bear in mind that different deadlines apply, and these deadlines can often be earlier. Deadlines vary per scholarship. Visit the scholarship website for more details.
Along with your application, you will need to submit the documents below.
Note: If you have a Dutch diploma that grants direct admission, you will generally not be asked to submit additional documents.
Required application documents
You’ll need to submit the following documents:
Language proficiency (if applicable)
You can apply for admission before receiving the results of your English language test. However, a sufficient result will then be a condition of your eventual admission. Of course, if you already have your English language test results, you can upload them directly.
Copies of diplomas and transcripts
Digital copies of diplomas and transcripts are initially required. Once you have been admitted, we will inform you how to submit certified copies.
The documents must be in the original language. If they are not in English, Dutch, German or French, they must be accompanied by official translations into one of these languages.
If you have not yet completed your current programme, state your expected graduation date and submit copies of all transcripts obtained to date plus a list of subjects still to be completed.
Additional Documents specific to English Literature and Culture
Questionnaire Master Application
You are required to upload additional information: 1) about your acquired knowledge, understanding and skills in the field of the Master’s programme you are applying for and 2) about your acquired general academic skills. You can upload this format Questionnaire Master Application.
You can check the programme specific requirements regarding knowledge, understanding and skills on the Admission Requirements page.
The format includes the list of general academic skills which the candidate must possess in order to be admitted to the Master’s programme at the Faculty of Humanities.
The application procedure is broken down into three parts.
Part 1. Application in Studielink
All students applying for a degree programme at Leiden University must start the application process in Studielink, the national online registration system for students wishing to follow a degree programme at a Dutch university. Studielink is open for applications from 1 October in the year preceding the academic year in which you wish to start.
Apply in Studielink
1. Go toStudielink and enter your details according to the instructions provided. For this step you will need:
a copy of your valid passport or European ID card, or
Be aware! If you wish to apply for a specialisation of a master's programme: first select the master’s programme in Studielink, then select the specialisation for which you wish to apply in Step 4 (Institutional Questions) in Studielink.
2. Within two days you will receive:
an email with information on the next steps you'll need to take;
your university ULCN student account details (unless, of course, you already have a ULCN account)
the link to Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis)
Directly admitted?
After receiving your ULCN student account details, log into Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis), using the link provided. Here you can view the status of your application, which will be one of two possibilities.
1. You can be directly admitted
If your (Dutch) diploma grants you direct admission, Leiden University's online application portal (uSis) will let you know. The portal provides an overview of what you have to do to complete your application, for example arranging housing, scholarships, applying for a visa/residence permit and insurances. Please follow the instructions carefully and proceed to step 3 Student registration.
2. You cannot be directly admitted: additional action is required
If you do not have a (Dutch) diploma that grants you direct admission, we will require additional documents to allow us to decide about your application. The online application portal (uSis) will tell you this and explain how to do so. See also Part 2: Admission to Leiden University.
Part 2. Admission to Leiden University
If you cannot be directly admitted, you must apply for admission via Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis). Please follow all steps below.
Submit your online application
In our online application portal (uSis) you can finalise your application by uploading the necessary documents and answering a few questions. This portal provides an overview of what you need to do to complete your admission application. Please follow the instructions carefully and make sure to include all the items that are asked for. We strongly recommend that you complete your application well in advance of the application deadline.
Pay the application fee (if applicable)
All applicants with an international degree must pay a non-refundable €100 application fee, which entitles you to apply for up to three programmes/specialisations in the same academic year. We cannot start processing your application until we receive this application fee, so please pay it as soon as possible. The online application system explains how you can pay it.
Can I be exempted from paying the application fee? You do not have to pay the application fee if:
You are following, or have completed, a bachelor’s degree at a Dutch university (of applied sciences).
You have previously registered as an exchange, bachelor’s, master’s or pre-master’s student at Leiden University.
You have previously been admitted to the same degree programme at Leiden University, but you decided to postpone your studies. This does not apply if you are applying for a different study programme or specialisation.
