‘Free-market economics has reduced the value of higher education to a question of efficiency and productivity,’ says Sarah de Rijcke. And, she adds, there is no clear description of what we actually want scientific research to achieve. Inaugural speech on Friday 17 May.

As robotics advances in the field of emergency response, firefighting robots – or 'firebots' – offer promising improvements in safety and operational efficiency. However, to ensure these technologies truly benefit society, non-technological factors must be considered from the outset.

The International Court of Justice has issued an interim ruling calling on Israel to take immediate action to prevent genocide. South Africa had accused Israel of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention, which both countries are a party to. Professor of Public International Law Larissa…

‘It is recommended that the State assumes sovereign responsibilities to protect life, liberty and property of its citizens in the domain of cyberspace, despite the international character of cyberspace,’ says Roy van Keulen. He will defend his dissertation on digital force on Wednesday 9 May 2018.

Musicologist Dinko Fabris has been appointed professor at the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts (ACPA). He started on 1 September. 'I’m looking forward to making a connection with society.'

Mathilde Verdam and Julian Karch (Methodology and Statistics) have been awarded a grant as co-applicants by Openscience NL to promote

Leiden has one of the most petrified inner-cities of The Netherlands. This is not beneficial for the biodiversity crisis and Leiden University, with a significant number of buildings within the Singels. The priority should be to make a positive impact on the matter.

“The union’s 60th birthday is not a moment for gifts and cake, but for reinvention around three new strategic idea. (…) The new Europe must protect, improvise and tolerate opposition”. This is what Prof. Luuk van Middelaa, Professor of Foundations and Practice of the European Union and its Institutions,…

How do fats and enzymes in the brain contribute to multiple sclerosis? In his PhD research, Daan van der Vliet combined chemistry and neuroscience to gain new insights into how brain disorders develop.

What rules should regulate AI, who should make them, and how will they be enforced in the digital arena?

Legal proceedings conducted on behalf of apes and animals who are starved for the purpose of an ecological project. What position do animals actually have in the rule of law? And what changes need to be made? PhD candidate Janneke Vink defends her dissertation on 10 October.

Nivja de Jong, researcher at the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL) and the Leiden University Graduate School of Teaching (ICLON), has won the 2018 Best Article Award from the International Language Testing Association (ILTA) for her paper on language fluency. The award committee writes…

In the upcoming Dutch general elections, the focus of the party campaigns is on national issues. Luuk van Middelaar, Professor of Foundations and Practice of the European Union and its Institutions, argues in a column in Dutch newspaper NRC that foreign policy should also be on the agenda.

The saga surrounding Dutch football club Vitesse continues since the presiding justice in the appeals case appears to have a supporter’s card. Arie-Jan Kwak, assistant professor, spoke to ‘NRC’ newspaper: ‘The question’s not whether the justice was in fact impartial or not.’

The speed at which science is changing our lives gives rise to tensions and concerns. In his talk at Leiden University, Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf (Education, Culture and Science) said we should talk more about science’s relationship with society and political decision-making.

Pita Limjaroenrat (45) was set to become Thailand’s next prime minister, but in 2024 the Thai Constitutional Court dissolved his progressive Move Forward Party and banned him from politics. He now reflects publicly on the policy values that brought the party to prominence.

‘Don’t forget us. Don’t stop talking about Iran.’ In a packed lecture hall at the new Spui Campus in The Hague, a panel discussion was held this Tuesday on recent developments, tensions and the wave of state violence in Iran.

The democratic rule of law is under pressure due to a series of scandals and integrity issues, as seen in the recent parliamentary inquiries. Professor Ronald Kroeze explains: 'Public office holders are expected to show complete dedication, but that norm is quite absolute, and what we mean by it is…

Alumnus Robert van Asten has been an MP for D66 since 2025. He studied Tax Law at Leiden University from 1997 to 2005. After a career in that field, he switched to local politics and later national politics.

Changes to halt further biodiversity loss are more urgent than ever and feasible, says IPBES, the United Nations biodiversity panel. In two reports released this week, the panel calls on governments worldwide to develop coherent policies that address biodiversity, climate change, water, food and health.…

In academia, the mention of Wikipedia might be met with suspicion. However, for Tsolin Nalbantian, university lecturer Modern Middle Eastern Studies, the encyclopedia is an opportunity to broaden the skills of her students and to increase public knowledge. She received a Teaching Comenius Fellowship…

Ukrainian President Zelensky has indicated on several occasions that he wants to be part of the European Union. According to Caroline van der Plas, Dutch MP for the BoerBurgerBeweging party, this is not possible. Any country that wants to join the EU must go through the standard procedure. No except…

When hobby divers revisited a nearly 400-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Texel, they discovered more than 1,000 objects in wooden boxes. Eight years later, postdoc Janet Dickinson used recovered books to compile a profile of the mysterious owner.

All PhD candidates must be admitted to the Graduate School.

When you apply for admission, you’ll be asked to submit several documents. Read more about the required documents for admission.

When you apply for the programme International Chldren's Rights you’ll be asked to submit several documents. Please check the required documents

When you apply for the programme European and International Human Rights Law you’ll be asked to submit several documents as mentioned on this page.

When you apply for admission the programme ICCL, you’ll be asked to submit several documents. Read more information about the required documents

When you apply for the Air and Space Law programme you’ll be asked to submit several documents. More information on this webpage.

When you apply for the programme Law and Digital Technologies, you will be asked to submit several documents. Read more about the required documents

When you apply for admission, you’ll be asked to submit several documents. Read more about the required application documents for your application

When you apply for admission for the study International Criminal Law, you’ll be asked to submit several documents.

When you apply for the European and International Business Law programme you’ll be asked to submit several documents.

When you apply for admission, you’ll be asked to submit several documents. Read more about the required documents

When you apply for admission, you'll be asked to submit several documents.

Now that you are aware of your master’s admission requirements, it's time to check the application deadlines.

Now that you are aware of your master’s admission requirements, it's time to check the application deadlines.

Now that you are aware of your master’s admission requirements, it's time to check the application deadlines.

Now that you are aware of your master’s admission requirements, it's time to check the application deadlines.

Now that you are aware of your master’s admission requirements, it's time to check the application deadlines.

When you apply for admission, you’ll be asked to submit several documents.

As a student residence permit holder you must meet a number of obligations during your stay. Make sure to familiarise yourself with these obligations before submitting your visa/residence permit request.

Requirements for admission to the Graduate School and the steps described below in short are described in detail in the Leiden University PhD Regulations.

When you apply for admission, you’ll be asked to submit several documents.

When you apply for admission, you’ll be asked to submit several documents.

Diploma requirements

Along with your application, you will need to submit a variety of documents. This information only applies to students who need to submit an admission application. For details of which diplomas grant direct admission, refer to the individual programme descriptions.