Netherlands Leiden University Mandela Scholarship Fund

The Mandela Scholarship Fund is a study scholarship for exchange/study abroad students who would like to study at Leiden University for one or two semesters. It is intended for students from four South African partner universities: Stellenbosch University, University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria, and University of the Western Cape.

The scholarship is for students of all nationalities who are coming to Leiden University for an exchange programme of one or two semesters, and who are enrolled at one of the specified partner universities. The scholarship covers study at Leiden University across the listed faculties: Archaeology, Humanities, Medicine/LUMC, Governance and Global Affairs, Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Science, Interfacultair Centrum voor Lerarenopleiding, Onderwijsontwikkeling en Nascholing (ICLON), African Studies Centre, and International Institute for Asian Studies.

Selection is handled by the South African universities, which review scholarship applications and send the names of selected students to Leiden University’s Scholarships Team. After admission to a Leiden University exchange programme, within two weeks the Scholarships Team notifies selected candidates and provides further instructions.

Support is provided as living allowance per month for the exchange duration and Aon Student Insurance for the duration of the exchange (either 5 months or 10 months). The page describes the exchange length options included in the scholarship amount and insurance; it also states that the student is responsible for submitting a complete application on time.

• Applicants must be enrolled at one of the universities specified above: Stellenbosch University, University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria, or University of the Western Cape.
• Applicants must be pre-selected for a scholarship by their home university.
• Applicants must meet the admission requirements for exchange/study abroad students at Leiden University.
• This scholarship is for students coming to Leiden University for an exchange programme of one or two semesters.
• This scholarship cannot be combined with an Erasmus+ ICM scholarship.

• Living allowance: € 1,250 per month (University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria, University of the Western Cape).
• Aon Student Insurance for the duration of the exchange (5 or 10 months) (University of Cape Town, University of Pretoria, University of the Western Cape).
• Living allowance: € 625 per month (Stellenbosch University).
• Aon Student Insurance for the duration of the exchange (5 or 10 months) (Stellenbosch University).

1. Submit your scholarship application to your home university in South Africa.
2. Submit an online application for admission for an exchange/study abroad course at Leiden University.
3. Leiden University’s Scholarships Team notifies selected candidates and provides further instructions within two weeks of admission to a Leiden University exchange programme.