Universiteit Leiden

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International Relations (MA)

Career prospects

Where do our graduates work?

Because of the extensive curriculum and specialisations, the career opportunities after completing the Master's programme in International Relations are broad. Our graduates have landed jobs in various sectors of the job market, such as research institutes, international organisations, government bodies, NGOs and academia. Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:

  • Policy adviser at a ministry of foreign affairs;
  • Communications manager and project assistant at an NGO promoting reconciliation and peace;
  • Consular spokesperson at a ministry of foreign affairs;
  • Consultant at an NGO;
  • Project manager at a company specialising in geo-services, international development and project management;
  • PhD candidate and research assistant;
  • Policy officer at a muncipality;
  • Communications officer at an international student federation.

Vivian works at Deloitte Netherlands

MA International Relations alumna Vivian Ng now works as a Forensic and Financial Crime Consultant at Deloitte Netherlands: "I have the advantage of understanding political dynamics very well." Read more.

Kent Moore

Graduated in International Relations

Kent Moore

"Being from my own cultural background, from the U.S., I came to Leiden with a certain view on the world. Through studying International Relations I acquired much more cultural sensitivity about certain issues. I learned about the impression the U.S. leaves on the world, which opened up my world to different viewpoints.”

Recruiting students for our study abroad programmes

"I currently work at CISabroad, a studying abroad organization that has affiliations with over 200 U.S. universities. For the most part I recruit students for our study abroad programmes, but I also arrange the logistics of some of the student trips abroad."

Inspirational lecturers

" As a lecturer I found Lindsay Black very inspirational. He is a very smart man and I owe him a drink or two for being so helpful during the process of writing my thesis."

María Martín Rodríguez

Student

María Martín Rodríguez

"Studying global conflicts entails so much more than just war. Through this specialisation, I have had the chance to understand motives and behaviours, (non)cooperation, peace and diplomacy, plus a multiplicity of critical perspectives that I could have never expected but still got to enjoy! IR is all about choices on what makes you the most passionate, or rather, what infuriates you the most, and here you have the opportunity to exploit them to the fullest."

Jacob Cloo

Graduated in European Union Studies

Jacob Cloo

“After graduating European Union Studies I started with a graduate-traineeship in Brussels with the Benelux Union. European Union Studies is a really good start if you want to work in Brussels. Everyone here is expected to have a high level of EU knowledge, something that you will be taught in Leiden."

My training in EU law at Leiden was very helpful “My first job was doing research on the implications of two pieces of EU-legislation on cross border healthcare in Europe, and specifically within the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. My training in EU law at Leiden was actually very helpful because I knew instantly where to look for information, official documents and probably even more important, how to read all these documents without getting lost. “

Advising on risks and opportunities that arise from EU-decisions “After that I got a job with Harwood Levitt Consulting, a Brussels based public affairs and political risk strategy consultancy. Here I work for and with clients in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector, advising them on risks and opportunities that arise from EU-decisions, as well as their messaging and other communications with EU-institutions, trade associations etc. “

A high level of EU knowledge “It helped me to have knowledge on EU law and EU institutions, because I deal with this in my work every day.  All the other courses are perhaps less relevant for my current job, but especially important if you get in touch with others in Brussels and talk about what’s going on, you need to have a broad knowledge of what is happening. That is why networking, reading the news papers and getting the latest rumours is a must in the Brussels bubble.”

In which sector do students find jobs?

The graphs below are based on alumni data from the MA International Relations 2020 through 2024.

  • 50 % Government and semi-government
  • 17 % Education
  • 17 % Communication and marketing
  • 8 % Consultancy
  • 8 % Financial institutions

Career preparation

Find out how this programme exactly prepares you for your future career and check our career preparation activities.

Launch your career with a master’s degree

Continuing your studies after your bachelor's degree pays off. Graduates with a master's degree are more likely to find higher-level positions: 77% start at a university of applied sciences (hbo) or university level, compared to 63% of graduates who only hold a bachelor's degree. This difference remains visible in the long term. After more than two years of work experience, 87% of master's alumni work at a university of applied sciences or university level, compared to 76% of bachelor's alumni.

A unique strength on the job market

The Master's programme in International Relations at Leiden University equips you with a range of transferable skills and knowledge that will help you stand out in your future career. Your specialised knowledge is complemented by a broad and contextual understanding as well as critical-thinking skills that can be applied to complex conceptual problems. Other skills you may encounter in the various International Relations courses are:

  • Collaboration
  • Persuasion
  • Research
  • Self-directed learning
  • Creative thinking

You have the opportunity to do an internship at an organisation in the Netherlands or abroad. This experience is highly valued within international organisations. Organisations that our students have interned at include:

  • Dutch Ministry of Defense
  • Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies around the world
  • Media outlets such as EenVandaag
  • Netherlands Permanent Mission to the United Nations
  • Netherlands Institute for International Relations ‘Clingendael’
  • The International Centre for Counterterrorism
  • The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies

Please note that you will need to find your own internship and have to follow an internship procedure for approval. Pursuing an internship may have consequences for the date of your graduation.

Our staff can help you identify both the career that is right for you, and the necessary steps to get you there. Our team at the Humanities Career Service provides all Leiden University humanities students with professional advice and guidance on everything from internships and career planning to job applications. Humanities Career Service also organises regular workshops on topics such as effective interview skills and creating a successful CV.

The Humanities Career Service offers you various (online) workshops, webinars and info sessions. Check our overview of career activities

The Leiden University Career Zone is an online career portal that helps you to prepare for the job market. Here you can find information, tools and tips to help you gain more personal insight, learn about the job market, develop your application skills, plan your academic and professional career, find job vacancies and discover what the Career Service can do for you.

Join the Mentor Network to contact alumni with experience on the labour market and ask them for advice. More than 1200 alumni are happy to help you!

Jelle on finding an internship via Leiden University's Mentor Network

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Student-Alumni Networking Events

One of the many ways the MA International Relations prepares you for your future career is the Student-Alumni Career Networking Event. Practical advice, a panel discussion, and an informal networking reception are key ingredients for this successful eventRead more about the Student-Alumni Networking Event in 2023 or watch the video for an impression of the Networking event in 2022!

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