Programme International Studies

This one-year Master of Arts in International Studies discusses the pivotal theoretical and practical issues in international politics today, thereby providing students with the contextual knowledge and the analytical abilities to study and comprehend the diversity and the complexities of our rapidly changing world.

Programme information

The International Studies program starts from fresh theoretical insights and actual, current processes of global change. Globalization and integration are crucial aspects of today’s world, but they are only part of the picture. This program takes a special interest in the relationship, the encounters between global institutions, policies and ideas on the one hand and regional, national, and local ones on the other.

It is the complexity of this interconnectedness which is at the core of our curriculum – in politics, in economics, and in culture (primarily understood as the variety in collective beliefs, perceptions and behavior, without which political change is incomprehensible). Our MA  program discusses this relationship synchronically and diachronically, across time and space.

See for more information the prospectus.


Timetables and calendar

Prospectus: programme overview and course description

The Prospectus contains overviews and course details for all programmes in the Faculty of Humanities (and other faculties). The information in the Prospectus is updated annually, in June. Please consult the International Studies section of the Prospectus for more information.

Application, enrollment and examinations

  • To enroll in a specific course or examination, use the Study administration system uSis.

  • This website is intended for students who are already enrolled in the programme. Prospective students looking for application information should consult unileidenmasters.nl.

Internship (10 ec)

The MA in International Studies offers students the possibility to exchange their elective(s) for an internship at an organisation/institution in the field of international or foreign relations, in or outside of the Netherlands. Students are free to choose their own host institution, though need final approval by the Examination Committee of the MA.

Academic research and presentation is a crucial aspect of the internship. Students are therefore required to:

  • Submit a research proposal of 1,250 words including bibliography that provides an overview of the academic research paper. This overview should include an abstract, a research question, an introduction detailing scholarly relevance, methodology, plan, and initial bibliography. Sources must be cited in the research proposal.
  • Submit an academic research paper of 4,000 words including bibliography on a topic relevant to both the Internship Organisation and the MA International Studies.
  • Give a 20 minute presentation on the research paper and respond to questions and feedback from audience participants.

It is possible for students to replace both electives in the programme with an internship comprising 20 EC providing they have received the approval of the Examinations Committee. The application process is the same as for the 10 EC option, but students are required to write an academic research paper of 10,000 words.

For additional information on internships, see the website of Leiden University’s Careers Service.

Study advice

Every department (or degree programme) has a Co-ordinator of Studies (studiecoördinator). The Co-ordinator of Studies knows all the ins and outs of the programme and can help with any problems. Typical subjects to discuss with the Co-ordinator of Studies are: student progress (and delay) and exam regulations.

Graduation procedures

MA students who are ready to apply for their graduation should follow the graduation procedure. See the graduation website for more information about this procedure, the MA thesis, and how to deregister from Leiden University after graduation.

Teaching and Examination Regulations and Faculty Regulations

All the rights and obligations of students in the Humanities faculty are set out in regulations. The most important of these are indicated below. (The list is not exhaustive; more documentation on regulations may appear here in the future.)

  • Teaching and Examination Regulations state the contents of your programme and the specialisations within the programme.
  • Registration for lectures, tutorials and tests is obligatory: see the uSis registration procedure.
  • The Student Charter informs students about what they can expect from the University and what the University expects from them.
  • Regulations on plagiarism are in place, to counter any instances of malpractice. These regulations provide advice on how to use sources and citations.

Boards, committees, and co-participation

Students within the Faculty of Humanities, are represented in the following boards and committees:

  • the departmental Teaching Committee
  • the departmental or institute administration ór Institute Board
  • the Faculty Council
  • the Faculty Board

Another committee that is relevant to your studies, but in which students are not represented, is the Board of Examiners.

Contact and staff for International Studies

Web editors International Relations
Last Modified: 21-11-2012