What is more important: nature or nurture? Scientists have been grappling with this puzzle for over a century. Recently, a different take on this important puzzle has been offered by investigators. Are we what our genes dictate us to be, or are we what our environment offers us, in order to become who we are? The debate has been conducted in the form of opposite schools of thought. You either belong in the camp of nature or nurture. With the advent of increasingly sophisticated DNA techniques, nature appeared to be winning.

Before deciding on coming to Leiden for International Studies, Maurice Kirschbaum had already studied two years of law at King’s College in London. During his time as a jurist for SOS Jurists, a local legal aid NGO that helps asylum seekers in the Lake Geneva region, he realised he did not speak any of the languages of the refugees or could understand the politics of their cases he had to take to court. “I wanted to connect with people in those situations, so I applied.”

For Alba Medina Bermejo, everything came together in Leiden. Firstly, there was no International Studies in her native Spain. Secondly, she could focus on Africa and learn another language, as well as its history and culture. And thirdly, she loved its multi-disciplinary approach, which helps her in her current job: “It gives you a more holistic view of the current world issues and dynamics. You learn to see different sides to problems.”

Nassim was in the first cohort of students who began the bachelor’s programme in International Studies in 2012. His foreign classmates changed his outlook on the world. He now advises managers and civil servants on issues in higher education and internationalisation. His international perspective helps him in that.

As an alumnus of International Studies, you continue to be a vital part of our programme, even if you don’t always realise it!

During the BA International Studies you prepare yourself for an (academic) career. Some students already have a very clear idea of their career path. To most students, however, this future picture is not so clear yet. Whatever it is that you are looking for, on this page we would like to give you a hand in mapping your future.

2022 is a major anniversary year. In September 2012 the first students signed up for the BA International Studies in The Hague. The expectation was that the new programme should ideally attract around 250 students a year. Fast forward a decade, and we have seen an annual intake of over 500 for most of that period. The BA International Studies is by far the largest BA programme in the Faculty of Humanities and in Campus The Hague, with a total student cohort of around 1600 as of June 2022. This has been a success story of major proportions.

On 2 September 2022, 300 students received their Bachelor Diploma of International Studies. The students were awarded their diplomas in the historic Pieterskerk in Leiden, in front of a large audience of family and friends. With about 1000 people present, including the graduates, the International Studies Graduation Ceremony went ‘back to normal’ after two years of Corona restrictions.