Leiden University

BSc International Relations and Organisations

The Hague, Netherlands

DURATION

3 Years

LANGUAGES

English

PACE

Full time

APPLICATION DEADLINE

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EARLIEST START DATE

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TUITION FEES

EUR 2,530 / per year *

STUDY FORMAT

On-Campus

* Institutional tuition fee: €9.500,- (academic year 2024-2025) | First year bachelor's students* The statutory tuition fee of the academic year 2024-2025 for first-year bachelor's students is: €1.265,-.

Introduction

Are you interested in international organisations, issues of peace and security, or current changes in global political relations? Would you like to study the causes of terrorism and the resolution of violent conflicts? Develop your scholarship and skills in international affairs in The Hague.

Global affairs and the dynamics of international cooperation and conflict

The international, English-taught 3-year programme of IRO is part of Leiden University’s Political Science curriculum and is based in The Hague, the city in which politics and international relations converge.

In this specialised bachelor’s programme you'll address transboundary issues from a social sciences point of view. IRO has a strong focus on diplomacy and current world problems, with particular attention paid to the role of major powers such as China, Russia, the USA and the EU, and organisations such as the IMF, NATO, UN, and the World Bank.

It is the right choice for you if you are fascinated by global affairs and the dynamics of international cooperation and conflict. Themes such as war and peace, poverty, refugee crises, humanitarian cooperation, nuclear weapons reduction, and globalisation are covered in detail.

Studying International Relations and Organisations means:

understanding the real story behind today’s headlines;
working with excellent academic teachers and researchers;
developing skills in research, writing and presenting;
being part of an international classroom and community;
experiencing The Hague: the third UN city and host to many international organisations, embassies, and NGOs.

Why Leiden University

The Political Science degree programme at the University of Leiden has a strong academic reputation. You will be taught in an international classroom by experts in their field.

Study at a world-class university

Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and enjoys an excellent worldwide reputation built up over more than four centuries. Since 1575 we’ve provided sound personal education for hundreds of thousands of students from all over the world. We’ll do our utmost to give you the best possible support. And if you can and want to do more, we’ll challenge you every step of the way. For many years, we’ve been among the leaders in Dutch university rankings and we are currently to be found in a variety of top international rankings too.

Admissions

Curriculum

Studying International Relations and Organisations (IRO) you will address transboundary issues from a social sciences point of view. It is an international 3-year programme with a strong focus on current global affairs.

Year 1

2 semesters, 4 blocks

The academic year runs from September to July and is divided into two semesters.
Each semester has two blocks, so there are four blocks in total.
Each block has 8 weeks; 7 weeks of lectures and workgroups (the last week of each block is exam week).
There are no holidays within a semester.

Breaks

After the first semester, during the month of January, there is a ‘Winter break’, during which there are no programme activities (with the exception of resits, see below).
The same goes for the ‘Summer break’, which is after the second semester, from July to September.

Exams

The last week of each block is exam week.
For each exam there is one resit scheduled.
Resits for exams taken in the first semester take place during the January reces;
Resits of exams taken in the second semester take place in June, at the start of the Summer reces.

Year 2

Semesters, blocks, exams

The second year has the same structure as the first year (two semesters, four blocks of each 7 weeks and 1 one exam week).

Electives

In some respects, the second year differs from the first year:
The academic skills workgroups span two blocks.
In the second semester, you will have to choose between two courses: Contemporary Political Philosophy (block 3) or Rational Choice Theory (block 4).

Year 3

The third year is all about choice. It consists of three elements, each of which can be tailored to your interests:

an interactive bachelor seminar, which you pick from a broad range of topics;
the bachelor project, during which you prepare for and write your thesis and which you also select from a broad range of topics;
the elective space, spanning 30 EC, which you design yourself, using one or more of these building blocks:
- elective courses from other programmes and even universities;
- a minor, a set of related courses from another bachelor’s programme;
- a research internship and/or
- study abroad, via
an exchange programme (temporarily enrolling in the study programme of a partner institution), or
going abroad independently (selecting the institution and making all arrangments yourself).

The options you chose, and how they are scheduled accross the (academic) calendar at home, the target institution or workplace, determine what your third year looks like in terms of the order of courses, etc. By the time you need to start preparing for the third year, your study adviser will gladly assist you.