You have refugee status in the Netherlands (with a residence permit for asylum).
Exemptions cannot be granted for any other reasons.
Other things to arrange
After you have submitted your application, the online application portal (uSis) will, if applicable, ask you if you want to apply for student housing, a visa/residence permit or a scholarship. Be sure to make a careful note of the relevant deadlines for these options.
Your application will be assessed
After receiving your application fee payment (if applicable), the Admissions Office will check whether all the necessary documents have been uploaded and they will inform you by email whether any further items are required. The Board of Admissions of the faculty will then:
decide whether you meet the admission requirements for the programme;
strive to issue a decision on your completed application within four to six weeks of the University receiving it.
Receiving the decision
Once a decision has been reached you will be informed by email. You can view your admission status in the online application portal (uSis).
There are three possible outcomes:
You are admitted
You have met all conditions for admission.
You are conditionally admitted
You will be admitted, provided that you meet certain conditions. These conditions will be specified in the online application portal (uSis).
You are not admitted
The reason(s) for non-admission will be clearly stated in the online application portal (uSis). If you are informed that you have been (conditionally) admitted, you will have to take a number of additional steps.
Confirm attendance
If you are (conditionally) admitted, the Admissions Office will ask you to confirm whether you will join the study programme. You can do so in the online application portal (uSis).
1. Go to ‘Application study programme’ in the online application portal (uSis).
2. Open the ‘Confirm’ screen. Here you will see three options:
Yes, I want to study at Leiden University.
No, I no longer wish to study at Leiden University and hereby withdraw my application.
Maybe later; I do not wish to start this semester/academic year. I would like to receive further instructions by email.
The sooner the better
Confirm attendance as soon as possible, to avoid missing other important deadlines and information about your study programme.
Changing your mind
You can still change your mind if necessary, either in uSis or by contacting the Admissions Office master team.
Deadline final decision
Do you need a student visa or residence permit? You can only request one after confirming attendance. So make sure to confirm attendance before the visa/residence permit deadline.
If you don’t need a visa or residence permit, the latest deadline for confirming attendance is before the start date of your study programme.
Part 3. Student registration
If you’ve been (conditionally) admitted, follow these steps to register as a student at Leiden University:
Meet all conditions
Check in the online application portal (uSis) whether you need to submit any documents to meet the conditions of your admission. Instructions on how to do so will be provided in uSis.
Arrange the payment of your tuition fee
Arrange the payment of your tuition fee before the official start date of your programme. You will receive instructions and information on the available payment methods by email.
Practical matters for international students
If you are an international student, go to the Prepare your stay page of our website for information about the practical matters you should take care of before and upon arrival. These include, for example, arranging housing, scholarships, applying for a visa/residence permit and insurances.
The pre-master's is a bridging programme for students who have applied for the MA Literary Studies but who, according to the Board of Admissions, still have deficiencies in their educational background. Once you have completed the pre-master’s programme, you will be admitted to the relevant specialization of the Master’s programme.
Diploma requirements
students with a relevant bachelor’s degree from a research university abroad, equivalent to the level of a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree who do not fulfill the admission requirements as specified for the master’s programme.
students with a Bachelor’s degree in English from a university of applied sciences, equivalent to the level of a Dutch hbo bachelor’s degree (i.e. lower secondary education teaching qualification, or tweedegraads).
Applicants with a Dutch university of applied sciences bachelor’s degree (HBO) or those with a comparable degree, can expect, if considered eligible, to be assigned the full 60 EC pre-master programme.
English language requirements
The English language requirements for a pre-master's programme are identical to the language requirements for the master's programme for which admission has been requested. These requirements must be met before the start of the pre-master.
Application procedure pre-master programme
In order to apply for the pre-master programme, you must first apply for the master’s programme.
After submitting your application for the master programme in Studielink, the Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be directly admitted to the master’s programme, whether you will first need to complete a pre-master’s programme, or if you’re not eligible for either programme because the deficiencies are too extensive.
