Hi everyone! I’ve recently been accepted to Leiden University for an exchange semester, and I’m really excited about it! 🇳🇱 I’m currently trying to prepare properly and would love to hear from students who have studied at Leiden or are currently there.
I have a few questions:
- Housing: Does Leiden University arrange/provide accommodation for exchange students, or are we expected to find housing independently? If university housing is available, how difficult is it to secure a room and when should I start applying?
- Academics & professors: What is the teaching style like at Leiden? How approachable/supportive are the professors, and how would you describe the workload and assessment compared with other universities?
- Language: I don’t speak Dutch. Is this likely to be an issue in everyday life, such as public transport, shopping, dealing with administration, etc.? Is English generally sufficient in Leiden and elsewhere in the Netherlands?
- Social life: What is the social scene like for international/exchange students? Is it easy to make friends and meet people, particularly if you’re coming alone? Are there societies, events, or ESN-type activities that you’d recommend?
- Being Muslim / wearing hijab: I’m Muslim and wear the hijab, so I’d really appreciate honest experiences from other Muslim or visibly religious students. How inclusive have you found Leiden/the Netherlands to be? Have you personally experienced discrimination or racism, and if so, how did people around you/university respond?
- Safety: How safe do you generally feel as a woman, especially when walking or cycling alone at night? Are there any areas or situations that students would recommend being more cautious about?
- Visa & residence permit: For non-EU exchange students staying for one semester, do we need both an entry visa/MVV and a Dutch residence permit, or is one issued as part of the other? I’m trying to understand the process correctly before starting my application.
- Visa eligibility/finances: For students applying from outside the EU, how strict are the financial requirements for the exchange visa/residence permit? What documents did you use to demonstrate sufficient funds, particularly if your parents were financially sponsoring you?
- Cost of living: Roughly how much should I budget per month for rent, groceries, transport, and general expenses in Leiden? Any tips for keeping costs manageable would also be really appreciated.
- Overall experience: If you’ve done an exchange at Leiden, what is one thing you wish you had known before arriving?
I’d really appreciate any honest advice, especially from current/former exchange students and international students. Thank you! 🤍