International Relations and Diplomacy (MSc)

Extra-curricular

Master Honours Education

Are you a curious and motivated master’s student? The Honours Academy of Leiden University offers various kinds of extracurricular education, ranging from long-running programmes to short-term courses. 

Leiden Leadership Programme

Are you interested in a leadership challenge? Join the Leiden Leadership Programme (LLP). This one-year programme will equip you with the leadership knowledge, insights and skills you need to increase your societal impact. You further your personal development through trainings, seminars and a practical assignment within an organisation, in which you learn to cooperate intensively with other professionals. With the LLP, you earn 15 EC in addition to your regular master's degree.

Master Honours Classes

Would you like to further develop your academic skills and societal awareness? Join one of our Master Honours Classes. In a small-scale, interdisciplinary course, you will tackle a complex issue. You will learn about the latest scientific insights concerning the topic and cooperate in a practical setting, together with students from many different backgrounds. There are Master Honours Classes on offer for 5 or 10 EC. 

Impact Challenges

Are you looking for a practical challenge alongside your studies? Take on an Impact Challenge. Together with a multidisciplinary group of fellow students, you will tackle a real-life problem proposed by a partner organisation, such as a company, NGO or municipality. There are Impact Challenges on offer for 5 or 10 EC. 

Work field visits

A number of extracurricular activities, such as an excursion to European institutions and the NATO in Brussels, and visits to international organizations such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), as well as the Peace Palace in The Hague offer opportunities for MIRD students to meet practitioners from international organizations and from the diplomatic corps.

Internship

In the IRD programme, students have the opportunity of completing an internship at an international organisation or attending additional specialised courses. The programme’s internship co-ordinator can assist students in finding suitable positions, but the responsibility to find an organisation lies with the student. The programme is concluded with the writing of a master’s thesis on a topic in international relations, international organisation or diplomacy.

Study Association IRSA

The International Relations Study Association (IRSA) is the representative body for students in the MSc. International Relations and Diplomacy programme. Its elected representatives work closely with the faculty and educational committee to provide feedback and suggestions on how to further develop the program. In addition to this advisory role, IRSA representatives organize a range of extra-curricular activities, ranging from professional development and networking opportunities to social events enjoying life in The Hague.