Students who have been offered a pre-master programme, will find the procedure for the registration into the pre-master programme stated on their admission statement.
Start date
This pre-master offers 2 intakes: September and February. It is advised to start the 60 EC pre-master in September.
More information
For more information on the content of the pre-master programme, see the Prospectus. Search for “Literary Studies English Literature pre-master ”. The programme prospectus of the pre-master has a yearly update for the upcoming academic year in June.
The tuition fee for a programme depends on a number of factors. Your nationality, study programme and previous Dutch higher education qualifications determine the tuition fees you are required to pay.
The tuition fees for the academic year 2026-2027 are:
Dutch, EU/EEA, Swiss and Surinamese students: €2,694 per year
The tuition fee for this programme is €2,694 for the academic year 2026-2027 (statutory fee).
This tuition fee applies if this is your first master’s programme and you are a national of one of the following countries:
Austria
Latvia
Belgium
Liechtenstein
Bulgaria
Lithuania
Croatia
Luxembourg
Cyprus
Malta
Czech Republic
Norway
Denmark
Poland
Estonia
Portugal
Finland
Romania
France
Slovakia
Germany
Slovenia
Greece
Spain
Hungary
Suriname
Iceland
Sweden
Ireland
Switzerland
Italy
The fee applies for both full-time and part-time study.
Other nationalities
The tuition fee for this programme is €22,300 for the academic year 2026-2027 (institutional tuition fee).
If you are not a national of an EEA country, Suriname or Switzerland, generally speaking you will have to pay an institutional tuition fee. This fee applies for both full-time and part-time study.
However, if, on the basis of your Dutch residence permit, you are eligible for student finance from the Dutch education agency (DUO) you are entitled to pay the statutory tuition fee. Information on qualifying residence permits can be found at the DUO website.
Second Dutch master’s programme
Only applicable to EU/EEA, Swiss and Surinamese nationals.
The tuition fee for this programme is €17,200 for the academic year 2026-2027 (institutional tuition fee).
If you are following a second Dutch master’s programme you will generally have to pay an institutional tuition fee that is higher than the statutory tuition fee.
Exceptions
In some cases, nationals of EEA countries, Suriname or Switzerland may be permitted to pay tuition fees set at the same amount as the statutory tuition fee for their second degree programme.
Legal transitional arrangement for second bachelor's or master's degree: student pays the statutory tuition fee when:
Student has already obtained a bachelor's or master's degree but is starting a programme in the field of education or healthcare for the first time.
The student has already started a second bachelor's or master's programme before the first programme was completed and remains registered for it uninterruptedly.
Institutional transitional arrangement for a second bachelor's or master's degree: student pays the institutional tuition fee equal to the statutory rate) when:
Student has already obtained a bachelor's or master's degree, but is starting a teacher training programme.
After completing a bachelor's or master's degree at Leiden University, a student will subsequently start a second programme (in academic years).
Are you unsure which tuition fee applies to you? Consult our Tuition Fee Calculator.
Pre-master or conversion programmes
Tuition fee if the pre-master's or conversion programme has less than 60 study credits (EC)
2026-2027
€44,90 per EC
If the pre-master's or conversion programme has 60 study credits or more, you pay the statutory tuition fee of that college year.
Scholarships, grants and loans
Scholarships, grants and loans
Leiden University offers a wide range of scholarships for students from specific regions of the world, or for specific programmes. Leiden University also offers the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS), a programme specifically designed for non-EU/EEA students enrolling in a master’s programme. Find out more about scholarships, grants, loans and deadlines
If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss national and under 30, you may be eligible for a loan from the Dutch government to cover your tuition fees.
You’ve been accepted! Leiden University looks forward to welcoming you as a new student. Your next step is to prepare for your studies. Below you can find some tips to help you get a head start as you embark on your studies at Leiden University.
For international students
If you are an international student, a wealth of information can be found on the ‘Prepare your stay’ page of our website. This includes information about visas, housing, financial matters, what to arrange upon arrival, and much more.
