Going abroad after 1 June 2023? Do not yet apply for Erasmus+ We can currently only process Erasmus+ applications for activities commencing before 1 June 2023. Will your activity start on or after 1 June 2023? Refer back to this page for details of when you can apply. Applications will open once Leiden University receives funding details for the next period from Erasmus+.

For who

You must be a registered Bachelor, Master or PhD student at Leiden University, and at least in your second year of studies. 

Employed as a PhD candidate? 

Do you have an employment contract with Leiden University as a PhD candidate? Instead, apply for the Erasmus+ for training or Erasmus+ for teaching assignments.

Going to study in the UK?

You can unfortunately no longer apply for Erasmus+. Instead, apply for a LUSTRA+ scholarship. 

Eligibility requirements

• Your  study or research must be a fully recognised part of your Bachelor, Master or PhD programme at Leiden University.
• The receiving institution must hold an Erasmus+ inter-institutional agreement with Leiden University. 
• You must have an address in The Netherlands at the time of requesting the scholarship 
• You may apply for an Erasmus+ grant totalling up to a maximum of twelve months per study cycle (BA/MA/PhD).
• The duration of your Erasmus+ period must be between 2 months (60 days) and 12 months (360 days). A duration of less than 60 days can only be accepted if your host institution uses a system of shorter semesters/trimesters.

Obligations

• During your stay abroad you must continue to pay the statutory tuition fee to Leiden University.
• You must complete an online language assessment before your Erasmus+ period.
• You must complete an online participant report after your Erasmus+ period.
• You must submit all the required documents on time before, during and after your Erasmus+ period (see the checklist below). Failure to do so will result in you being obliged to pay back the full Erasmus+ grant.

Scholarship amount

The amount granted is calculated on the basis of the exact number of days spent abroad and the destination country. Erasmus+ countries are divided into three groups in terms of the amount of funds awarded:

Group 1 - € 360 per month
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Norway and Sweden.

Group 2 - € 300 per month
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain.

Group 3 - € 240 per month
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Republic of North Macedonia and Turkey.

Switzerland
You cannot apply for an Erasmus+ grant for studies in Switzerland. Instead, if your Swiss host institution has an inter-institutional agreement with Leiden University, they may be able to apply for a grant for you via the Swiss European Mobility Programme. Contact your Swiss host institution for details. 

Application process

Note that applications are only open for activities commencing before 1 June 2023! Will your activity start later? Refer back to this page for information on when you can apply.

1. Fill out the online application form  but do not click on submit! 
2. First save a copy of the online application form, then submit it. You cannot save the form once you have submitted it.
3. Sign the saved copy of the application form, then ask your faculty's International Exchange Coordinator to also sign it. 
4. At least two months before the start of your Erasmus+ period, send a copy (as one PDF file) of the fully-signed application form to outbound@sea.leidenuniv.nl
5. Immediately after submitting your signed application form, create an Online Learning Agreement (OLA) and digitally sign it. See steps 6 to 8 of the Erasmus+ Checklist administrative procedures for instructions (please make sure to fill in all contact details of both sending and receiving institution). The relevant people at Leiden University and your host institution will then also digitally sign your OLA and its status will change to 'signed by both coordinators'. If you have difficulties with your OLA, contact the Scholarships Team via: outbound@sea.leidenuniv.nl.
6. If your application is approved, you will receive a decision letter and Grant Agreement by email before the start of your Erasmus+ period. Read the Grant Agreement carefully and sign it.
7. Take the Language Assessment. You will receive an invitation for the assessment via email from Erasmus+ Online Linguistic Support.
8. At least two weeks before the start of your Erasmus+ period, send the following items to outbound@sea.leidenuniv.nl: 
   • Copy of your signed Grant Agreement (as one PDF file)
   • Copy of your Online Learning Agreement, signed by yourself and both coordinators (as one PDF file)
9. The grant will be transferred to your bank account 1 to 2 weeks, at the latest, before the start date of your period abroad. Note that grant payment is subject to the Dutch government travel advice (colour code) for your destination at the time of departure. 

Important

• Make sure to download and carefully read the Erasmus+ Checklist of administrative procedures which need to be completed before, during and after your stay abroad.
• If you cannot submit a required document on time due to circumstances beyond your control, notify the Scholarships Team via outbound@sea.leidenuniv.nl as soon as possible and at least before the deadline in question. 

Additional financial support for sustainable travel

If you use an environmentally friendly, sustainable means of transport for your journey to and from your host country, you may be entitled to a 'Green travel' top-up payment. By sustainable is meant travel by train, bus or carpooling.

• You can receive a one-off contribution of € 50.
• If applicable, you can also receive 2 or 4 days of additional 'individual support' to cover your travel days. This is calculated on the basis of your outbound and inbound journeys together. Payments amount to € 8 to € 12 per travel day, depending on the distance to/from your destination.
• See the Overview of Erasmus+ countries - Green travel for more information.

Additional financial support for students with diagnosed medical condition and/or DUO supplementary grant  

If you receive a supplementary grant from DUO and/or have a diagnosed medical condition that influences and complicates travel and studying abroad, you may be entitled to an 'Inclusion' top-up payment of € 250 per month. 

• If you receive a supplementary grant from DUO: in your Erasmus+ application, upload the official letter granting these funds (toekenningsbericht).
• If you have a diagnosed medical condition: in your Erasmus+ application, upload a medical statement from your doctor confirming that your condition influences and complicates travel and studying abroad. The statement does not need to mention the nature of your condition.

Additional financial support for students with a disability and/or special needs

If you have a disability and/or special needs and you are eligible for an Erasmus+ for studies grant, Leiden University can apply for additional financial support from the Erasmus+ programme on your behalf. 

• Read more detailed information about the application procedure and eligibility requirements, and download a financial support agreement form for students and staff with disabilities.  

Background

For more than 30 years, the European Union has funded the Erasmus+ programme, which has enabled over five million European students to spend part of their studies at another higher education institution or with an organisation in Europe.

Disclaimer Leiden University

The Scholarships Team of Leiden University is responsible for the administration of the Erasmus+ programme for outgoing student mobility. It is, however, at all times the responsibility of the student to ensure that all the required documents are complete, signed and submitted within the timelines given. If you do not submit the required documents on time, no claim can be made on the Erasmus+ grant and you will need to pay back the full Erasmus+ grant.
Please note: If you have to return early you may have to pay back (part of) your Erasmus+ grant.

Disclaimer European Commission

Erasmus+ for Studies is funded with support from the European Commission. This publication (webpage) reflects the views only of the author. The European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained on this webpage.

Documents

• European Charter for Higher Education (ECHE)
  Provides the general framework for the European cooperation activities, that a higher education institution (HEI) may carry out within the Erasmus+ programme.
• Leiden University's European Policy Statement
  Sets out Leiden University's agenda on international mobility and collaboration and higher education modernisation.
• Annex 3 - Erasmus+ General Conditions
  Sets out the general conditions of the Erasmus+ grant agreement, with regard to liability, termination of the agreement, data protection and checks and audits.
• Annex 4 - Erasmus+ Student Charter  
  Highlights your rights and obligations as an Erasmus+ student.
• Annex 5 - Erasmus+ Checklist of administrative procedures
• Overview of Erasmus+ countries