Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is among Europe’s foremost international research universities. Leiden University is home to 25,800 students and over 5,500 faculty and staff members, and boasts of an alumni network more than 96,000 strong. The university has two campuses; the original is located in the city of Leiden, but in 1998 Leiden University opened another campus, entirely dedicated to studies related to pillars of peace, security, and justice, in The Hague. The Hague campus houses around 3,000 students and works closely with the cities’ governmental, ministries, and legal and/or diplomatic institutions.
You can contact the Central International Relations Office about academic matters. If you require accommodation for a disability, the Fenestra Disability Centre can assist you.
The International Student Network is available to help you meet people and find things to do in Leiden. They host a number of clubs and trips for international students to connect with each other. They also have a buddy program and volunteer opportunities for international students to meet their Dutch counterparts.
Every Wednesday starting at 10:00 PM, the ISN hosts get-togethers at Einstein, a bar in the center of the city. International students are also invited to take part in the ISN Cultural Festival in June, where international students share the cultures of their home countries.
Leiden is a city brimming with cultural exhibitions, galleries, museums, historical monuments and sites, close in proximity to other vibrant locations in the Netherlands, such as Amsterdam and The Hague.
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Leiden University Housing Office will assist international students in finding housing by mediating conversation between students and approved housing agencies. This mediation service is only available to international and visiting students. Leiden reserves a certain number of rooms for early applicants, but these fill up quickly; they recommend that you apply for housing as early as possible.
For Washington College students, a full course load at Leiden University is 25 ECTS credits per semester and 50 ECTS credits for the academic year. If you take a full course load in the Netherlands, you will receive a full course load at Washington College (16 credits/semester; 32 credits/academic year). If you take less than the full course load you will NOT receive a full course load at Washington College.
Please see the policy on the Grades and Credits Abroad page regarding transferring back courses for below 3 WAC credits.
