National and International Politics (BSc)

About the programme

As a student in the programme Politicologie: Nationale en Internationale Politiek, you will examine societies and power relations with the analytical eye of a scientist. You will deal with interesting, important topics such as elections, civil wars and international cooperation. In doing so, you will look beyond headlines, news flashes and social media posts: you will search for explanations, for depth. You also acquire essential skills during your studies: you learn to read critically, analyze sharply and speak and write clearly.

The specialisation National and International Politics (Nationale en Internationale Politiek) is taught mainly in Dutch. We provide this information in English as a service. Our English-taught bachelors specialisation is International Relations and Organisations.

Who gets what, when and why?

Politics, in short, is about who gets what, when and why. As a Political Scientist, you want to know who decides, how decisions are made, who excercises influence and what the consequences are. You want to understand how power relations and institutions work, at the local, national, regional and global levels. You seek insights that matter; after all, politics touches the lives of all of us.

Is this programme for me?

Would you like to study Political Science? Then a good motivation, a broad social and political interest and curiosity about national and international politics are important. You must have a fair command of the English language. An important part of the literature is in English and the lectures of some subjects are given in English. Basic knowledge of economics and history comes in handy.

At Leiden, studying is not just about memorising, concretising and application. We offer you every opportunity to develop your talents. Already in the bachelor’s programme you will independently conduct scientific research. You will learn to structure, analyze and clearly present your research results.

What am I going to learn?

› Programme structure

What after?

Upon completion of the programme, you will have a thorough knowledge of current scientific research and the methods of Political Science research. Leiden Political Scientists find work in numerous professions. The academic skills you acquire during your studies, such as critical reading, analysis, logical reasoning and oral and written presentation, will serve you well in all positions at middle and higher levels.

› Career prospects

Politicologie: Nationale en Internationale Politiek

You will get a solid foundation in Political Science; further on in your studies you can add emphases as you see fit. You can focus on politics in the Netherlands, the European Union or worldwide, but also on other themes.
This specialisation is taught in Leiden. Leiden has traditionally been a student city, with all its amenities. The train station and the cozy city center are just a stone's throw away.
NIP is specifically aimed at Dutch-speaking students.
Most courses are taught in Dutch. You can do assignments, exams, etc. in Dutch. NIP is a smaller scale programme than IRO. The target group is smaller and so there are fewer registrations, which means that you are usually taught in smaller groups.
There is no numerus fixus for this programme; you can apply between 1 October and 1 May. If you are immediately eligible, you are guaranteed a place.

Binding Study Advice

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All bachelor’s programmes at Leiden University operate under the Binding Study Advice (BSA) scheme. This is a tool for assessing whether a programme is suitable for you and whether you will be able to complete it within a reasonable timeframe. Under the BSA, you must have earned 45 out of 60 credits by the end of your first year in order to progress to the second year. You will, of course, receive guidance and support throughout this process.