205 reviews
3.85 / 5 based on 205 reviews

Useful |
1
“A tailor-made university for your individual career and educational ambitions”
anonymous
Netherlands, Undergraduate
International Relations, 2021
Overall
If Leiden University could be summarized in two concepts, I would say those are freedom of choice and diversity. On the one hand, I have been offered an incredibly wide range of educational options in Leiden. You can choose to learn a language (from Mandarin to Dutch), to follow a Minor that further helps you to specialize in an area of expertise, to study at the Honours academy and develop high-level skills, or to integrate in student life by participating as a member of their multiple associations (for example, BASIS or CIROS), and gaining in their positions lots of working experience. On the other hand, Leiden University has a vibrant international and diverse environment, very suitable for students coming from abroad, and for those hoping to broaden their horizons by learning from multiple perspectives. In short, I think Leiden University is an amazing place to feel at home in an international environment, while having the opportunity to become the graduate student or professional you want to be, with almost complete freedom.
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Pros
Freedom of choice, lots of opportunities, diverse and inclusive environment, high-quality and demanding education
Cons
Sometimes tight deadlines and high workloads

Useful |
0
“A tailor-made university for your individual career and educational ambitions”
anonymous
Netherlands, Undergraduate
International Relations, 2021
Overall
If Leiden University could be summarized in two concepts, I would say those are freedom of choice and diversity. On the one hand, I have been offered an incredibly wide range of educational options in Leiden. You can choose to learn a language (from Mandarin to Dutch), to follow a Minor that further helps you to specialize in an area of expertise, to study at the Honours academy and develop high-level skills, or to integrate in student life by participating as a member of their multiple associations (for example, BASIS or CIROS), and gaining in their positions lots of working experience. On the other hand, Leiden University has a vibrant international and diverse environment, very suitable for students coming from abroad, and for those hoping to broaden their horizons by learning from multiple perspectives. In short, I think Leiden University is an amazing place to feel at home in an international environment, while having the opportunity to become the graduate student or professional you want to be, with almost complete freedom.
Read more >
Pros
Freedom of choice, lots of opportunities, diverse and inclusive environment, high-quality and demanding education
Cons
Sometimes tight deadlines and high workloads

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0
Dhanalakshmi P
Overall
I wish I had known...
I have one more year to study. If the study is considered as investment, then confidently one could take it up.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Leiden is famous on its own. They have sincerity towards the reputation of the university and need of the students. They have been contimuously striving to give excellence. So most likely one could keep it in the list when you plan for abroad studies
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Ask university what is the easy way to carry cash to the host country and about public transportation, living, etc. Otherwise in a new city, one tend to lose a lot in the initial days. Moreover, search for grants because, actaul expenditure always crosses estimated. Also, enquire well on weather and climate if it'lls uit you.
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Dave C
Overall
I wish I had known...
Why didn't I start travelling earlier?
I would take a footy next time.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
Very, the quality of education is very high if you actually want to study but most importantly, there are a lot of quality people around who are open minded and you have access to so many new things, especially from the perspective of an australian for whom the distances to destinations are usually so much greater. The number one point however was living with and getting to know like minded people who were up for everything but came from such diverse backgrounds.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
TRAVEL TIPS
Eurail pass is a waste of time from here, you are better off buying single tickets each time if you want to avoid pressuring yourself to use up all the tickets.
You can buy a student train pass (for around 70 fl- in 1998) which will get you discounted train fares around the whole benelux area.
I don't know if they still do it but KLM used to put out cheap flights on their web page which were valid for travel the following day. A lot of people found they could set aside a few days and buy a ticket to the best/highest value destination.
Leiden had a supermarket (near the police station) with a student travel agency inside, that offered very cheap student flights around europe.
We also found it was relatively cheap to get a group of 4 students and rent a new car (eg golf) ...
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0
“Good Academic and Student Support”
Laura J
Turkey,
International Relations, 2023
Overall
My teachers are from around the world and they are really good in their areas. I feel my program is teaching me useful and updated skills that help me navigate the world today.
We have student advisors that are very active and genuinely interested in helping us, with full availability and which I have turned to in difficult moments. They teach us a lot how to do independent work because we usually have only on lesson a day but are constantly busy with assigned independent work such as readings and academic essays.
Maybe what is worse about Leiden is that they don't have affordable services for their students. For example, the ERASMUS grant is the minimum possible, there is no affordable school canteen (only private cafés).
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Careers
I have contacted the careers service for my CV and LinkedIn page in which they help me have a module to follow for it. I also found this website on their career page
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Pros
the education
Cons
the funding and food services

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1
anonymous
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Biotechnology, Graduate, Independent
Housing
Type of housing: A room exchange
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: A room exchange
Why?
Where you have a room like most other international students, you get to meet a lot of people of very different culture and ways of life than yours, thereby you get to appreciate and learn to live with other people and respect them for their believes and ways of life.It helps you to have a wider perspective towards life.
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Personal comments
I think the problem is that Leiden is a small city with a high population of students, and as such accomodation costs are a bit expensive especially for international students.
I think if there were on campus accomodations it will be a bit better.
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