•	Procedure for application and accommodation

As of immediately Universiteit Leiden has implemented a new procedure for housing and registration; the main changes are:
•	International students must apply before April 1 for the 1st semester and before October 15 for the 2nd semester; applications received after these dates will still be processed, but requests for housing can only be met upon availability
•	The application form for housing and registration – which used to be issued by us and used to be processed by us first before being sent to the International Office – has now become available on-line and has to be sent to the International Office first; note: this doesn’t imply students can send this application form without any former contact with us and staff members of the department they’re going to: they would first have to be accepted by the department just like in the former procedure
•	Rooms are categorized under price ranges rather than based upon their physical addresses
•	The new application form can be found at: www.leiden.edu choosing the link Programmes in English followed by Non-degree programmes taught in English

What to do in your Home Country

•	For general information about the University please check http://www.leiden.edu; for research possibilities please check http://www.fwn.leidenuniv.nl/gs/ selecting the desired subject in the left frame, followed by Research topcs and staff; English description of courses can be found at: http://www.fwn.leidenuniv.nl/gs/, choosing any of the frame’s options and then All Science Courses (Note: only  graduate (masters) courses wiil be taught in English upon request); 
•	Discuss with your Socrates Co-ordinator and supervisor where and when to participate in the Socrates programme; request an introduction to our office as a Socrates candidate; please send us a curriculum vitae and a (unofficial) transcript of records (including information about all courses you’ve attended and practical work you’ve done); also add a list of selected courses and/or research preferences at Universiteit Leiden; the easiest way is to add these documents as an attachment to an e-mail message
•	After approval at our side you can complete the Application for registration (and accommodation) form (available on-line and at our office)
•	On this Application form you will be asked:
a)	when you plan to arrive and the duration of your stay
b)	whether you want to attend a Dutch intensive language course
c)	if and when housing is required (dd/mm/yy)
d)	university education, study proposal and name of co-ordinator and department in Leiden
It is important the International Office receives this form on April 1 at the latest for the 1st semester and October 15 for the 2nd semester (on the form you can find the return address or by fax: ++ 31 71 527 7182)
It is important we also receive a copy of your completed form by fax: ++ 31 71 527 4195
•	Have 4 photographs (passport size) made. Send us one photograph before arrival.
•	Inform at an insurance company for a supplemental insurance that will cover your medical and dental treatment, special expenses and assistance, accidents, liability, legal assistance and loss of luggage.
•	Make sure to bring enough money to cover your expenses at arrival. You have to pay the rent one month in advance and often you also have to pay a deposit, which is the same amount of money as the rent for one month! See for more information on living expenses http://leiden.edu/
•	Approximately one week before departure you have to contact your supervisor in Leiden and also Alexsia or Gloria, preferably through e-mail about the exact date and time of arrival, preferably on a weekday; arrival during the weekend causes extra problems. Make sure to make an appointment to get the key to your room
•	Don’t forget to bring a valid passport (send copy), student’s ID (send copy), health insurancy policy (send copy) and enough money!

Students from countries outside the EC should apply for a temporary residence permit at the Dutch embassy or consulate in their own country before coming to the Netherlands. This doesn’t apply to residents from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the USA (More information on visa and residence permits can be obtained at: Rapenburg 70 room C1.06 or through e-mail: mej.vandebos@ecm.leidenuniv.nl) or on www.leiden.edu

Housing: Information about the room will be sent to you directly by the SLS (Stichting Leidse Studentenhuisvesting) or ROOFS (Rooms for Foreign Students); this will be done normally one or two weeks before your date of arrival (in busy periods students will have to go to the SLS themselves upon arrival to learn their addresses and get the key to their rooms). Look for more information on www.sls.nl and follow the link short stay

What to do in the Netherlands

upon arrival:
•	At Leiden Central Station, go to the Visitors’ Centre (http://www.leidenuniv.nl/ics/uvc/index1.html) which is open from 08:00 till 20:00 hrs on week days; here you can get maps, directions to your room, hotel addresses; they can also make a phone call for you to the SLS to learn your address in Leiden (if you didn’t learn it before leaving) and they will show you how to get there
•	Pay the rent of your room and get the key to your room, either by visiting the SLS (http://www.sls.nl) at Doelengracht 4b or by an pre-arranged appointment you’ve made with the caretaker of the SLS buildings; in case of a ROOFS room, you’ve probably already received a letter with the name of the student you must call and pay the rent to
•	Go to the University Information Desk at Plexus Student Centre (www.leiden.edu, following the link Check-in at Leiden University and Orientation), Kaiserstraat 25, for registration and obtaining your student ID; here you’ll also receive info about the procedure of registration at Leiden Town Hall and the Police Dept. (students from EC countries are not obliged to register at the Police Station)
•	Register at Leiden Town Hall (only those who will stay longer than 4 months)
•	Meet your supervisor and stop by our office for any loose ends (open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) or to just say “hello”
•	Introduction Days for International Students are organised in the beginning of September and at the end of January; the central International Office will inform you about these

during your stay:
•	Inform us about any changes to your study period in Leiden; for example if you’re leaving sooner, if you’re extending your stay, if you’re going to follow more classes and are planning to do exams in them, etc.
•	Inform us about any changes in your address in Leiden

upon departure:
•	Let our office know and your supervisor as well that you’re entitled to receive a certificate which states which courses you’ve followed; if possible, you’ll take the certificate along with you back home; if for some reason your supervisor can’t give us all necessary data before your departure, it will be sent to your home address or university
•	Remove your name of the municipal and police register (if applicable)
•	Drop by in our office to say “goodbye” and complete the questionnaire for visiting students; this form gives you the opportunity to inform us about the good and bad aspects of your stay, so Universiteit Leiden will know where procedures and/or circumstances could be improved for international students