The Snouck Hurgronje house

The LUF took up residence in the Snouck Hurgronje house in the 1930s. For years, this imposing building on Rapenburg was where researchers and students could come to find out more information about grants and where alumni were welcomed to their own special events. In 2016, the LUF decided to move in with the University’s Alumni Office, and the Alumni house at Rapenburg 68 became its new home. The Snouck Hurgronje house was sold soon after. It was now time to decide what to do with the proceeds, and this is how the idea of a new annual grant and student prize came about.

Collaboration between faculties

Issues in today’s society rarely fall within the scope of a single discipline or specialism. This makes it extremely important for researchers to look beyond the boundaries of their own field when they are seeking solutions. The Snouck Hurgronje Grant for interfaculty and socially relevant projects was established to encourage this. Each year, the Committee for Academic Expenditure (CWB) awards a sum of between €100,000 and €150,000 for the research project that best meets the criteria. ‘This grant will provide an extra incentive for faculties to work together, and will thus enable different disciplines to benefit from each other’s expertise,’ said Vice-Chair of the LUF Frits Koning. The LUF want to encourage not only Leiden researchers to look further than their own discipline and faculty, but students too.

‘The Snouck Hurgronje Prize is a substantial contribution to new student initiatives. Students have ideas aplenty but little money. The LUF can change this with this prize,’ says Emilie den Tonkelaar, a member of the Board of Governors

Special initiatives

Studying is more than just earning credits. Your student days are often over in the blink of an eye, but this is a time bursting with opportunities for self-development. The LUF supports students who have big dreams and ideas by providing grants for their studies or for placements or research abroad. The LUF also awards various prizes, such as the LISF Prize and the Leiden University Thesis Prizes, which encourage students to get the best in themselves. The Snouck Hurgronje Prize can now be added to this list of prizes.  

The new prize is for an innovative initiative from the student community that preferably originates from a partnership between associations or faculties, or aims to bring together the University communities in Leiden and The Hague. The sum of €5,000 will enable the initiative to be launched. The Snouck Hurgronje Prize will be officially presented during 2018 Cleveringa Evening on Tuesday 27 November. 

Apply for the grant and prize

The criteria for the grant and prize will be published online on 17 January 2019, and both will be open for application from this date. There will also be a call for applications on the LUF’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts. If you have any questions, please contact the Secretary for Allocation of Funds, Henk Snijders, at h.l.m.snijders@LUF.leidenuniv.nl or 071 527 4903.