★ StudyPath verdict
7.8/10
Best for students passionate about language theory and research at a top Dutch university; weigh the strong academic focus against fewer hands-on career tracks compared to applied programmes.
Tuition · Intl
↗€14,300
EU: €2,694/year · click ↗
Duration
3 years
180 ECTS
Start
Sep 26
apply by Jun 26
Language
English
IELTS 6.5+
Accred.
NVAO
NVAO 2026
Admission
Open
no intake cap
Enrolled/yr
↗88
DUO ↑73% ↗
Intl. %
?
no data yet
S:F ratio
↗25:1
institution-wide ↗
Min. English
6.5
IELTS required
Entry route
↗Any VWO
profile required ↗
Satisfaction
↗3.9/5
NSE 2026 ↗
Employment
?
no data yet
Median salary
?
no data yet
Alumni
?
no data yet
↗ Real values are sourced; tiles marked “?” aren’t collected yet · Enrolled/yr is live from DUO · Satisfaction/outcomes are live from StudiekeuzedatabaseLast sync: 23 Jun 2026
About this program
Linguistics is the scientific study of language, and an important way of understanding what it means to be human. Explore the world through this fascinating lens.
Human language is a unique phenomenon. Think for instance of the following questions: What are the phonetics – the specific sounds of speech – of French and Mandarin, and what are their similarities and differences? How do children acquire their native language? Why are some politicians better at convincing the electorate than others? How has German developed over the centuries? Do you converse differently in English than in Japanese? How and why do languages differ from each other? These are the kinds of questions linguists try to answer.
Institution’s own description (HOVI via Studiekeuzedatabase)
English180 ECTSBachelor of ArtsField area: Language & CultureSector: Taal en CommunicatieCode of Conduct (intl.)Full-timeBachelor
Teaching formats
InternshipLectureLiterature studyOral presentationPracticalProjectResearchSelf-study
About Leiden University
Leiden University, founded in 1575, is the oldest university in the Netherlands and one of Europe's most prestigious. Known for excellence in law, humanities, and international studies. 16 Nobel Prize winners are affiliated, including Einstein who was a professor there. Has a second campus in The Hague.
Living in Leiden
Student cost of living
Rent · room
€520/mo
Monthly total
€900–€1,600
Cost of living
Medium
Population
126k
Intellectual, historic, and cultured. Leiden exudes academic tradition with its beautiful old buildings and prestigious university. The city is quieter than Amsterdam but offers rich cultural experiences, including world-class museums like the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden.
View city guide →Specializations
Tracks from HOVI
Language and Cognition ↗Graduation track
Language and Cognition is een specialisatie van Taalwetenschap. Mensen worden geboren met het vermogen om taal te leren, welke taal dan ook. Ze houden zich daarbij aan allerlei ong…
Descriptive LinguisticsGraduation track
Alle talen hebben een grammatica. Maar van de ongeveer zesduizend talen wereldwijd zijn er slechts vijfhonderd redelijk bekend.
Taal in gebruik ↗Graduation track
Taal in gebruik is een specialisatie van de opleiding Taalwetenschap. Mensen gebruiken taal meestal met de bedoeling om iemand bijvoorbeeld te informeren, te vermaken of te overtui…
Comparative Indo-European LinguisticsGraduation track
Het Indo-Europees werd meer dan vijfduizend jaar geleden gesproken door mensen die waarschijnlijk leefden ten noorden van de Zwarte Zee.
Honours education ↗Honourstraject
Iare you looking for extra opportunities besides your regular bachelor's studies? The Honours College offers small-scale teaching to motivated students, with ample attention for pe…
Source: HOVI via Studiekeuzedatabase
Curriculum
Course structure by year
?No curriculum data yet
Career outcomes
Graduate surveys · field-group level
Where bachelor graduates continue
Taalwetenschappen49%
Taalwetenschappen (research)11%
Humanities (research)5%
Field-group estimates from national graduate surveys via Studiekeuzedatabase — not measured per programme
Progression & cohort
Official register statistics
Continue to year 277%
Complete this degree36%
Continue studying after graduating87%
Women among first-years59%
Say workload is “just right”63%
Official register statistics (1cijferHO · 2025) via Studiekeuzedatabase
Student voices
National Student Survey (NSE) — first-party reviews coming
3.9/5overall satisfaction · NSE 2026 · 64 respondents
Content & set-up4
Teachers4
Atmosphere4
Involvement & contact4
Study guidance3.6
Testing & assessment3.8
Facilities4
Career preparation3.1
Teachers' English4.5
Would choose again4
Source: Nationale Studenten Enquête via Studiekeuzedatabase (Studiekeuze123/LCSK)
Application timeline
Application deadline
2026-06-15
Non-EU deadline
2026-04-01
Upcoming open days
Admissions
Minimum language scores · from StudyInNL
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English: C1
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: C2
- IELTS overall band: 6.5
- TOEFL internet based: 90
Scholarships
Leiden University scholarships databaseVaries by scholarship
Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)Varies; for excellent full-time master's students, with exclusions
Internships
?No data yet
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