Brochure BA International Studies

International Studies

Bachelor of Arts

Faculty of Humanities

Leiden University. The University to discover.

Leiden University Stimulating programmes, international contacts and personal mentoring in a lively student city. This is what Leiden University can offer you. You will be taught by lecturers who draw their inspiration from pioneering research and compelling social issues. You will learn to unravel complex issues and to create innovative solutions. In short, Leiden University will challenge you to develop your talents to the utmost. By the end of your study period you will have acquired the skills and knowledge needed to play an inspiring leadership role in the Netherlands or internationally.

Visit us!

Orientation Day: 10 March 2012 Study Festival: 22 October 2011 Open Days: end November 2011 and end April 2012 Last Minute Leiden: 22 June 2012 At internationalstudies.leiden.edu you will find further information about all our information activities, including the exact dates.

internationalstudies.leiden.edu 2

Table of Contents

Studying International Studies at Leiden University

Intro

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Introducing International Studies

• Study in short 5 • Student profile 5 • Why International Studies 6 • Requirements 7

Study Photo’s: UFB Photo & Digital, Marc de Haan, John Brussel, Den Haag Marketing.

This brochure has been compiled with the utmost care; nevertheless it is possible that information has changed by now and the information in this brochure is not binding. The most up to date information can be found at www.internationalstudies.leiden.edu August 2011

Interdisciplinary, comparative area studies degree

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• Areas and languages 9 • First year programme 10 • Second/third year programme 11 • International aspects 13

Future

The start of a great career

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• Master’s programmes 17 • Career information 19

The city

Best of both cities

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• Leiden 21 • The Hague 21 • Contact us 23

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International Studies:

‘We are going to create a real ‘international classroom’, to the extent that no one nationality will dominate. Not only are the students international, but the lecturers are, too.’

Richard Griffiths, director International Studies

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Discover the World The Bachelor International Studies degree teaches you to put the world in perspective by studying a world region. Do you have an open mind and are you interested in languages and area studies? Then International Studies just might be the right study for you.

Study in short

Student profile

We live in a rapidly changing world where developments and events have ramifications that stretch far beyond national and regional borders. In this globalising world, regions and countries will increasingly have to cooperate on a global level. However, each region has its own background, its own unique history and culture. When operating in a global environment, it is essential to understand and appreciate these political, economic, historical and cultural differences.

If you want to start International Studies, you need to have an open mind and respect for different political views and cultural approaches. You also have an interest in exploring foreign cultures in a contemporary context - not in isolation but in an international setting.

International Studies aims to study the relations between these regions and its impact on the world. The BA in International Studies will encourage the emergence of a new generation of undergraduates better equipped to understand, and to contribute to, the world in which we live.

Since we have an international student population, our students feel relaxed in foreign cultures and enjoy to study in an international environment. Besides this, you also have a clear and wide interest in world history, international relations, different cultures and languages. Proficiency in English is a requirement, since all classes are taught in English.

Intro International Studies in short

International Studies is registered as “Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges, BA International Studies� (code 50429). You need this information for your application.

Tip Learning Dutch If you are interested in the language and culture of the country you will be living in for three years, why not study its language? Our Academic Language Centre provides Dutch courses for foreign students. These courses focus on all language skills: speaking, writing, listening and reading. The courses are practical and are aimed at using the language on a daily basis. Learning Dutch will help you get a better understanding of the culture of the Netherlands.

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Typical Day of

Why International Studies?

St A first year student

08.00

08.30

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11.00 15.00 20.00 22.00 23.30

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I wake up and jump on my bike.

At Leiden Central Station I take a quick stop for a Starbucks’ coffee, my favourite.

Just in time to catch the train to The Hague, just a 12 minute ride.

In the meanwhile I scan the free news paper for news we can use in class today.

I arrive at Configuring the World class together with my fellow students, some of them live in The Hague.

Time for Global History class.

Globalisation appears to be nothing new.

Tutorial with fellow students preparing our paper on ‘the Clash of Civilizations’.

It’s my turn to make dinner for me and my friends. Shall I make a pasta dish or Dutch pancakes?

Rehearse my presentation in tomorrow’s class academic English.

I’m confident I’ll do well.

Time to sleep. Or maybe just another quick drink with my friends?

Fascinated by foreign countries but want to know more? Addicted to international news and events but feel a need for deeper understanding? The new International Studies degree offers you a unique combination of area studies, placed in an international setting and provides the opportunity to learn a foreign language. After a semester of broad introduction, you choose from one of nine world areas in which to specialise. You analyse the area of choice from cultural, economic, historical and political perspectives and compare them within an international perspective.

This degree is unique in the Netherlands.

Globalisation Globalisation of the world economy is not new, but is continually advancing. The interests of transnational companies reach beyond national loyalties and outreach that of many countries.

Some curious facts (from 2006) on Gross National Incomes (GNI) and corporate wealth: - Thailand’s GNI was exceeded by General Motors’ sales revenue - Bolivia’s GNI was exceeded by British Airways’ sales revenue - The sales revenue of Wal-Mart stores was close to the Gross National Income (GNI) of Indonesia, the world’s third most populous country, and exceeded the combined GNI of the poorest 49 states.

