Services and data found on this page cannot be guaranteed.
You should always contact the institution directly to ensure that you have the right information.
The information about this institution was updated on 06/November/2023.
Institution details
Location
Address
Rapenburg 70
2311 EZ Leiden
Netherlands
52.1571485, 4.485209
Campuses
Offices
Disability / Inclusion Office
Contact for Disability Office
Additional information about contacting the Disability/Inclusion Office
International Relations Office
Contact for International Relations Office
Additional information about contacting the International Relations Office
Procedures for students
Procedure to be recognised as a student with fewer opportunities
Procedure to be recognised as a student with a disability
What is the procedure to be recognised as a student with a disability?
First you make an appointment with the Fenestra Disability Centre and provide the Centre with a medical certificate. You can contact the Fenestra Disability Centre by phone or through the following form.
Fenestra will submit your request for extra facilities to your faculty. To request extra facilities you will need a medical statement issued by a professional, for example, a doctor, psychiatrist or psychologist. Are you having difficulties obtaining a statement? Ask instead for a copy of your medical dossier, which you are always entitled to.
After you contacted the Fenestra Disability Centre and provided them with a medical certificate, you can expect a meeting with a student counsellor to determine whether the nature of the disability warrants extra facilities. The University provides more or less tailor-made within the framework of the regulations and the capacity of the faculty/university.
The final decision as to whether you can be granted extra educational facilities is made by the board of examiners of your study programme. If your request is denied you are entitled to appeal against the decision. Fenestra can assist you with the appeal procedure.
Necessary documents to provide
A medical certificate or medical statement.
What can students expect?
Adaptations can be made to the ways in which you follow classes and take exams. However, this depends largely on your personal situation, and you will need to make contact with staff from Fenestra Disability Centre to assess what is feasible. You will also need to present some form of evidence for why these adaptations apply to your situation.
Guidance from:
Take a look below for further information about the guidance available. Leiden University also offers workshops on subjects such as study techniques and personal development. You could also consider looking at the many websites that offer tips about effective studying.
The protocol on studying with a disability is intended to provide clear information about studying with a disability at Leiden University.
Fenestra Disability Centre can provide physical aids to be used within the university, for example:
- Recording lectures and tutorials
- Examination papers in a larger format
- Use of laptops for examinations
If you require adaptations, physical aids, additional support or transport you may be able to request a special allowance. Please contact Fenestra Disability Centre for further information.
Advice:
If you have any questions or need advice you are welcome to contact Fenestra Disability Centre, Leiden University’s information centre for students with a disability. Fenestra’s experienced and professional staff are there to help you successfully complete your studies at Leiden University. Make sure to let your study adviser know that you have requested advice from Fenestra.
Guidance:
If you need extra assistance, guidance or adaptations there are several staff members who can help. Who you should speak to depends on the nature of your situation.
Study advisers:
Every study programme has a study adviser who is familiar with the structure of the programme. He or she is your point of contact for any study-related issues. On the basis of advice issued by Fenestra your study adviser will discuss any educational adaptations that are required with the board of examiners. Your study adviser will also oversee your academic progress and assist if you need to make use of the regulations on financial support for students.
Student counsellors:
Our student counsellors can be found at Plexus Student Centre. They are experts in rules and regulations and can provide advice and assistance if you fall behind in your studies, or want to submit a request on the basis of a specific regulation or provision. Two student counsellors are appointed to Fenestra disability centre.
Student psychologists:
Our student psychologists can offer advice on both academic and personal issues. You are welcome to come by to briefly discuss your problems during their open consultation hours. The student psychologist will then decide what the best course of action is for you, for example referral to another organisation or staff member, further meetings with a student psychologist, or perhaps a training course. If you need specialist or long-term assistance the student psychologist can help you to find the right therapist or organisation.
Our student psychologists give regular workshops on studying and personal development. If you have issues with time-management and planning you can also request personal coaching. By carrying out assignments and keeping a note of your time usage you can gain a clearer picture of where you are going wrong and how you can make improvements.
Study choice and career advisers:
Study choice and career advisers can help you to choose the right study programme and assist you in your transition to the job market. A special test has been developed for people with a disability to help with career choices. This test can help you evaluate if (or to what extent) your disability might affect your ability to carry out a particular profession. Read more about working with a disability.
Fenestra Disability Centre:
The Fenestra Disability Centre provides advice on all disability-related matters. As well as assisting students with requests for extra facilities, Fenestra can also offer advice during the application process and give general information on finding your way both within and outside the university.
Mentors:
At the start of your studies you will have an introductory meeting with a lecturer or study advisor. From that point onwards your academic well-being will be overseen by a mentor. This will be either a (senior) student or a lecturer. Many mentors hold regular meetings with their mentor group.
