Leiden University - Leiden Law School

Leiden University - Leiden Law School

Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is the oldest university in the Netherlands. Leiden Law School is one of the founding faculties and is now one of the largest in the University. With its international focus and roots going far back in the Dutch legal order, the faculty has helped to train many generations of legal professionals for key positions within a society governed by the rule of law.

Academic Highlights

Leiden Law School has always had a strong international focus. They have a long tradition in the study of international and European law, and to this day the faculty remains concerned with the law and governance of developing countries.  It has five institutes: Private Law; Public Law; Criminal Law and Criminology; Interdisciplinary Study of the Law; and Tax Law and Economics.

Location

Leiden Law School is currently housed in the old Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, named after physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, located in the old centre of Leiden, it was beautifully restored in 2004. They also have facilities for teaching and research at Leiden’s campus in the Hague.

Did you know?

Leiden University in The Netherlands is one of Europe’s most highly acclaimed international universities, with a world-renowned reputation in comparative and international law subjects, including public international law, legal history and East European law. The school’s close proximity to The Hague and War Crimes Tribunal allows students to observe proceedings at some of the world’s most venerable international legal institutions.

Language of Instruction

Dutch, English (limited in some areas)

Program Duration

1 semester, 2 semesters

Academic Level

Undergraduate, Postgraduate

Minimum Result Required3.0 GPA
Previous round cut-off (WAM (%) or GPA)3.07 GPA

Additional Requirement

Law students must have completed two years, 96 Monash credits, of law before applying for exchange to Leiden University, Faculty of Law.  Double degree students in Law can apply having met the Monash Law pre-requisite for exchange (48 credits) and completed at least two years, 96 Monash credits, of study in total.  All students should note, however, that some units at Leiden may have specific legal knowledge entry requirements. This can be found in the online Prospectus: Search - Prospectus - Universiteit Leiden

Anticipated Places in Semester 1, 2027

4 places

Exchange Availability

Red

Eligible Monash Campus

Monash Australia, Monash Malaysia

Agreement Scope

Law

Handbook/Catalogue

For unit descriptions, visit Leiden University's e-Prospectus and use the filters on the left to include;

  1. 'Exchange/Study Abroad' under the Course Type filter, and
  2. 'Law' under the Faculty filter

You can then also filter by semester, noting the differences between Leiden's academic calendar and Monash's academic calendar.

Full-time Credit Load Equivalents

Semester

Min. 18 Monash points

Max. 24 Monash points

22.5 ECTS*

30 ECTS

ECTS - European Credit Transfer System

*If your study load cannot exactly equate to 22.5 ECTS, then you will need to complete a study load as close to 22.5 ECTS without going under in order to receive 18 Monash credit points.

Year

Min. 36 Monash points

Max. 48 Monash points

45 ECTS

60 ECTS

Academic Calendar

Leiden Law 'Fall' Semester (Monash Semester 2): late August to late January
Leiden Law 'Spring' Semester (Monash Semester 1): early February to early July

Academic Calendar

Law

Legal studies

  

Note

  • The listed disciplines are not necessarily exhaustive and other fields of study might also be available at the institution.
  • Approval to study particular subjects at any institution is always at the discretion of the departmental/discipline and faculty advisers in your managing faculty(ies) and subject to available places at the host.

Accommodation

Read the Housing web pages, particularly those sections for international students.

Visas

As a general rule, if you are from outside EU/EAA countries and plan to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for an entry visa (MVV - Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf) and/or a residence permit (VVR - Verblijfsvergunning). The residence permit is the document required for students to stay and study in the Netherlands legally.  Both the entry visa and residence permit are issued by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).  For more information on visas, please refer to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherland in Australia website.

Leiden University also provide some advice on visas, which can be found on their Visa and Residence Permit web page.

Health and insurance

Non-Dutch students are required by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) to have health insurance while living and studying in the Netherlands. When travelling on a Monash Abroad approved program, you are automatically covered under the Monash University Student Travel Insurance policy. Read the Leiden information about insurance.

Orientation and extra-curricular 

Leiden University organises a compulsory orientation program to help students settle into their new home.  There is helpful information about preparing for your stay and also the useful New student information.

Language courses are available but are not covered by the exchange agreement and students would have to pay tuition fees for language courses. The Academic Language Centre offers a range of Dutch language courses.

Cost of living

The Hague on the Expatistan site (this is a website external to the University and intended to be indicative only).

Funding

For information about funding available to support study on exchange overseas, see the Financial Information page on the Monash Abroad website.

Important notes

Law students must have completed two years, 96 Monash credits, of law before applying for exchange to Leiden University, Faculty of Law.  Double degree students in Law can apply having met the Monash Law pre-requisite for exchange (48 credits) and completed at least two years, 96 Monash credits, of study in total.  All students should note, however, that some units at Leiden may have specific legal knowledge entry requirements. This can be found in the online Prospectus: Search - Prospectus - Universiteit Leiden    https://studiegids.universiteitleiden.nl/en/search?for=courses&ec-min=&ec-max=&faculty%5B%5D=1&q=exchange&edition=2023-2024

To begin your application and study plan, click the button below.

Apply here

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Let us know about your exchange via this survey form and your testimonial could be shown here.