Political Science, 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.
More information about the following topics can be found in the tabs in this Prospectus:
Practical Information
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Career Preparation
Please read below about the following topics:
Academic Career Support
The team of study advisers knows about all aspects of your study programme, and therefore you can go to them when you need, advise or support. If you feel your study progress is experiencing some obstacles, it is important to contact your study adviser as soon as possible. He or she can advise you on the best course of action and, if required, support you in dealing with academic delay.
However, it is also good to remember that the study advisers are not just there to help you when you are experiencing (academic, personal or medical) challenges, but also to discuss with you all the different choices you have (for example in your elective space) while you are studying. Consult the Brightspace Page “Academic Career Support IRO” for further details on your study planning during the 3 years of your programme.
Study Advisers
Ariane Berends – IRO students with surnames starting with A to G
Ian Lau – IRO students with surnames starting with H to O
Ester Blom – IRO students with surnames starting with P to Z
Wencke Appelman – IRO students Year 1 with surnames P to S
mailto:Studyadvisers.iro@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
How do I stay on track with the deadlines, rules and regulations for IRO?
The Study Advisers are the first point of contact if you have questions about the IRO programme, your study planning, or study progress. These are your options to acquire your information:
- Brightspace: Academic Career Support IRO
- Online office Hours Study advisers: Mon – Thur 13:00 – 14:00 in the Study Advisers’ Kaltura LiveRoom
- Information sessions: online in Kaltura LiveRoom and on campus during which IRO peers share their experience, study advisers and other representatives of the university will explain about different topics that are relevant for you in that phase of your study. You can find the dates, times and locations for these information sessions in semester 2 below – make sure to add them to your agenda
IRO Year 1
Day: Tuesday, 14 February 2023 (block 3)
Time: 13.15 -15:00
Room: 3.46
Topic: Making Choices for your IRO future – IRO Peer experiences, BSA
Day: Tuesday, 7 March 2023 (block 3)
Time: 13:15 – 15:00
Room: Online in the Study Advisers’ Kaltura live room
Topic: IRO in block 4 – Making choices for your IRO future
Day: Monday 17 April 2023 (block 4)
Time: 17:15 - 19:00
Room: 2.01 Wijnhaven
Topic: Sharing IRO Experience in IRO Year 2
Day: Tuesday 2 May 2023 (block 4)
Time: 17:15 – 19:00
Room: 2.01 Wijnhaven
Topic: Choices in IRO Year 2
IRO Year 2
Day: Thursday, 16 February 2023 (block 3)
Time: 13.15 – 15:00
Room: A 0.06 Schouwburgstraat
Topic: Your choices in IRO Year 3 and onwards
Day: Tuesday, 9 March 2023 (block 3)
Time: 13:15 – 15:00
Room: Online in the Study Advisers’ Kaltura live room
Topic: Your choices IRO Year 3 and onwards
Day: Thursday, 13 April 2023 (block 4)
Time: 13:15 – 15:00
Room 3.46 Wijnhaven
Topic: Your choices in IRO Year 3 – Q&A
Day: Thursday, 20 April 2023 (block 4)
Time: 17:15 – 18:15
Room 3.12 A/B Wijnhaven
Topic: Choosing a Minor – what to look for – Q&A
Day: Thursday, 4 May 2023 (block 4)
Time: 13:15 – 15:00
Room: Online in the Study Advisers’ Kaltura live room
Topic: Your choices in IRO Year 3 – Q&A
IRO Year 3
Day: Thursday, 2 March 2023
Time: 17:15 – 18:15
Room: 3.18 Wijnhaven
Topic: Your Choices in the next phase and after IRO (Master’s degree)
Day: Thursday, 20 April 2023
Time: 17:15-18:15
Room: 3.12 A/B Wijnhaven
Topic: Extra semester of study; Minor? Or Master?
*Online sessions will be posted on Brightspace Academic Career Support IRO under Calendar
COURSE AND EXAM REGISTRATION
Course Registration
Both first year students and students re-sitting courses from the first year will be registered for all courses and work groups in semester 1 by the Student Services Centre (OSC – osc@leiden.edu).
There has been a change in the curriculum. The course Statistics II will be offered in block 1 of year 2 from 2023-2024 on. In 2022-2023 the course Statistics II will only be offered to students who did not pass the course in year 1. See for course information the tab year 2 (block 3).
As of semester 2 (block 3 & 4), first year students can register themselves via the student portal/ MyStudymap.
Second and third year students register for classes themselves in both semesters in uSis. You can find the dates below.
In the week before your classes start, you can find your class schedule (lectures and workgroups) in uSis or in My Timetable. If you need to retake previous courses, your current schedule will be taken into account. Once registered, changing to other work groups is not possible.
Exam Registration
It is mandatory for all students, including first-year bachelor students, to register for each exam and to confirm registration for each exam in MyStudymap. This is possible up to and including 10 calendar days prior to the examination. You cannot take an exam without a valid pre-registration and confirmation in MyStudymap. Carefully read all information about the procedures and deadlines for registering for courses and exams.
