The scientific research of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs is organised around a number of centres and institutes in The Hague, city of peace, security and justice.

Researchers at the faculty are closely engaged with the societal realities of The Hague and address a wide range of challenges. From (global) politics and governance to (inter)national (cyber)security. All with an interdisciplinary approach: we bring together public administration, social sciences and security studies.

Expertise Research Institute's

Research within the faculty is conducted at several institutes and centres, each approaching key topics from their own area of expertise. 

• The Institute of Public Administration focuses on contemporary policy and management challenges in the public sector.
• The Institute of Security and Global Affairs conducts research on security, safety and geopolitics, ranging from terrorism and cyber threats to war, peace and justice.
• Leiden University College examines global challenges in the fields of sustainability, peace and justice, diversity and prosperity.
• The Dual PhD Centre facilitates dual PhD research at Leiden University and is based in The Hague.

Research within the faculty is organised per institute into a number of research programmes. A complete list can be found here. 

Research domains Leiden University

A large proportion of the faculty's research is characterised by an interdisciplinary approach aligned with six university-wide research themes: 

• Security, safety and cybersecurity
• Inequality
• Trust in polarised times
• Social transitions
• Geopolitics in Europe and the world
• Sustainability and biodiversity

International and interfaculty partnerships

The strength of our research lies in close collaboration with governments and societal partners. In addition, the faculty has strong national and international roots. This enables us to produce research that not only generates insight but also contributes meaningfully to impactful solutions.

• Una Europa
• Leiden–Delft–Erasmus Universities
• League of European Research Universities
• Social Sciences and Humanities Sector Plans

Graduate School

The Graduate School of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs offers a wide range of PhD opportunities across the full breadth of the institutes’ research disciplines.

Academic integrity and ethics

Academic integrity is a core value of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs. The faculty has an Ethics Committee, which assesses all new research proposals submitted by researchers affiliated with the faculty.

Sector Plans

The Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs is closely aligned with research themes in the field of social sciences within the Dutch Sector Plans and the SSH Sector Plan Cross-Cutting Theme.