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International Studies

Bachelor

The Bachelor of Arts in International Studies provides students with the tools to investigate globalisation, and its regional effects, from a humanities perspective. They study these effects through the prism of four disciplinary perspectives: culture, history, politics and economics, coupled with in-depth knowledge of one of eight world regions. The humanities perspective is ensured by placing an understanding of the historic and cultural context central in the programme, and linking this directly to the political and economic conditions. Students learn to apply the acquired knowledge of the four disciplinary approaches in the analysis of a geographical area of their choice with the aid of a language native to that area.

The programme’s combination of multidisciplinary knowledge, geographical specialisation, language training, and a global perspective, provides students with a unique understanding of the interactions of global, transnational, national, and subnational conditions and developments. Disciplinary understanding is introduced in three stages. The programme starts with a general introduction of the relevant theoretical and methodological approaches. It goes on to provide students with practical knowledge of the historical, cultural, political and economic conditions in a specific geographical area, and completes the disciplinary understanding by placing these conditions in their international context.

The areas offered in the degree, and their corresponding languages are:

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| Africa | Arabic, French, Portuguese, Swahili |

| East Asia | Japanese, Korean, Mandarin |

| Europe | Dutch, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish |

| Latin America | Portuguese, Spanish |

| Middle East | Arabic, Modern Hebrew, Persian, Turkish |

| North America | French, Spanish |

| Russia and Eurasia | Persian, Russian |

| South Asia and Southeast Asia | Hindi, Indonesian |

First Year

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

First semester
Academic Literacy 5
Cultural Studies 5
Introduction to International Studies 5
Principles of Economics 5
Sociolinguistics 5
World History 5

Second semester
Foundations of Political Economy 5
Politics 5
Skills Lab 0

Culture and Language

Choose one of the following courses:
Culture and Language: Africa 5
Culture and Language: East Asia 5
Culture and Language: Europe 5
Culture and Language: Latin America 5
Culture and Language: Middle East 5
Culture and Language: North America 5
Culture and Language: Russia and Eurasia 5
Culture and Language: South and South-East Asia 5

History

Choose one of the following courses:
History: Africa 5
History: East Asia 5
History: Europe 5
History: Latin America 5
History: Middle East 5
History: North America 5
History: Russia and Eurasia 5
History: South and South-East Asia 5

Foreign Language 1

Choose one of the following courses:
Arabic 1 Beginners 10
Arabic 1 Pre-Intermediate 10
Dutch 1 Beginners 10
French 1 Beginners 10
French 1 Intermediate 10
German 1 Beginners 10
German 1 Intermediate 10
Hindi 1 Beginners 10
Indonesian 1 Beginners 10
Japanese 1 Beginners 10
Korean 1 Beginners 10
Mandarin 1 Beginners 10
Mandarin 1 Pre-Intermediate 10
Modern Hebrew 1 Beginners 10
Persian 1 Beginners 10
Portuguese 1 Beginners 10
Russian 1 Beginners 10
Russian 1 Pre-Intermediate 10
Spanish 1 Beginners 10
Spanish 1 Intermediate 10
Swahili 1 Beginners 10
Turkish 1 Beginners 10

Extracurricular courses
Spirituality, Religion and … What About Ethics?—Critical Terms and Applied Theories & Methods 10

Second Year

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

First semester

Communicating Across Cultures / Cultural Interaction

Choose one of the following courses:
Communicating Across Cultures 5
Cultural Interaction: Conflict and Cooperation 5

Economy

Choose one of the following courses:
Economy: Africa 5
Economy: East Asia 5
Economy: Europe 5
Economy: Latin America 5
Economy: Middle East 5
Economy: North America 5
Economy: Russia and Eurasia 5
Economy: South and South-East Asia 5

Politics

Choose one of the following courses:
Politics: Africa 5
Politics: East Asia 5
Politics: Europe 5
Politics: Latin America 5
Politics: Middle East 5
Politics: North America 5
Politics: Russia and Eurasia 5
Politics: South and South-East Asia 5

