Global Conflict in the Modern Era (MA)
About the programme
In the Global Conflict in the Modern Era specialisation of International Relations you will explore the security measures that have been instituted locally, regionally and globally in the modern world.
Semester 1
Core Course Global Conflict in the Modern Era (10 EC)
Humanities-Based International Relations (5 EC)
Thesis and Methods in International Relations Research (5 EC)
Electives (10 EC)
Semester 2
Regionalism in World Politics (5 EC)
Thesis Global Conflict in the Modern Era (15 EC)
Electives (10 EC)
MA Thesis
When it comes to picking a topic for your thesis, you have great freedom in what you want to write about. We have many thesis supervisors who have different expertise.
MA Thesis preparatory course
The preparatory course introduces you to core conceptual, methodological and theoretical issues you meet when you initiate, research, and write your MA thesis. In addition, a series of seminars will enable you to discuss specific issues related to International Relations.
Internship
You have the opportunity to replace one elective with an internship or to pursue an internship as an extracurricular activity. Both options usually imply a study extension because you would delay graduation by one semester. Yet this possibility is valued and used by many of our students.
This experience is highly valued within international organisations. In the past years International Relations students have done internships at a huge variety of organisations, including:
- Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such as the Security Policy Department (DVB) and the Netherlands Permanent Mission to the United Nations
- Dutch Ministry of Defense
- NGOs, for example Gender Concerns International or NGO’s focused on humanitarian aid
- Think tanks, such as the Netherlands Institute for International Relations ‘Clingendael’, The Hague Center for Strategic Studies, the International Centre for Counterterrorism and the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies
- Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies around the world
- European institutions - examples include Estonian presidency of the European Union, internships for members of the European Parliament
- Media outlets such as Een Vandaag in Hilversum
Electives
You may choose electives (20 EC total) from a wide range of specialist courses. Please see the examples below or in the online study guide.
Detailed programme
Online Study Guide
For a more detailed programme and an overview of the electives, please check the Prospectus.
Please note that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may slightly differ.
Eugenios Cusumano
University Lecturer

"Security, threat, terrorism, and war are essentially contested concepts that need to be studied from different theoretical perspectives and disciplinary angles in order to be fully understood. By combining political science, history, and area studies, the programme in Global Conflict in the Modern Era at Leiden University offers unique insights into the study of today’s security crises and humanitarian emergencies."
Challenging state-centric understandings
"As a multidisciplinary programme, the Master's in International Relations offers an ideal environment to study phenomena that challenge traditional, state-centric understandings of international relations such as the increasing role of non-state actors in international security."
Debating controversial questions
"By joining the programme students will have the opportunity to engage in debates on controversial questions such as the balance between security and individual rights including privacy and freedom of movement, the appropriateness of humanitarian intervention, the extent to which migration should be considered a security issue, and the role of commercial actors in the conduct of military operations."
Admission and Application
Do you want to find out if you are eligible for this Master's Programme?
Programme structure
Semester 1
Core Course Global Political Economy (10 EC)
Humanities-Based International Relations (5 EC)
Thesis and Methods in International Relations Research (5 EC)
Electives (10 EC)
Semester 2
Regionalism in World Politics (5 EC)
Thesis Global Political Economy (15 EC)
Electives (10 EC)