Why does this matter?

International

Our complete study programme is taught in English. You become a part of a genuine international classroom with fellow students from all over the world. Not only our students are international, so are our lecturers. You go to classes in The Hague, the international city of Peace and Justice. Our classes are a unique combination of current affairs, language acquisition and a focus on the acquired knowledge in academic festivals instead of only examinations.

Top Faculty of Humanities

You receive a degree of the Faculty of Humanities, one of the top faculties in continental Europe. The faculty has a longstanding expertise in fields including philosophy, religious studies, history, art history, literature, linguistics and area studies, covering practically the entire world.

Source: The State of the World Atlas, eighth edition, Myriad Editions, 2008.

Democracy - 43% of people in the world live in established democracies - Until the 1990’s, most Central and South American countries experienced extended periods of military rule and civil war - Of the 20 states at the top of the UN Human Development Index, all are established democracies - Of the 20 states at the bottom of the UN Human Development Index, only two are established democracies.

How can this happen?

Source: The State of the World Atlas, eighth edition, Myriad Editions, 2008.

Admission requirements Dutch students

You will be admitted to the Bachelor’s programme in International Studies if you are in the possession of: - A VWO diploma or equivalent and proficiency in English, with no further requirements of your subject cluster - A first-year or final diploma from a higher professional (HBO) institution - A first-year or final diploma from a university programme Dutch applicants with a VWO-diploma are automatically admitted to the programme.

Non-Dutch students

Leiden University determines admission based on educational background/diplomas and language requirements. Non-native speakers of English must have a reasonable level of proficiency in English. International applicants are requested to submit an English proficiency test with their application, however exemptions can be made. Scores from the following tests are accepted: IELTS, TOEFL

and Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English. Admission to the programme is organised by the University’s Admissions Office. After official notification of admission, this office will help you in obtaining living accommodation and visa (if applicable).

Go to internationalstudies.leiden.edu for full information on the application procedure, (language) requirements and approved school qualifications.

Leiden study system Studying calls for a lot of adjustment. This is why we offer you intensive personal supervision.

• In the first year you will study as part of a small group of students in a tutor group. This small-group environment will enable you to practise your academic skills, from making a presentation to compiling a literature list. You will be assigned a personal mentor, generally the lecturer of your tutor group. You will have regular interviews with your mentor to discuss the planning and progress of your studies, and he or she will monitor your progress throughout the study programme. The

department also has a study adviser whom you can contact if you have any study-related questions or problems.

• In the course of your first year you will receive official advice on your study on three occasions: in January, in the spring and after any exams and re-sits in August. You will be given a postponed positive recommendation if you have obtained at least 40 of the 60 study points needed. Provided you meet this requirement, you may continue your studies at Leiden University. In making this recommendation, we naturally take into account any relevant personal circumstances.

• Even after your first year, you continue to receive support in the form of monitoring of your study progress. You will, for instance, make a study plan together with your study adviser, detailing the subjects you still have to take, any electives you are intending to follow and any other plans you may have, such as studying abroad. This shows you whether you have planned too many or too few subjects, and whether you are still on schedule.

Discover the world International Studies offers you the knowledge to discover the world. For example, you learn to study the cause and effect of: • the Euro crisis • Arab spring: the 2010-2011 Middle East and North Africa protests • the death of Osama Bin Laden • Japan’s nuclear crisis • deforestation of the Amazon region • Europe’s dependence of Eurasian oil and gas supplies • the influence of the US presidential elections on the rest of the world .

Intro International Studies in short

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Study a region of the world

‘Leiden has a lot of knowledge about regions and languages available! Nearly every continent will be discussed here.’ Marianne Wiesebron, lecturer International Studies

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from different angles The Bachelor International Studies degree has a three year study programme. The degree is taught and examined entirely in English. International Studies degree offers a unique combination of comparative area studies and foreign language acquisition.

Areas and languages

Interdisciplinary comparative area studies

In the course of the programme, you focus on a particular world area and study its cultural, political, economical and historical aspects, and put all of this in a global context.

Language acquisition of (at least) one of the area’s main languages is essential to the degree, as a tool of communication and to study the area from within. You learn to study regions in their own right and within a global and comparative perspective.

The academic programme is designed around three elements: • Core courses that introduce disciplinary concepts and analyse the international setting • Area courses that analyse the situation in a selected region from a disciplinary, and increasingly interdisciplinary, perspective • Language courses that prepare students for access to the cultural context in the relevant language.

The first semester is common for all students, and after this you will choose an area for further specialisation, and a corresponding language for study.

The study programme guarantees the key languages for each area (indicated in normal type), but will offer more (indicated in italics) if there is sufficient demand. Moreover, if possible, students may attend language classes with other students at the Leiden campus.