Research Methods

Choose one of the following courses:
Research Methods: Analyzing Historical Data 5
Research Methods: Archival Research on Environmental Justice 5
Research Methods: Case Study Methods and Theory Development 5
Research Methods: Content analysis of leadership in international studies 5
Research Methods: Critical Analysis 5
Research Methods: Critical Discourse Analysis in Cross-Cultural Research 5
Research Methods: Cultural Analysis and Interviews 5
Research Methods: Discourse Analysis / Conflict, Peace, and Security 5
Research Methods: Interviewing - Minority and Group Rights 5
Research Methods: Interviewing, discourse analysis, and autoethnography 5
Research Methods: Interviews and Surveys in Politics and Protest 5
Research Methods: Methodological Pluralism: The study of International Relations 5
Research Methods: Primary source research in International History 5
Research Methods: Qualitative Content Analysis 5
Research Methods: Qualitative Research Design - Authoritarianism and Political Violence 5
Research Methods: Questionnaires, interviews and experiments in language research 5
Research Methods: Visual Analysis 5

Foreign Language 2

Choose one of the following courses:
Arabic 2 Pre-Intermediate 10
Dutch 2 Pre-Intermediate 10
French 2 Pre-Intermediate 10
French 2 (Upper-)Intermediate 10
German 2 Pre-Intermediate 10
German 2 (Upper-)Intermediate 10
Hindi 2 Pre-Intermediate 10
Indonesian 2 Pre-Intermediate 10
Japanese 2 Pre-Intermediate 10
Korean 2 Pre-Intermediate 10
Mandarin 2 Pre-Intermediate 10
Mandarin 2 Intermediate 10
Portuguese 2 Pre-Intermediate 10
Russian 2 Pre-Intermediate 10
Spanish 2 Pre-Intermediate 10
Spanish 2 (Upper-)Intermediate 10
Swahili 2 Pre-Intermediate 10

Second semester
Global Political Economy 5
International Relations 5
Philosophy of Science 5

Foreign language 3

Choose one of the following courses:
Arabic 3 Intermediate 5
Dutch 3 Intermediate 5
French 3 Intermediate 5
French 3 Advanced 5
German 3 Intermediate 5
German 3 Advanced 5
Hindi 3 Intermediate 5
Indonesian 3 Intermediate 5
Japanese 3 Intermediate 5
Korean 3 Intermediate 5
Mandarin 3 Intermediate 5
Mandarin 3 (Upper-)Intermediate 5
Portuguese 3 Intermediate 5
Russian 3 Intermediate 5
Spanish 3 Intermediate 5
Spanish 3 Advanced 5
Swahili 3 Intermediate 5

Thematic Seminar

Choose one of the following courses:
Thematic Seminar: Art, Literature, and Law: Nomos - Paranomos, or the struggle for rights 10
Thematic Seminar: Authoritarian Politics: Power, Politics, Murder, and Mayhem 10
Thematic Seminar: Buddhism and Mindfulness: When Buddhism Goes Mainstream 10
Thematic Seminar: Cultures of Consumption 10
Thematic Seminar: Emerging Economies: Policy and Problems of Growth and Development 10
Thematic Seminar: Emerging Economies: The Rise of the Giants and its Global Implication 10
Thematic Seminar: Happiness and Human Flourishing: Western and Asian Perspectives 10
Thematic Seminar: International Human Rights: History, Politics, and Economics 10
Thematic Seminar: Migration and the European Union 10
Thematic Seminar: Multinational Corporations, Technology, and the Emerging Economies 10
Thematic Seminar: Organized crime, violence and the State in Latin America 10
Thematic Seminar: Religion and Secularism in World Politics 10
Thematic Seminar: Religions in the Modern World 10
Thematic Seminar: The Linguistic Lens: How Language Influences our Perception of the World 10
Thematic Seminar: The Post-Digital Society: A Cultural History of the Technological Present 10
Thematic Seminar: The Ugly: Politics and Aesthetics of Taste 10
Thematic Seminar: Waging War - Cultural Approaches 10
Thematic Seminar: War in the 21st Century 10

Optional Internship program

This course is mandatory for students who intend to take up an internship.
Organisational Theory and Workplace Preparation 5

Extracurricular courses
Spirituality, Religion and … What About Ethics?—Critical Terms and Applied Theories & Methods 10