For Dutch students
Student website
The ‘student website’ page on Leiden University’s student website contains information about practical aspects, introduction weeks and student associations. It’s also a handy source of study-related information and advice.
For detailed information about courses, schedules and reading materials, check out the Prospectus.
Introduction programme
Sign up for the introduction week in Leiden (OWL) or The Hague (HOP)! It’s the best way to get acquainted with student life and the student cities of Leiden and The Hague.
Digital student card
Three days after you receive a digital proof of enrolment, you will get access to your digital student card. You will receive the proof of enrolment by email, so make sure to check your inbox. You can find your digital student card in the Universiteit Leiden app. Read more about your student card here.
LU-Card
As soon as you receive notification that your student registration has been finalised you should apply for a Leiden University ID card, or LU-Card. It also serves as your library card, print & copy card and access pass. Read more about applying for an LU-card here.
Student life
Your time at Leiden is about more than just studying. Some of your best experiences will stem from being a part of our lively and diverse student community, as well as from life in the beautiful city of Leiden.
Albion organises lectures, social drinks and study trips, as well as crash courses to help you study. They can be found on Instagram and on their website.
Humanities Master’s Buddy Programme
The Humanities Master’s Buddy Programme has been set up by the Faculty of Humanities to help all students who are new to the university to integrate quickly and easily into university life. You will be matched to a buddy who can help you out with your academic and practical questions. Additionally you will be able to attend fun monthly activities and make friends from all over the world.
Leiden has several student organisations that specifically cater for international students. These associations organise regular social events and activities that help create the strong sense of community that exists within our international student body. The main two organisations are:
Erasmus Student Network Leiden (ESN) ESN Leiden is an international student organisation which hosts a range of activities and programmes. They also have a buddy programme which provides new students with the right support to assimilate into Leiden and the university.
AEGEE Leiden AEGEE is a leading European student association with sister organisations in over 40 countries across Europe. AEGEE organises many activities in Leiden, from dinners and pool nights to boat trips and guest lectures.
In August and February each year, Leiden University hosts the English-language Orientation Week Leiden (OWL), which welcomes both international and Dutch students. The OWL is an excellent way to get to know Leiden University, the city, and other students.
Life in Leiden
Picturesque and the perfect size, Leiden is the ideal place to spend your university days. The Faculty of Humanities is located within the heart of the city, where dozens of cafes, shops and bars line its historic laneways and leafy canals. Small enough to run into familiar faces, but big enough to keep offering surprises – you will treasure your time at Leiden. And for adventures further afield, the major cities of The Hague and Amsterdam are a short train ride away, along with Schiphol Airport, which is just half an hour away by train.
Our study and student associations organise a huge variety of social, cultural, and study events to keep you busy all year round. You can also join the University Sports Centre, which offers scheduled group sports and fitness classes, amongst other activities.
Information activities
Get to know us through our online and in-person events for prospective students!
Two speakers at the open day
Are you thinking about joining this Master's programme, and want to determine if it will be the right fit for you? Below, you can browse the events that we have coming up, and sign up to experience Leiden University and the programme for yourself. Alternatively, take a look at the Master Talks videos to find out more about the programme or check out our virtual campus tours!
Upcoming events
Master's Open Days
Master's Open Days
During the Master's Open Days you’ll have the opportunity to learn all about Leiden University’s master's programmes. Attend presentations about your chosen programme(s) or practical matters such as admissions and housing. Get real insight into the content of your preferred master's, along with the career opportunities it will bring.
On the Master Talks: programme videos platform you can find videos for each master’s programme. This includes a video which gives a short introduction to the programme. You can also find the recording of the previous Master's Online Open Days and watch the programme presentation on the platform.
Get to know the campus
Check out our virtual campus tours, filmed in 360 degrees – by dragging the video, you can look around at the surroundings yourself. Below is the video recorded at the Humanities faculty, where most of your lectures will take place; you can also view other 360 campus tours of the various university faculties here.
360 Campus tour: the Humanities faculty
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