Leiden University

Leiden University is known as LEI and is located in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. It is the oldest college found in the Netherlands. Nearly 20,000 students earn credits in areas of study that include Humanities, Law, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Biology, Computer Science, DNA Computing, and Functional Genomics.

Leiden University was founded in 1575 when the only other college in the country was in an area under the control of the Spanish. By the late 19^th century, Leiden was a leading university in Europe. Professors from the school have garnered several Nobel prizes for their work. The school is still one of the top-rated research colleges in many of the fields they offer.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2026, Leiden University is positioned as the #119 top university in the world, which makes it the #4 top university in Netherlands. The university's global rank is improved by 22 points from last year.

University Profile

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Ranking	2026 #4
University Name	Leiden University
Name in Local Language	Universiteit Leiden
Acronym	LEI
Year Established	1575
Motto	Praesidium Libertatis
Motto in English	Stronghold of Liberty
Colors	Blue and white

Location

The university is located in Leiden, Zuid-Holland. Find the address and map of the university below.

Address	Postbus 9500, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Contact

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Phone	+31 (71) 527 2727
Fax	+31 (71) 527 3118
Website
Email	Click here to send email
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Admission Info

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Accepts International Students	Yes
Student Body	Men and Women
Admission Info	Click here
Undergraduate Admission Info	Click here
Graduate Admission Info	Click here

Scholarship and Financial Aids

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Scholarship Info	Click here

Programs and Courses

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	Bachelor's Degrees	Master's Degrees	Doctorate Degrees	Diplomas
Arts & Humanities				n/a
Business & Social Sciences				n/a
Engineering	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Language & Cultural Studies			n/a	n/a
Medicine & Health				n/a
Science & Technology				n/a

Click on the following button to explore a detailed list of programs and courses of this institute.

View Course List

Ranking History

The following chart shows how the ranking of this university in Netherlands has changed over the last 6 years.

Stay informed with the following article related to the university or higher education in Netherlands.

Are you considering studying in the Netherlands as an international student? This guide will walk you through the admission and visa process, including researching programs and universities, checking eligibility, applying online, submitting supporting documents, and obtaining a visa. [Read More]

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Information on Leiden University was last updated more than a year ago.

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