Third Year

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

First semester
Elective Credits (International Studies) 30

Optional for students taking a two semester minor:

Thesis seminar

Choose one of the following courses:
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Africa A, sem 1 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar East Asia A, sem 1 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar East Asia B, sem 1 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar East Asia C, sem 1 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Europe A, sem 1 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Europe B, sem 1 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Europe C, sem 1 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Latin America B, sem 1 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Latin America C, sem 1 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Middle East B, sem 1 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar North America B, sem 1 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Russia and Eurasia A, sem 1 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar South and South-East Asia A, sem 1 15

Second semester
Practising International Studies 10

Foreign Language and Culture in Practice

Choose one of the following courses:
Language and Culture in Practice: Arabic 5
Language and Culture in Practice: Dutch 5
Language and Culture in Practice: French 5
Language and Culture in Practice: German 5
Language and Culture in Practice: Hindi 5
Language and Culture in Practice: Indonesian 5
Language and Culture in Practice: Japanese 5
Language and Culture in Practice: Korean 5
Language and Culture in Practice: Mandarin 5
Language and Culture in Practice: Persian 5
Language and Culture in Practice: Portuguese 5
Language and Culture in Practice: Russian 5
Language and Culture in Practice: Spanish 5
Language and Culture in Practice: Swahili 5

Thesis seminar

Choose one of the following courses:
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Africa A, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Africa B, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar East Asia A, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar East Asia B, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar East Asia C, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar East Asia D, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar East Asia E, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar East Asia F, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Europe A, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Europe B, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Europe C, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Europe D, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Europe E, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Europe F, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Europe G, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Latin America A, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Latin America B, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Latin America D, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Latin America E, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Middle East A, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Middle East B, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Middle East C, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar North America B, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Russia and Eurasia A, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar Russia and Eurasia B, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar South and South-East Asia A, sem 2 15
Thesis and Thesis Seminar South and South-East Asia B, sem 2 15

Extracurricular courses
Spirituality, Religion and … What About Ethics?—Critical Terms and Applied Theories & Methods 10

Extracurricular courses

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2
Spirituality, Religion and … What About Ethics?—Critical Terms and Applied Theories & Methods 10

Additional Information

Objectives

The Bachelors of Arts in International Studies provides students with the tools to investigate globalization and its regional effects, from a humanities perspective. They study these effects through the prism of four disciplinary perspectives: culture, history, politics and economics, coupled with in-depth knowledge of one of eight world regions. The humanities perspective is ensured by placing an understanding of the historic and cultural context central in the programme, and linking this directly to the political and economic conditions. Students learn to apply the acquired knowledge of the four disciplinary approaches in the analysis of a geographical area of their choice with the aid of a language native to that area.

For the programme's achievement levels please see the Course and Examination Regulations.

Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Duration: 3 years, full-time
Credits: 180 EC
Language of instruction: English

Additional requirements Binding Study Advice (BSA)

To be issued with a positive binding study advice (BSA) students must obtain at least 45 EC in their first academic year and meet the additional requirements set by the study programme.
For International Studies the additional requirements are passing the courses: Academic Literacy (semester 1) and Foreign Language 1 (semester 2).

More information on the BSA regulations can be found on the University website.

Programme

The programme’s combination of multidisciplinary knowledge, geographical specialisation, language training, and a global perspective, provides students with a unique understanding of the interactions of global, transnational, national, and subnational conditions and developments. Disciplinary understanding is introduced in three stages.
The programme starts with a general introduction of the relevant theoretical and methodological approaches. It goes on to provide students with practical knowledge of the historical, cultural, political and economic conditions in a specific geographical area, and completes the disciplinary understanding by placing these conditions in their international context.
Parallel to the disciplinary approach the students are equipped with a range of instruments essential to the study of the impact of global developments on an area, including language and research skills.
In their higher level courses students can further pursue self-selected combinations of an internship or exchange programme, thematic seminars and a consultancy project culminating in the BA thesis. Students thus exit the programme with a set of analytic skills and tools for investigating, understanding, and navigating the world and its diverse regions.

Elective Credits

In the third year all students have 30 EC of Elective Credits to spend on courses outside of the programme. There are different options to choose from: Study Abroad, conduct an Internship or follow a minor. More information can be found here.

