Scholarship
Erasmus+ for Studies
You can apply for an Erasmus+ study grant if you are a Bachelor/Master student and want to follow part of your study programme or conduct research in a European country at a partner university.
- Deadline
- Two months before the start date of your Erasmus+ period
- Target group
- Bachelor, Master
- Countries/ nationalities
- For study or research in Erasmus+ programme countries, i.e. all EU member states plus the Republic of North Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia and Turkey. Be aware that your Erasmus+ period cannot take place in the Netherlands.
- Scholarship type
- Study, Research
- Faculty
- Archaeology, Humanities, Medicine/LUMC, Governance and Global Affairs, Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Science, Interfacultair Centrum voor Lerarenopleiding, Onderwijsontwikkeling en Nascholing (ICLON), African Studies Centre, International Institute for Asian Studies
Leiden University travel policy
You may only go abroad for study-related activities to destinations to which travel is permitted according to Leiden University’s travel policy. See the Study abroad - Health and Safety page for details.
For who
You must be a registered Bachelor or Master student at Leiden University, and at least in your second year of studies.
Are you a PhD candidate?
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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.
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Do you not have an employment contract with Leiden University as a PhD candidate? Unfortunately, as of September 2024, you can no longer apply for an Erasmus+ scholarship.
Going to study in the UK?
You can unfortunately not apply for Erasmus+. Instead, apply for a LUSTRA+ scholarship.
Eligibility requirements
- Your study or research must be a fully recognised part of your Bachelor or Master 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
- Before your stay abroad, you are highly advised to complete an online language assessment.
- During your stay abroad, you must continue to pay the statutory tuition fee to Leiden University.
- After your stay abroad, you must complete an online Erasmus+ participant report.
- Before, during and after your Erasmus+ period, you must submit all the required documents on time (see the Erasmus+ 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 two groups in terms of the amount of funds awarded:
Group 1 - € 390 per month
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway and Sweden.
Group 2 - € 330 per month
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Türkiye.
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
Tip: If you have any questions or concerns about your Erasmus+ application, do not hesitate to contact the Scholarships Team via: outbound@sea.leidenuniv.nl. We are happy to help.
- Go to the Study Abroad Portal and request your Erasmus+ grant for Studies at least two months before the start of your Erasmus+ period. For instructions on how to do so, please download the Erasmus+ Checklist of administrative procedures.
- Whilst awaiting a decision on your scholarship application, create an Online Learning Agreement (OLA) and digitally sign it. See steps 6 to 8 of the Erasmus+ Checklist of administrative procedures for instructions:
- Make sure to enter all contact details of both the 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, e.g. if your host institution does not use the online tool yet, contact the Scholarships Team via: outbound@sea.leidenuniv.nl.
- If your application is approved, you will receive a notification via email. This email will instruct you to log into the Study Abroad Portal and take a number of steps. Read and follow the instructions carefully! You can always refer to the Erasmus+ Checklist of administrative procedures for assistance.
- You are highly advised to complete an online language assessment.
- Your Erasmus+ grant will be transferred to your bank account at least 2 weeks before the start date of your period abroad.
Important
- Make sure to download and carefully read the Erasmus+ Checklist of administrative procedures. Here you can find all the steps that 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 higher 'Green travel' payment. By sustainable is meant travel by bus, train or bicycle. If you travel sustainably 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 and depends on the distance to/from your destination.
Travel distance* |
Green travel |
Non-green travel |
10 – 99 km |
€ 56 |
€ 28 |
100 – 499 km |
€ 285 |
€ 211 |
500 – 1999 km |
€ 417 |
€ 309 |
2000 – 2999 km |
€ 535 |
€ 395 |
3000 – 3999 km |
€ 785 |
€ 580 |
4000 – 7999 km |
€ 1188 |
€ 1188 |
8000 km or more |
€ 1735 |
€ 1735 |
*The distance is calculated using Leiden as a starting point and the city of the host institution as the destination.
More information on sustainable travel options and tips on how to travel sustainably can be found on our Sustainable travel page.
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. In your online Erasmus+ application you will be asked to upload the following if applicable:
- If you receive a supplementary grant from DUO: an official letter granting these funds (toekenningsbericht).
- If you have a diagnosed medical condition: 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 and may be no older than 6 months.
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 35 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
- Annex 1 - Erasmus+ Checklist of administrative procedures for mobilities with a start date after 1 June 2024.
Make sure to study this checklist carefully. - Annex 4 - Erasmus+ Student Charter
Highlights your rights and obligations as an Erasmus+ student. - 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.
Only for mobilities that started before 1 June 2024:
- Annex 1 - Erasmus+ Checklist of administrative procedures for mobilities with a start date before 1 June 2024.
Make sure to study this checklist carefully.