Exchange students and external guest students will be registered for all courses and exams of the Political Science programme by the Student Services Centre.
Enrollment in MyStudymap is possible according to this scheme:
Block 1: Tuesday 12 July 2022, 13.00h until 5 days before the first meeting
Block 2: Tuesday 12 July 2022, 13.00h until 5 days before the first meeting
Block 3: Tuesday 13 December 2022, 13.00h until 5 days before the first meeting
Block 4: Tuesday 13 December 2022, 13.00h until 5 days before the first meeting
More information on enrollment can be found here.
For transition regulations, please check the Course and Examination Regulations OER
COURSE MATERIALS
You can find additional course information and materials (textbooks, articles) in the Prospectus as well as in the Brightspace page of the course. Your instructor will communicate with you in Brightspace via your umail account. Make sure you have access to this account before your classes start.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is a violation of academic integrity that can have serious consequences for the perpetrator. To prevent plagiarism, all your written work is checked via Turnitin. Turnitin is an external tool that has been integrated in Brightspace to assess assignments/papers/etc. and to check for plagiarism. Turnitin provides instructors with the tools to provide specific personalized feedback and check similarity to other papers, bibliographic and online sources and grade assignments.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Note that some elements in the IRO programme require completion of specific courses (Study Abroad, Bachelor Project, Bachelor Seminar in Year 3) or a minimum GPA (Study Abroad, continuation with a Master programme) You can find information about prerequisites in the Course & Examination Regulations.
BOARD OF EXAMINERS
The role of the Board of Examiners is to ensure that study programmes adhere to their Course and Examination Regulations. The Board of Examiners oversees all tests and examinations within the institute and determines whether students have acquired the knowledge and skills required for the awarding of their degree. As a Bachelor student, you will need to request approval for non-Political Science Institute elements in your programme such as your electives, Study Abroad courses, research internship and a minor at different university. If you are planning on taking electives next to your IRO courses you should always contact your Study Adviser to discuss study planning. If you want to have a short overview of for specific situations you would need to seek their
advice, please take a look at their FAQ
The Board of Examiners can be reached via: examencommpol@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Career Preparation
(Academic) Career Preparation in Political Science
The goal of the Political Science programme is preparing you for your next phase in life, whether this will be in academia or in an organisation. As of the start of the programme, you are encouraged and supported to develop your key “21st Century” skills, essential to prepare you for your future professional life. These skills will be addressed within as well as outside of the programme.
Support is offered from different levels within the University and has the objective to develop these skills, but also to identify your interests and strengths, to explore a diverse range of opportunities to clarity about your goals and empower you to pursue paths you find personally meaningful.
Academic Career Support
Throughout your Political Science programme, you will be offered numerous opportunities to develop your academic skills – in workgroups, (guest) lectures, small group sessions, reports, research projects. These academic skills are related to analytical and critical thinking, academic writing, research and communication skills, key skills that are required in today’s workplace.
Your Career Preparation support 24/7
You can access our Brightspace platform for Career Preparation in Political Science 24/7 and find information on careers, positions for internships, tips, links, suggestions, dates for info/Q&A sessions and ways to reach out to various additional support systems.
Have a look at the Career Roadmap provided by Career Services of Leiden University for Bachelor and Master students, to follow a step by step guidance from the start of your degree until the status of Leiden University Alumnus.
Your Career Preparation Support on campus
A direct career preparation network is offered to you on campus via the staff of Career Service of the University, study associations, study advisers, peer mentors, workgroup instructors and the internship coordinator. This network consists of experienced individuals who enjoy supporting you with your future choices. You are encouraged to participate in events organised for you on this matter.
Topics for Career Preparation support: intra- and extra-curricular
Whether you are taking advantage of our Career Preparation support online or in person, you will be stimulated to think about your choices within your study track concerning:
choice of internship for a company or research institute
choice of your research projects
choice of course planning and distribution (GPA strategy*)
choice of a minor or elective courses
choice to do a part of your study abroad (BSc students)
choice for Honours classes
choice for a future/sequential Master’s programme
Next to study related choices, you can expect assistance on preparing for extra-curricular activities which may support your CV. You can think about things like:
choice of a part-time job
choice to join a student board for a society/club/committee
choice for voluntary service work
choice to follow extra-curricular education/workshops/classes
GPA
For some programme elements, jobs and sectors, a high Grade Point Average forms an important part of the selection, for example for your application to exchange, Honours programmes, Master’s programmes, traineeships, consultancy or PhD-positions. When you are considering these elements or positions, it is smart to plan and define where want to invest your time, whether this is more experience or more time to study.
However, a strong GPA is not the only factor determining your success, equally relevant is that you are enjoying what you are doing and that this is reflected in your activities and experience during your studies.
You can find information on the distribution of GPAs and the ranking of your GPA versus your peers in the BSc and MSc programme or the faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences in this link: Grading Tables
