Can the Leiden University Fund help you or your research? Find out!
The Leiden University Fund (LUF) is the University's leading fund. Thanks to contributions from alumni and other donors, the LUF is able to help finance research projects and support talented students and early-career researchers in pursuing their ambitions.
Take a look at the grants and prizes the LUF manages to see if you can benefit and for which you can apply yourself. The next deadlines for applications are in January 2025.
Grants
LUF grants for Academic project
With these yearly grants, the LUF wants to support young researchers from Leiden University at the start of their careers. These subsidies for academic talent often form an important springboard for applications to NWO and other institutions.
💰 Max.€ 35,000
📁 For research and teaching projects
🧍 By researchers max. 5 years after promotion (this maximum does not apply for the additional funds! See below)
☝️ Apply yourself through LUF portal
📅 Application deadline 19 January 2025
> More information and criteria
Applications can be sent in for various academic disciplines within Leiden University. For the Faculty of Science there are additional funds available. For these specific funds is is not necessary to have obtained a PhD degree within the past 5 years. However, early-career researcher have preference:
- Frans Arnold Natuurwetenschaps Fonds
This fund specifically supports projects aimed at scientific research in one of the natural sciences - Rijke-Hamaker Fonds
This fund gives financial support to research in the field of Mathematics and Physics - Drs J.R.D. Kuikenga Fonds voor Mathematici
The aim of this fund is to promote the fields of mathematics, mechanics and computer science. - LUF Milieu Project Fonds
This fund supports innovative research projects in the field of the environment, with a preference for packaging and the environment.
The Krijn Rietveld Scientific Business Grant
In 2025 and 2027 the most promising entrepreneurial project by early-career researchers will be awarded with the Krijn Rietveld Business Development Grant. This grant consists of € 13,500 to be spent on the valorisation of research results. The winners will also get non-financial support from dsm-firmenich and Luris in their endeavours.
💰 € 13,000 plus non-financial support
📁 Innovation research (by a start-up) that contributes to a more sustainable environment world
🧍 For early-career researchers
☝️ Apply yourself
📅 In 2025 and 2027
The call for apllications opens February 2025 at the earliest. It will be announced through all communication channels of the Faculty of Science.
Subsidies for congresses, workshops and study
Study trip abroad
PhD students at Leiden University can apply for a grant for a study trip outside the Netherlands. The study trip must be part of a recognised research project within the faculty and be part of a PhD programme.
💰 € 2,000
📁 Study trip abroad
🧍 PhD students
☝️ Apply yourself
📅 Three application rounds per year
For 2025:
- Sunday 5 January 2025
- Sunday 11 May 2025
- Sunday 26 October 2025
Participation in a conference abroad
PhD students at Leiden University can apply for a grant for participation in a conference outside the Netherlands. Attending the conference must be part of a recognised research project within the faculty and/or part of a PhD programme.
💰 Max. € 750 in Europe and max. € 1,500 outside of Europe
📁 Participation in a conference abroad
🧍 PhD students
☝️ Apply yourself
📅 Three application rounds per year
For 2025:
- Sunday 5 January 2025
- Sunday 11 May 2025
- Sunday 26 October 2025
Organising a conference or workshop
Leiden University scholars can apply to LUF Committee for Academic Expenditure for a grant to organise small-scale conferences and workshops. The activity must have an academic objective and/or emphasise the social relevance of the applicant’s research field. Grants are preferably awarded to conferences and workshops of which LUF is the main sponsor.
💰 Max. € 1,500 for a one-day event and max. € 3,000 for a multiday event
📁 Organisation small-scale conferences and workshops in Leiden or The Hague
🧍 Researchers
☝️ Apply yourself
📅 Three application rounds per year
For 2025:
- Sunday 5 January 2025
- Sunday 11 May 2025
- Sunday 26 October 2025
Prizes
The Krijn Rietveld Doctoral Societal Impact Award
The best research by a PhD student or post-doc research that resulted in an article that is accepted for publication in a scientific journal will be awarded with the annual Krijn Rietveld Doctoral Societal Impact Award. The winner may use their cash prize freely.
💰 € 3,000
📁 research that has resulted in publication in a scientific journal
🧍 for PhD students and postdocs
☝️ Apply yourself
📅 Yearly, until 2029
The call for application will open in February/ March 2025. All PhD students, recent PhD graduates and post-docs of the Faculty of Science will receive an e-mail announcing the opening of the call for applications and the criteria for 2025. These criteria will be similar to those of the 2024 edition of the award.
CJ Kok award: best dissertation of the year
Each year the C.J. Kok Jury awards a talented young scientist for their excellent dissertation. The cash prize may be used freely.
💰 € 2,500
📁 Dissertation
🧍 for PhD graduates
📅 Yearly
Each institute nominates a PhD graduate. Nominees will be featured in the Faculty of Science's year overview. At the Faculty's New Years reception, the winner will be announced.
Van Wersch Springplankprijs Farmacie
This prize for the best dissertation in the field of pharmaceutical research is intended for activities related to research.
💰 € 10,000
📁 dissertation in the field of pharmaceutical research
🧍 for PhD graduates
☝️ Apply yourself
📅 Biannually in even years
Gratama Wetenschap Prijs
Incentive prize for young and active researchers who distinguish themselves with innovative, socially relevant and attention-grabbing research.
💰 1st prize € 20,000, runners-up (2x) € 2,500
📁 research done within 5 years after obtaining PhD, in Leiden or otherwise
🧍 for researchers under 40
📅 biannually in uneven years
The Gratama Science Prize focuses on the full breadth of scientific practice at Leiden University and the University of Groningen. Leiden University can nominate three candidates for this prize. The faculties each preselects a candidate.
The institutes will help with the preselection. If you wish your research to be considered for this prize, please contact Academic Affairs Officer Monique Leemkuil for more information.