Buddies:
If you are having difficulties finding your way within your new student programme as the result of a disability you may be able to request additional support. This support comes in the form of a buddy, who is a senior student from the same study programme. Students with an autistic spectrum disorder often make use of the buddy system. To request a buddy please contact Fenestra Disability Centre.
Adjustments for students with disabilities
Adjustments can be made available for students under certain conditions, based on a needs assessment upon arrival at the University.
What adjustments for studies can be made for students?
What adjustments for exams can be made for students?
Other adjustments and services for students with disabilities offered at the institution
A disability can have an impact on your studies and exams. In some circumstances special educational facilities might be required.
The following facilities can be offered to help students with a disability during their studies and exams:
- physical aids (for example a laptop for use in exams);
- extra time for exams;
- flexibility in terms of seminar attendance requirements;
- oral exams;
- extended deadlines for the submission of assignments;
- amendments to binding study advice requirements (Leiden study system). A prerequisite is that you have drawn up an adapted study plan at the commencement of your studies or in your first semester, in collaboration with your study adviser.
If you have a disability and require a facility that is not mentioned on this page the university will do its best to meet your needs, in as far as this can be reasonably expected.
Requesting extra educational facilities
If you require extra educational facilities as the result of a disability please contact Fenestra Disability Centre. Fenestra will submit your request for extra facilities to your faculty. To request extra facilities you will need a medical statement issued by a professional, for example a doctor, psychiatrist or psychologist. Are you having difficulties obtaining a statement? Ask instead for a copy of your medical dossier, which you are always entitled to.
The final decision as to whether you can be granted extra educational facilities is made by the board of examiners of your study programme. If your request is denied you are entitled to appeal against the decision. Fenestra can assist you with the appeal procedure.
Services and Support
Financial support
What extra financial support for incoming students with disabilities is offered?
Erasmus students who incur additional costs as a result of their disability whilst studying abroad may be entitled to additional financial assistance. All European Union countries are part of the Erasmus+programme. In general a maximum of 5000 euro can be awarded for the entire period of study abroad, however higher amounts may be awarded in exceptional circumstances. These amounts are in addition to the standard Erasmus scholarship. If you will study abroad outside the European Union the Erasmus scheme does not apply and you should instead contact Fenestra Disability Centre to enquire about other options.
Emergency fund
To check whether you are eligible for financial support from the emergency fund please contact a student counsellor.
Medical and Psychological support
Where to seek medical services?
We highly advise you to register with a doctor (GP) in Leiden or The Hague before arrival or soon after you get here. Find out more information here.
You can only get a doctor’s appointment in the Netherlands after first registering at a doctor’s practice. Furthermore, if you need to see a specialist, you must first obtain a referral from your own doctor – except in cases of emergency.
Hopefully it won’t be necessary, but if you should need medical assistance whilst living and studying in Leiden or The Hague you can find the necessary contact information here. The emergency telephone number in the Netherlands (ambulance, police, fire service) is 112. If you need to contact the police but it is not an emergency you can call 0900 – 8844.
COVID 19 vaccinations for international students
- If you are registered as a resident in the Netherlands (BRP registration), you will be invited for a COVID 19 vaccination. You will receive an invitation by post from the RIVM.
- If you have a medical issue that is known to your Dutch GP, you may receive an earlier invitation directly from your GP.
- If you are doing an internship in the field of healthcare, check with your internship provider whether you may also be eligible for earlier vaccination.
- Read more about COVID 19 vaccinations and how to get proof of vaccination on the Government of The Netherlands website.
General practitioner (GP)
We strongly advise you to register with a GP (‘huisarts’ in Dutch) in Leiden or The Hague while you are studying here. GPs can only see you for a consultation if you are registered with them. You also need a GP for a referral to a hospital or specialist. You can only go to a hospital without a referral from a GP in emergency situations. If you are registered at a GP and have either an AON or EHIC insurance, you do not have to pay for your health care in advance.
Leiden
You can search for a doctor in Leiden via this website. The site is in Dutch, but by entering your postal code or 'Leiden' you can find your nearest doctor's practice. Contact the practice directly to ask how to register.
The Hague
We recommend the GP practices below for students living in the centre of The Hague and near railway station Den Haag Centraal or Hollands Spoor; they accept new patients and have experience with international students.
- Biking+Doctors
Babylon Hotel
Bezuidenhoutseweg 53
2594 AC The Hague
070 808 0300
Website
[email protected] - Praktijk Shams
Stationsweg 107 2h
2515 BL The Hague
070 380 0661
Website
You can search for a doctor in The Hague via this website. The site is in Dutch, but by entering your postal code or 'Den Haag' you can find your nearest doctor's practice. Contact the practice directly to ask how to register.