BA Thesis and requirements for graduation.

The Bachelor programme is concluded with a Bachelor thesis (10,000 words, excluding footnotes and bibliography). The Bachelor thesis is written in the context of a Thesis Seminar specialising on the student's chosen area.
Requirements for graduation are: succesful completion of all courses in the Bachelor programme including the Elective Credits and the Thesis.
In order to graduate you will be asked to fulfil certain administrative procedures, which can be found on the website of International Studies (BA).

Follow-on master's programme

Not applicable.

Compensation Regulations

Not applicable.

Transitional Arrangements

Year 3 courses 2023/24 Retake in 2025/26 Remarks
Arabic in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: Arabic Name change
Dutch in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: Dutch Name change
French in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: French Name change
German in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: German Name change
Hindi in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: Hindi Name change
Indonesian in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: Indonesian Name change
Japanese in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: Japanese Name change
Korean in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: Korean Name change
Mandarin in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: Mandarin Name change
Modern Hebrew in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: Modern Hebrew Name change
Persian in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: Persian Name change
Portuguese in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: Portuguese Name change
Russian in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: Russian Name change
Spanish in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: Spanish Name change
Swahili in Practice Language and Culture in Practice: Swahili Name change

Career Preparation

Labour market preparation in International Studies

In addition to offering you a solid university education, Leiden University aims to prepare you for today’s labour market. Your studies will contribute to the development of your employability. After finishing the programme, it will become easier for you to make the transition to the labour market, to remain employable in a dynamic labour market in a (career) job that suits your own personal values, preferences and development.

'Employability' consists of the following aspects that you will develop within your study programme, among others:

1. Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Knowledge and skills specific to your study programme.

2. Transferable skills
These are skills that are relevant to every student and that you can use in all kinds of jobs irrespective of your study programme, for example: research, conducting analyses, project-based working, generating solutions, acquiring and developing digital skills, collaborating, oral communication, written communication, presenting, raising societal awareness, independent learning, and resilience.

3. Self-reflection
This concerns self-reflection in the context of your (study) career, including reflecting on the choices you make as a student during your studies, esp. with respect to what you can do with your knowledge and skills on the labour market.
In addition, reflecting on your own profile and your personal and professional development. Who are you, what can you do well, what do you find interesting, what suits you, what do you find important, what do you want to do?

4. Practical experience
Gaining practical experience through internships, work placements, projects, practical (social) assignments, which are integrated into an elective, minor or graduation assignment.

5. Labour market orientation
Gaining insight into the labour market, fields of work, jobs and career paths through, for example, guest speakers and alumni experiences from the work field, career events within the study programme, the use of the alumni mentor network, interviewing people from the work field, and shadowing/visiting companies in the context of a particular subject.

Employability in International Studies

The International Studies programme offers you ample freedom to tailor your studies to your own needs and interests. The choices you make are often driven by the future you envisage. For example, some students will join the labour market after graduation, while others will pursue a master’s degree. Other choices are driven by personal interest. The choice to study a certain area, or learn a particular language, for example, is often rather intuitive.

To make sure the choices you make are well-informed, please visit “Mapping your Future” on the This is International Studies website.

Activities to prepare for the labour market alongside / outside the curriculum

Every year, various activities take place, within, alongside and outside of your study programme, which contribute to your preparation for the labour market, especially where it concerns orientation towards the work field/the labour market, (career) skills and self-reflection. These activities could be hosted by your study program to discuss the key decision stages within your program. Furthermore, you may want to attend career workshops and events organised by the Humanities Career service or your study association.

For example:

Humanities Career Service, LU Career Zone and Career Workshops Calendar

Humanities Career Service
The Humanities Career Service offers information and advice on internships, study (re)orientation and master's choice, orientation on the labour market and careers.

Leiden University Career Zone
The Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career. You can find advice, information, (career) tests and tools in the area of (study) career planning, career possibilities with your study, job market orientation, job applications, the Alumni Mentor network, job portal, workshops and events and career services.

Workshops and events
On the Workshops calendar you will find an overview of career and application workshops, organised by the Humanities Career Service.