#131 QS World Ranking#157 THE RankingNetherlandsPublic
QS World Rank#131
Acceptance rate45%
Typical GPAVWO or IB 30+ /…
Tuition / year$9,000–16,000
Overview
About Leiden University
Netherlands' oldest university (1575); Netherlands' most prestigious for law and social sciences; International Institute for Public Law; Hague-based International Law hub (ICJ, ICC proximity); strong humanities
International environmentDiverse; ~30% intl UG; The Hague and Leiden campuses
Teaching styleSeminar-based; discussion-focused; strong reading assignments; liberal arts breadth
Academics
Subjects and fit
Strongest subjects
Law
International Relations
Humanities
Political Science
Archaeology
Biomedical Sciences
Best for
Law
IR
humanities
political science
archaeology students wanting classic European university
Getting in
Admission requirements
GPA: VWO or IB 30+ / A-levels BBC
IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90+ (many English programs)
No SAT/ACT; selection for some programs
Difficulty: Moderate
Acceptance rate: ~45% overall
Deadline: BSc: Apr 15 | MSc: Feb 1 | Graduate: rolling
On campus
Campus and location
Student housing (DUWO); Leiden affordable; The Hague campus available
Leiden University Excellence Scholarship at Leiden University 2026
After graduation
Careers and outcomes
Industry connectionsInternational courts (ICJ, ICC, OPCW), Dutch government, law firms, NGOs
InternshipsUN/court placements; government internships; NGO fieldwork
EmployabilityWorld's best for international law; Hague proximity unique for IR/legal careers
The honest view
Why students choose Leiden University
Leiden Excellence Scholarship (LExS €10,000–full fee); Holland Scholarship
Employability: World's best for international law; Hague proximity unique for IR/legal careers
Worth knowing
Less business/tech focused; Dutch language needed for social integration; less startup ecosystem
GlowBal's insider note
VERIFIED: Leiden University has produced 16 Prime Ministers of the Netherlands. INSIGHT: The Hague campus is 15 minutes from the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court unique for law/IR students.
Ask a human
Talk to someone who studied here
Book a 1-1 session with a current student or alumnus for honest advice about your application and life on campus.
