About the Leiden University
If you choose Leiden University, you will be choosing a university with one eye to tradition and the other to the future. The university lecturers and students join in the scientific and public debate and seek answers to societal issues. With the wide range of disciplines and degree programs, you can look beyond the limits of your own program or choose to delve deeper into your own discipline instead. Take advantage of the university’s broad array of electives, honors classes, leadership programs, and exchange programs with other universities or one of the many minors that the university has to offer.
you will find an inspiring community of students and lecturers from all over the world. Leiden is a lively city with a centre full of student houses and associations and a wealth of well-preserved history. The Hague is the most international student city in the Netherlands.
Leiden University community is diverse in many respects. Students in Leiden University differ in their ethnicity, gender, health, religion, socioeconomic background, and more. Being able to be yourself is what they find very important for their academic community at Leiden University. Freedom of speech and thought are crucial to good teaching and research, hence the university motto is bastion of freedom. An environment that invites you to debate and ask critical questions of one another also requires you to adopt an active attitude and take responsibility.
As a student at Leiden University, you will develop your skills: not only critical thinking, independent research, and problem-solving, but also 21st century skills such as leadership and entrepreneurship. So when you graduate as an academic professional and engaged global citizen, you can help solve the challenges facing the world today
Why choose the Leiden University, Netherlands?
At Leiden University you will develop the knowledge and skills you will need in your future career, make a valuable contribution to tackling the various issues facing modern society, and benefit from the inspiring academic community the university has to offer.
Be a part of it
For over 447 years, students and lecturers from all over the world have come to Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands. Leiden University offers you a truly international experience with 130+ nationalities represented in a unique mosaic of cultures. The university is a small-scale academic community where there is room for personal contact and regard for your talents and opportunities.
Learn from the best
Leiden University is among the top 100 universities in prominent international rankings. The academic staff includes many top scholars with an international reputation of excellence. You will have the chance to closely interact with Leiden’s scholars and thinkers, conducting your own research and exploring topics that are timely and relevant.
Look beyond your boundaries
Leiden University attaches great value to freedom of spirit, thought, and speech, and is open to everyone who is willing to get the best out of themselves. What binds us is the search for solutions to current global challenges, a search that we conduct with an open mind. The university does not shy away from difficult discussions and allows one another the space to disagree. Leiden University expects the same active, open-minded, and critical attitude from you.
- 7 faculties
- 16 Nobel prizes
- 49 bachelor’s programmes
- 82 master’s programmes
- 112+ nationalities
- 7,000+ staff members
- 33,000+ students
- 139,000+ alumni
Student life and support
Leiden University offers many options for students to be social and to develop themselves personally outside the classroom. It all starts with the university’s introduction weeks and ends with their alumni helping you with career support. It is very helpful to become part of the Leiden University community – so don’t miss out!
Assistance at Student Affairs
- Student well-being
- Program study advisers/coordinators
- Fenestra Disability Centre
Career Support
- Leiden University Mentor Network
- Good perspective on the job market
Overview of programmes
Leiden University currently offers 16 English-taught programmes across 5 of our 7 faculties. Learn about each one.
- Faculty of Archaeology
- Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences…..
International studies in Leiden Netherlands
Teaching methods
The tutorials are one of the most important components of the BA International Studies. In small groups of 12 to 15 participants, students put into practice what they learn in the lectures, under the guidance of a group of young international tutorial lecturers. Tutorials are interactive, lively, and dynamic!
Electives
In the first semester of your third year you can choose either to study abroad, take a minor, follow selected courses, or complete an internship. Leiden University has partnerships with over 600 universities abroad. This gives you the option to study almost anywhere in the world.
Hands-on experience
This program offers a rewarding combination of theory and practice. In your third year, we offer you a unique opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired to a set of practical challenges. This year, you will take the exciting 12-week consultancy course Practising International Studies (PRINS). In a team with fellow students, you will work on finding solutions to real-life issues put forward by leading organizations, such as Unilever, UNESCO, UN Women, Starbucks, Philips, the European Space Agency, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Your Future Career
The majority of graduates choose to do a master’s program directly after their bachelor’s. About ten percent of graduates start a job directly after their graduation and about one-third decides to take a gap year. International Studies grants access to a large variety of master’s programmes ranging from international relations, history, development studies, and area studies, to management and business studies.
Leiden University alumni can be found all over the world holding various positions. For example, as a policy adviser at an NGO in Brazil, a business analyst at a bank in Spain or a junior consultant at a firm in Canada. Other examples include positions at UNICEF, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the European Parliament.
Leiden city of discoveries
Leiden is a lively university city that’s brimming with history and boasts a student culture that’s tangible just about everywhere. Get a taste of what you can expect of Leiden as your future student city.
Situated at what has traditionally been an important junction where waterways and roads intersect, stands a city that will enchant you: Leiden. The city is famous not only for its university but for its almshouses, museums, and glorious history. Rembrandt was born here, and the city inspired many other influential painters. Over the centuries, Leiden continued to attract scientists and artists. The canals, the historical buildings, the charming narrow lanes, the treasuries of knowledge, culture, and science: Leiden is definitely worth seeing.
A student city with character
Leiden University has contributed to the city’s unique atmosphere for almost 450 years. The historical center of Leiden is full of student unions and associations, student accommodation, and university buildings. It is truly a student city.
Student associations and clubs
Leiden is renowned for its many student clubs and associations organized around sports, music, and social life in addition to cultural associations. There are over 20 main associations, including the Erasmus Student Network. Clubs focused on mutual interests in music, photography, theater, MUN, different cultures, and more abound. Great for socializing, and making new friends, you’ll be in good company: even King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was a member of a Leiden student association!
Vibrant city center
Whether you are a member of a student association or not, Leiden’s vibrant city center is the place to be if you want to relax or socialize. Enjoy a cool beer on the canal at Annie’s bar, order a legendary Rapen’burger at Barrera, or let your feet do the talking on the dance floor at the Kroeg.
A visual feast
Parties are, of course, an inherent part of being a student, but whatever you do make sure you also see the wealth of sights Leiden has to offer. Its ancient canals, intimate courtyards, and fabulous landmarks, such as the Pieterskerk, the Academy Building, and the Burcht (Fortress) make Leiden pure eye candy.
Small-scale and central
Leiden is a winning combination of small and fun, yet big in character as a student city. Thanks to its compact layout it’s never more than a short bike ride from your accommodation to college, and you’re more or less guaranteed to meet someone you know along the way. What’s more, it’s also centrally located between the Netherlands’ main cities. With a little effort, you can cycle to the beach in 30 minutes, while Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht can all be reached within 45 minutes by train.
Be part of a Vibrant community
International environment
The city is involved in building a safe and just world, with the impressive, world-famous Peace Palace at the center of it all. It is the perfect environment to encourage dialogue and debate. You can immediately apply what you learn as a student in the international environment that Leiden University offers.
A city full of art and culture
With the most historic sites per square meter in the Netherlands, The city oozes culture and history. Gazing straight into the eyes of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring at the Mauritshuis Museum is just a beautiful, five-minute walk away from losing all sense of perspective at Escher in Het Paleis. Go on from there to discover Madurodam, where you’ll find the whole of the Netherlands at your feet (in miniature).
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