Urgent situation outside office hours
If there is an urgent situation outside office hours and you require immediate assistance from a doctor you can contact the ‘out-of-hours doctor’s post’ (in Dutch called "Huisartsenpost"). By ‘urgent situation’ is meant serious medical complaints, illness or injury for which treatment cannot be delayed.
- Out-of-hours doctor’s post in Leiden – tel: 0900 513 80 39
- Out-of-hours doctor’s post in The Hague – tel: 070 346 96 69
The "Huisartsenpost" is for emergency cases only and is more expensive than a regular visit to a GP/family doctor during weekly consulting hours. Needless to say, your health insurance will only reimburse you if it was indeed an emergency.
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Upon calling the "Huisartsenpost" you will first speak to an assistant who will ask you a number of questions to assess the urgency of the situation and type of assistance you require. The assistant will decide if a visit to the "Huisartsenpost" is necessary and let you know at what time you should come.
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Be aware that this initial telephone assessment is not free of charge. If you do not have a European Health Insurance card (EHIC) you will receive a bill for this service.
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If you have an EHIC, remember to take it along with you to your appointment, you will be asked to pay for your visit. You can ask for reimbursement.
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If you do not have an EHIC you will be also asked to pay for your visit. You can request reimbursement for the cost of your visit and telephone assessment from your health insurance company.
Contact for medical support
Contact for psychological support/counselling
Housing support
Are there any accessible services at the residences?
Student housing procedures and norms vary greatly from country to country. In the Netherlands, most universities do not have their own dormitories and students generally arrange their own accommodation. Find out how you can arrange your student housing. Make sure to start early! Affordable rooms are in short supply.
Arranging student housing
Like many universities in the Netherlands, Leiden University does not have a central campus or student dormitories. Instead, our faculties are spread throughout the cities of Leiden and The Hague and students live in accommodation rented via housing organisations and landlords.
In general, students are expected to arrange their own housing. However, for international students, Leiden University reserves a limited number of rooms each year for early applicants. The number of housing applications always greatly exceeds the number of reserved rooms. We therefore strongly recommend that prospective students also explore alternative ways of finding accommodation well before arriving in the Netherlands.
Steps to take:
We strongly recommend that you take both the following steps as early as possible:
1. Take action to find housing yourself
For example, register with local housing organisations. Registration fees are generally inexpensive and the earlier you register, the greater your chance of getting a room by the start of the semester.
2. Request housing via Leiden University
The university can only house a small percentage of students who request housing. Rooms are offered on a first-come first-served basis, so submit your housing request and pay the housing fee as soon as you can! If you are unsuccessful, you can always fall back on the plans you set in motion to find your own housing.
Exception: Leiden University College The Hague
If you are about to join the Liberal Arts and Sciences programme as a full-time degree student at LUC The Hague, you do not need to arrange your own housing. Instead, you will become part of the LUC community and live alongside your fellow students in the Anna van Buerenplein building for the first two years of your studies.
You can find more information about housing on: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/international-students/p…
Contact for housing support
Additional services
Activities
Preparatory visits
What is the procedure to request a preparatory visit?
For more information, you can contact the Fenestra Disability Centre by phone or through the following form.
What can be expected from the preparatory visit?
The preparatory visit will be tailormade to each individual by the Fenestra Disability Centre and the faculty you want to visit. For more information, you can contact the Fenestra Disability Centre by phone or through the following form.
Welcoming activities
What specific information is provided for students with disabilities during the orientation days?
When should you plan to arrive in the Netherlands? Find out what you should take into consideration when making your travel plans. Also learn about Leiden University's welcome service for newly-arriving international students.
Warm welcome service
During the HOP and OWL introduction weeks, Leiden University organises a Warm Welcome Service for newly-arriving international students. Helpful staff will be on hand to give advice on the formalities you need to take care of after arrival.
Other travel plan considerations
Before planning your journey, you should also take the following into consider:
- The dates of your introduction week
- Your housing contract dates and key collection arrangements
- Any orientation activities organised by your study programme
- The dates of any necessary appointments, for example:
- Town hall registration appointment
- Dutch bank account appointment
- Biometric data appointment (students who requested a residence permit only)
- Always await the approval of your student visa (if applicable) before booking a non-changeable/non-refundable ticket!
Travel information
For useful information to help you find your way from the airport and around Leiden and The Hague, take a look at the following websites
- Dutch railways (NS) journey planner
- Public transport journey planner
- Leiden Tourist Information Centre
- The Hague Info Store
Travel pass
To use public transport in the Netherlands you will need a travel pass, known as an OV-chipkaart. For information on the types of card available and how to purchase them, visit the OV-chipkaart site. Note that you can buy a single-use OV-chipkaart from ticket machines at Dutch train stations.
Find more information here.