Via Leiden University

Source: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/international-students/prepare-your-stay/housing/via-leiden-university-housing-office Parent: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/international-students/studying-at-leiden-university/career/career-service

Every semester, Leiden University reserves a number of rooms for international students via DUWO, a local housing agency. As there is limited availability, you are highly advised to apply for housing as early as possible.

New priority system fall 2026 onwards

Please be aware that there is a new housing priority system in place for students joining us from the fall semester (September) 2026 onwards. See Priority for short-stay students. This applies to all housing applications submitted  on or after 1 November 2025.

Who is eligible?

Accommodation is intended for new international students who are joining Leiden University, i.e. non-Dutch passport holders.

Housing via Leiden University isnot intended for partners or family members. If your partner or family will accompany you, we advise you to search for your own housing well in advance.

Priority for short-stay students

University housing is intended primarily for short-stay students. Contracts are for maximum one year and are non-extendable. Therefore, from the fall semester (September) 2026 onwards*, there is a priority system in place for housing via Leiden University. Priority is granted in the following order:

1. Exchange students (one or two semester)
2. Master's students studying for max. one year
3. Students studying for longer than one year (i.e. Bachelor and two-year Master)

This means that if your study programme is longer than one year, your chances of securing housing via Leiden University are unfortunately small. You will only be offered housing once all short-stay students have been housed. We therefore strongly advise you to instead seek housing yourself. See our Finding Housing Yourself page.

* This applies to all housing applications submitted via uSis on or after 1 November 2025.

What does it cost?

Housing fee

When applying for housing, you will be asked to pay a fee of €285. Leiden University uses this fee to facilitate social and support activities in student housing complexes, as well as to cover administrative costs.

Rent and other charges

After reserving your room, you must pay rent, reservation and other charges to DUWO housing agency. Rental prices range from € 425 to € 1200 euro per month (including utility charges).

When to apply for housing?

Submit your housing request and pay the housing fee as early as possible! Accommodation is offered on a first-come first-served basis according to the date we receive your housing fee. You can even apply for housing whilst awaiting admission, but remember to cancel housing on time if you cannot attend.

Although priority is given to short-stay students, there is still a severe shortage of rooms. This means that housing can unfortunately not be guaranteed to any students, regardless of length of stay.

When is housing usually full?

Once the number of housing requests exceeds the number of rooms available, we will close housing applications in uSis and post a notice on this page. This generally occurs around February or March for studies starting in September, and October for studies starting in February. But this can vary from year to year.

Did I apply for housing in time?

We will let you know by 15 June for studies starting in September, or 30 November for studies starting in February, whether you applied in time and can be offered housing.

How to apply for housing?

Follow the steps below to apply for housing and reserve your accommodation. Don't forget to read the terms and conditions.

Apply and pay housing fee in uSis

1. Apply for admission to a degree or exchange/study abroad programme at Leiden University.\
2. In the online application system (uSis), indicate that you want to request housing.\
3. Pay the housing fee as instructed in uSis as soon as possible! Your place on the housing list is determined by the date we receive your housing fee.\ \ Have you applied for multiple programmes with the same start date but don’t know yet which you will follow? If so, you still only need to pay one housing fee. \
4. On approx. 15 June (studies starting in September) or 30 November (studies starting in February), we will send you an email letting you know that either:   
5. you applied in time and will soon be given access to the housing reservation portal, or
6. too many students applied before you so you will be put on a housing waiting list in case another student withdraws, or you can choose to cancel your housing application and request a refund of your housing fee.\ \ Please patiently await this email as we are unable to provide details before this date!\ \ If you choose to remain on the waiting list\ You can still request a refund or defer your housing application at a later date on condition that we have not yet offered you housing. See how to cancel or defer housing. Of course, if we are unable to offer you any housing at all, we will refund your housing fee.

Reserve your accommodation

If you are notified that you applied in time:

1. Shortly after 15 June (studies starting in September) or 30 November (studies starting in February) we will begin sending activation emails for the ROOM-University housing reservation portal. Here you can find all the accommodation set aside by DUWO for Leiden University’s international students.\ \ Activiation emails will be sent in batches\ Students who paid the housing fee earliest will receive their activation email first, followed by the next batch and so on. Remember to check your emails and junk mail frequently from 15 June/30 November onwards!\
2. Immediately after receiving your activation email, activate your account, log into the ROOM-University housing reservationportal and reserve your accommodation. Be quick! Remember that other students will be reserving rooms at the same time as you. And the longer you wait, the more students will be granted access to the portal so the less choice you will have.\
3. Immediately after reserving your accommodation, make sure you have sufficient funds available to make your first payment. Before signing your tenancy agreement, DUWO will ask you to make an initial payment that includes 3 months rent. See the DUWO - Leiden University website for details.

After reserving your room

Once you have reserved your room, you will receive information from DUWO on further procedures and payments. For further details see: 

• New DUWO university room
• DUWO Leiden University website

Terms and condition

On the DUWO important conditions page you can find information on matters such as tenancy regulations, cancellation policies and contract termination and extensions.

Till when can I cancel or defer housing?

No longer need housing or starting your studies later? If you cancel or defer housing before the deadline below, your housing fee can be refunded or transferred to a later semester.

• 1 June: for studies starting in September
• 15 November: for studies starting in February

After these dates, your housing fee can no longer be refunded or deferred, even if you are not admitted or cannot meet your admission conditions. Unless, of course, we are unable to offer you any housing at all.

Follow the steps below to cancel or defer housing:

How to cancel or defer housing

Not via uSis

If you cancel or defer your studies in the online application system (uSis), your housing application will NOT be automatically cancelled or deferred. You must also follow the steps below.

Steps to take

• Send a message via the Housing contact form letting us know you want to cancel or defer your housing application. Include your name and student number (from uSis).
• Deferrals only: you can only defer your housing application if you also defer your admission. So as well as sending a message via the Housing contact form, don't forget to also defer your admission by following the instructions in this FAQ. Once you have done so, we will transfer your housing application and fee to your new start date. You do not need to reapply for housing or pay the housing fee again.

About the accommodation

• Rental contracts are for maximum one year and are non-extendable.
• There are a range of accommodation types available, from rooms with shared facilities to individual apartments. All accommodation is furnished.
• Accommodation is located in either Leiden, The Hague or the surrounding area and is easily accessible by public transport.
• Rental periods may not correspond exactly with the start and end date of your study programme. Rental contracts are generally for a period of 12 months (starting mid-August or mid-January); or one semester (fall semester is mid-August to mid-January, spring semester is mid-January to mid-August).
• Pets are not allowed.

On the DUWO-Leiden University website you can find an overview of all accommodation types and locations.

Residence Life Programme

At most accommodation complexes for international students, Leiden University offers the Residence Life Programme. The goal of this programme is to help international students feel happy and at home in Leiden. Read more about the Residence Life Programme.

Students with a disability

If you have a disability you may require additional facilities in your living environment. Finding suitable accommodation can be time-consuming, so please contact the Housing Officer for advice well before 1 May (for studies starting in September) or 15 October (for studies starting in February). Also visit our webpages about studying with a disability or contact Fenestra Disability Centre.