Leiden University

General information

• Location: two main centres – Leiden and The Hague. Leiden is the traditional university town; many of the international and governance programmes are based in The Hague.
• Founded: 1575 – the oldest university in the Netherlands
• Language of instruction: bachelor's programmes are taught in Dutch or entirely in English. English is the main language of the international programmes.
• Main fields: law, international relations, political science, psychology, economics, governance, history, languages and cultures, archaeology, medicine, biomedical sciences, mathematics, physics, computer science, Data Science & AI. The university has 7 faculties.
• Length of a bachelor's degree: usually 3 years, 180 ECTS
• Fee for EU/EEA students: for 2027/28 the standard statutory tuition fee is 2,771 euros a year (2026/27: 2,694 euros). It also applies to Bulgarian citizens taking a first bachelor's degree, provided they meet the conditions for it.

Deadlines

Applications for the 2027/28 academic year start with registration in Studielink from 1 October. The typical deadlines are:

• 1 December – early bird for Leiden University College The Hague
• 15 January – for programmes with a limited number of places (numerus fixus)
• 15 March – general deadline for Leiden University College The Hague
• 1 May – for programmes with compulsory matching

The exact deadline always depends on the programme.

Requirements when applying from Bulgaria

Your Bulgarian diploma has to be recognised as sufficient for university admission in the Netherlands (VWO level). You start in Studielink and then submit your documents in Leiden University's own system. For English-taught programmes you also have to meet the programme's English language requirements.

Bachelor's programmes in English

• International Studies – 3 years, 180 ECTS, in The Hague. Combines politics, economics, history and culture with the study of one region of the world.
• Data Science & Artificial Intelligence – 3 years, 180 ECTS, in Leiden: computer science, mathematics, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• International Bachelor in Psychology – the English-taught version of the psychology programme.
• English Language and Culture – 3 years, 180 ECTS, in Leiden.
• Liberal Arts & Sciences: Global Challenges – at Leiden University College The Hague.

There is no English-taught law bachelor's degree – Leiden's LLB programmes are taught in Dutch.

Programmes – bachelor's

Data Science & Artificial Intelligence

• Duration: 3 years, 6 semesters, 180 ECTS
• Location: Leiden, Faculty of Science / Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS)
• Start: in September, at the start of the academic year
• Language: English
• Fee: EU/EEA students usually pay the Dutch statutory tuition fee – 2,771 euros a year for 2027/28

Applying: through Studielink, then you submit your documents to Leiden University. Check the exact deadline for your year.

Matching: usually an online module and/or a test, after which you get feedback. The advice is not a selection, but taking part is compulsory before you can enrol.

Requirements:

• a Bulgarian secondary school diploma recognised as equivalent to the Dutch VWO level
• strong mathematics – Leiden names the equivalent of VWO Mathematics B
• proof of English, unless one of the exemptions applies to you