Your tuition fee depends on your chosen programme, your nationality (EU/EEA or non-EU/EEA) and whether you have previously completed a master’s degree in the Netherlands. Please check per programme to be sure of your fee.
It is important to make sure that you have sufficient funds for the entirety of your studies. If you are a non-EEA student, the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service will require you to submit proof of this in order to approve your visa or residence permit.
This competitive scholarship programme is designed for excellent non-EU/EEA students enrolling in a master’s programme and for students of all nationalities enrolling in an Advanced LLM programme or the MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy. The award can cover a substantial part of the tuition fee. Living expenses are not included in this scholarship.
In addition, there is limited number of other scholarships available for students from specific regions of the world,
or for specific programmes. Please check the scholarship site for details.
* Tuition fees for 2023-2024
** EU/EEA: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
*** For most programmes this tuition fee only applies if this is your first master’s programme in the Netherlands. The amount of this fee is subject to change. At the moment of printing this brochure the Dutch government has not decided the actual amount for next academic year.
Leiden University accepts the US SallieMae Smart Option loan. If you have EU/EEA or Swiss nationality and are under 30, you may be eligible for a loan from the Dutch government to cover your tuition fees.
Do you need to find a paid job to cover some of your expenses while studying in the Netherlands? While finding employment is not impossible, it may well prove a difficult task. Working for the university is a possibility, and can be arranged through our JobMotion office.
However, only a limited number of positions are available each year. Many jobs outside of the university require a good command of Dutch, and depending on your nationality, you will face some restrictions. If you are from an EU/EEA country, from Switzerland or Japan, you will not need a work permit. All other nationalities require a special work permit and can only work for a maximum of sixteen hours a week. This information is subject to change, so check the current rules when looking for employment. All in all, we advise you not to rely on finding a paid job when financially planning your study costs.
The full list of scholarships, grants and loans for prospective students as well as a list of search engines for scholarships can be found on our website:
