Student review [#86736] for Psychology
at Leiden University

I study the International Bachelor in Psychology at Leiden University and am also part of the Honours College. Overall, my experience has been very positive.

One of the standout aspects is the university’s strong emphasis on career services. There are countless workshops and events designed to help with CVs, cover letters, motivation letters, and even writing assignments for courses. It’s clear that Leiden prioritizes preparing students for life beyond university.

The online learning system is also well-organized—Brightspace brings everything together. Lecture recordings, assignment details, readings, and announcements are all kept in one place, making it easy to stay on track. Professors and staff are approachable, and interaction is encouraged, which creates a comfortable and supportive academic environment.

The student body is naturally diverse, and this creates an inclusive international community within the department. Outside of classes, Leiden itself is a cozy student city—you often run into people you know at cafés or walking through town, which adds a sense of belonging.

However, there are a few drawbacks. The different faculties are scattered across the city, so it can be hard to meet students from outside your program. Some administrative processes, like course enrollment, are unnecessarily stressful—everyone has to register at the same time, which often overwhelms the system.

Additionally, the housing crisis in the Netherlands has also hit Leiden. Most international students including myself struggle to find affordable accommodation since the university isn’t able to guarantee accommodation, even in the first year.

Also, there are relatively few contact hours. Whether that’s a pro or a con depends on the person. Most of the learning is self-study, and lectures or workgroups only cover a portion of the material. For me, this helped build a lot of self-discipline, but for students looking for more structured, in-person teaching, this might feel limiting.

All in all, I’d recommend Leiden University to students who are self-motivated and want both academic and career development opportunities in an international environment.