You will find many opportunities to be social and develop yourself personally outside the classroom. It all starts with our introduction weeks and ends with our alumni helping you with career support. It is helpful to become part of the Leiden University community – so don’t miss out!
Coming to a new country to study is certainly exciting, but it can be daunting as well. When you’re new in Leiden or The Hague it is a good idea to register for one of the introduction weeks. You can expect to make life-long friends and fully experience your new city before starting your classes. Experience everything Leiden and The Hague have to offer, participate in fun activities and meet lots of new people. You will learn more about your programme and find out some practical things, such as how to get a bike! Both Leiden University locations have their own week. Choose the one most relevant to you and feel at home right away!
The well-being and success of our students is very important to us at Leiden University. We offer students all kind of skills packages to improve study-related skills and their own well-being. Topics covered include time or stress management and thesis writing. This offer is varied and consists, among other things, of workshops to individual counselling. We have a number of specialised student counsellors and psychologists available. Not only can they help resolve study and personal problems, they can also advise you in legal, financial and other non-academic matters.
For assistance related to your application, paying tuition, registration and other administrative help, you can find the Student Affairs Front Office in the Plexus student centre in Leiden, and the Beehive student centre in The Hague.
Each programme has its own study advisers/coordinators who can answer questions about matters related to your chosen study programme. You can consult the study adviser/coordinator on issues such as timetables, exam grades, choice of subjects and application for graduation.
Your study time will go faster than you think, so you need to consider your study choices and future plans from the very beginning. You might have questions about your study plan or the job market, vacancies or job-application procedures. How will you find a job that suits you, create a professional CV, learn interviewing and networking skills? Make an appointment with a career counsellor at the career service office or participate in one of the many
useful workshops they run to prepare you for the job market. Or why not do our Study Career Check? This checklist will soon make it clear to you which activities will boost your chances on the job market.
Leiden University Mentor Network is an online platform which makes it easy to get in touch with experienced alumni in your chosen field and ask them for advice on career choices and opportunities. You can also ask a mentor if you want to know more about a particular organisation and how it works.
Leiden University’s good name will help you find a job after you graduate. Our own research has demonstrated that Leiden University alumni fare very well on the job market. No less than 74% of our alumni are (extremely) satisfied with their first job and three-quarters of them found a job in less than three months.
Leiden University welcomes a diversity of staff and students and is committed to providing an open and welcoming community which enables everyone to develop their talents. The Diversity and Inclusion Expertise Office raises awareness, shapes policies and supports the university community to achieve this goal. There are also a number of networks for students and staff committed to offering a community, a safe space and events to engage in questions related to diversity: The Afro Student Association, Space to Talk About Race, the Middle East and North Africa Students Association, the LGBTQ+ network, the Leiden University Diversity and Equality Network, devoted to inclusive education and issues of race, and the Access and Support Network of students and staff with a disability.
