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Netherlands: Leiden University - Student Life

You can stroll along the canals that line the streets of Leiden

Life in Leiden

Leiden is a very picturesque town with some 117,000 inhabitants. The city centre is criss-crossed with boat-lined canals, which are bordered by red brick roads. Walking and, of course, cycling are the best modes of transportation within the town, and there are buses which go to outlying areas. Since Leiden is a small city, all the university buildings are within walking or cycling distance. Because of the safe environment and the individual approach, students tend to feel at home quickly. International students are able to socialize easily in the many cafes around town.

There are also many student organizations that offer opportunites for social, cultural, and recreational activities. The University Sports Center offers outdoor facilities for sports such as tennis and football, as well as indoor facilities for badminton, fencing, etc. The Leiden Adacemic Art Centre organizes courses in drama, music, dance, literature, photography, and visual arts. Moreover, it organizes public performances of all kinds. For information, go to the www.leiden.edu site and use the services and facilities link. There you will fin sports and leisure links.

Leiden is located in a very central part of the Netherlands , which has an excellent public transportation system, so it does not take long to travel to the towns in the surrounding area. The train can take you to Rotterdam, Amsterdam, or Utrecht in 40 minutes, and it is just a short 10-minute ride to the Hague. The area immediately around Leiden also offers a wide range of recreational possibilities. The North Sea, with its scenic beaches and sand dunes, is only eight miles to the west of Leiden, and easily accessible by bus. The more ambitious can cycle there in about an hour. Behind the dunes are holiday resorts, which bustle with life during the summer. To the northeast of Leiden there are large lakes, excellent for sailing, windsurfing, rowing and sometimes, when it is cold enough, for ice-skating. The western part of the country lies below sea level and an ingenious system of turbines, dikes and canals keeps the feet of the Dutch dry!

Housing and Meals

More information on the housing process can be found on Leiden 's Website. Housing for international and domestic students in Leiden is coordinated by an organization called SLSWonen. They offer several types of housing including (furnished and unfurnished) rooms in group houses or apartments (shared and individual). Prices range by type of housing and the number of roommates. All housing options have some kitchen facilities.

Students can also coordinate their housing on their own. Please see Leiden's Website on finding your own housing.

Schedule

The University of Leiden program is available for Fall semester, Spring semester and Full Year.

* Fall Semester: September – January
* Spring Semester: late January – June
* Academic Year: September – June

Students participating in the optional Intensive Dutch language course that is offered prior to the beginning of standard semester should expect to arrive in early August for the fall term and early January for the spring term.

There will be an international student orientation that will take place prior to the beginning of classes.

The exact finishing date will depend on your individual course and exam schedule. Exceptions for taking earlier/later exams are sometimes possible for international students, especially for those attending the fall semester. Please inquire about this possibility with your lecturer.

* Schedules are subject to change without prior notice.