About the programme

This specialised BSc degree programme offers you courses such as International Organisations and Actors in World Politics. Furthermore, you attend more general courses, such as International Politics, Comparative Politics, and Global History. You will also develop academic and professional skills: statistics, research methods, text analysis, and debating.

All classes, assignments, and other study activities are in English. Studying is a full-time endeavor: you will spend around 16 hours per week attending lectures and tutorials. The rest of the week you will be studying independently or with your fellow students.

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.

High standards and innovation

The International Relations and Organisations (IRO) programme reflects our embedment in tradition and drive for innovation: on the one hand, IRO offers a new and unique bachelor’s curriculum; on the other, our high-ranking staff and state-of-the-art approaches have proven themselves in our other Political Science bachelor’s and master’s programmes.

Engaged and professional lecturers

You will be working with engaged lecturers, who will inspire you to intertwine social sciences theories with international political practice. They are experts in their fields and have extensive practical experience through their advisory work for government and international organisations.

Unique training and an international career

In addition to acquiring substantive knowledge, you will develop your academic and professional skills in statistics and research methods. You will also train your skills in text and discourse analysis, as well as in debating.

By studying the dynamics of politics and the underlying mechanisms, you are building a foundation that will benefit you in your future career, whether as part of an international organisation, or as a journalist or consultant.

The Hague: Center of politics and international relations

If you choose to study International Relations and Organisations in The Hague, you will be at the very centre of where it is all happening. As the seat of government, The Hague is the city when it comes to politics and diplomacy. Here, for example, you’ll find all ministries, the embassies and consulates, the International Criminal Court, Europol, the Peace Palace, the Clingendael Institute and the many UN tribunals. Consequently, the city is home to a large international community.

The Hague is not just a cosmopolitan city of expats. It is also a multicultural city, a city of contrasts, a city with history, a city of creative and enterprising students who look beyond their boundaries, and who envision a role on the international stage.

After graduation

The International Relations and Organisations (IRO) specialisation provides the ideal basis for continued academic education and a professional career.