Study More about the programme

The core concepts, ideas and methods are taken from four broad disciplinary approaches: • History - mostly modern history • Cultural Studies - modern cultural phenomena in their societal settings • Economics - and the concepts from International Political Economy • Political Science - and Sociology and Anthropology

Area East Asia

Foreign Language Chinese, Japanese (Korean) Latin America Spanish (Portuguese) Middle East Arabic (Persian, Turkish) North America French, Spanish Russia and Eurasia Russian South Asia Hindi Southern Africa Afrikaans (Swahili) South-East Asia Indonesian, Spanish Western Europe Dutch, French, Spanish (Italian, Portuguese)

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The structure of the Bachelor’s programme First year: first semester

The first semester is common for all students, and after this you will choose an area for further specialisation and a corresponding language for study. During the first semester, students take the following courses:

will use some statistical techniques to combine and manipulate the data sets, in order to see if there are causal links between the different phenomena examined and to suggest directions in which that causation may run.

Global History

Configuring the World

The world is an exciting and diverse place and no two areas are ever the same. But even within areas, there are differences between regions and between groups of citizens. These differences are often described on the basis of numerical measurements, usually aggregated at some higher level. But even if the numbers carry the same name and classification, what do they actually measure and are they strictly comparable? This course examines various aspects of the world through the medium of global data bases and encourages students to (critically) compare experiences in an attractive and comprehensible format. As the course develops, we

This course traces the development and interaction between cultures over a period of seven centuries, highlighting the stories and themes in world history that tied cultures and regions together, and in some cases, drove them apart. To some extent it suggests that the phenomenon of globalisation is not unique to the most recent past and - in contrast to some hyperglobalist rhetoric - it will suggest that the effects were often far from benign.

Thesis Advanced Elective Seminar Theory

Y3-sem i

Thesis

All scholarly work in the social sciences and humanities necessarily focuses on one or more socio-historic areas. However, it is also

Discretionary space

Y2-sem ii Elective

Y2-sem i

InterInternational national Economics Politics

Politics

International Economics Cultural Studies

Y1-sem ii Philosophy Economics Cultural of Science

Y1-sem i

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World History

Politics

Elective

Foreign Language

Culture

Foreign Language

History

Foreign Language

Studies

Configuring The World

Introduction to Areas

This course will introduce students to some of the problems facing various areas and the challenge in studying them. Lectures will be supported and accompanied by various music, film, television and other media examples.

Introduction to Area Studies

BA International Studies per semester Y3-sem ii

important for scholars to be self-reflexive about the importance of their own position in a particular place and tradition: no research is done in an ideal, value-free vacuum.

Even the most conventional, mainstream disciplines are rooted in particular (often European) experiences. The course encourages students to consider the status of knowledge produced in different fields and places, and to think creatively about how these might be related to one another in constructive ways.

Introduction to Area studies and the Areas

Academic English

Introduction to Academic English

The academic English course is aimed at improving academic writing and presenting skills in English. In the academic writing tutorials the focus will be on structure, clarity, coherence and cohesion as well as referencing, and how to avoid plagiarism. Where necessary, the tutor will go into the finer points of English grammar. Students will also learn to set up an academic presentation. Topics such as presentation structure and signposting, the use of presenter tools and, where necessary, pronunciation will be dealt with.

During the course students will peer-review each other’s written and oral work, and they will receive thorough feedback from their course tutor. The ultimate aim of the course is to make students self-sufficient in writing and presenting in English.

First year: second semester

Once the second semester starts, the core disciplines, the areas and the foreign language training start to interact. You choose an area for further specialisation and a corresponding language for study.

The second semester starts with area courses for history, focusing mainly on post-war developments. These courses build on the world history course in the first semester.

At the same time, the core courses begin to address the concepts, theories and methods involved in both economics and in cultural studies. Another core course in this semester is Philosophy of Science, which addresses broader questions on the nature of know-

Prof.dr. Richard Griffiths, Director

ledge and the means for testing it in different cultural settings. Finally, students embark on their language training.

Second and third year programme

The second year of the study programme consists of area courses on the area of your choice - studying political, economical and cultural approaches - core courses and language training. During your third and final year you do research and write your Bachelor’s thesis. In the sixth and final semester students take part in one of the thesis seminars, which bring students with closely aligned thesis topics together. You will be required to place the thesis in an international comparative context.

There is also room for an elective, minor programme, additional language training or an internship or academic course abroad in the final year. You can find the full academic programme on our website internationalstudies.leiden.edu.

International Studies ‘Nowhere in the world will you find such an outstanding Faculty of Humanities as in Leiden. All the different area studies are represented here, but up to now all these areas were very separate and you studied one area or the other, and not specifically in an international context. We are now going to tackle this differently. What we offer in this degree programme is the perspective of international comparison in a fully interdisciplinary framework. Such an approach is not offered anywhere else. We are going to create a real ‘international classroom’, to the extent that no one nationality will dominate. This will mean that you always have the opportunity for critical reflection, and you will also learn to make comparisons on the basis of more than just your own experiences. In the beginning, it is perhaps quite rigidly organised.

We did this on purpose. Comparison between disciplines such as history and politics is really important in this degree programme. If students put together their own programmes, they will miss the opportunity to compare and to learn from their fellow students. Not only are the students international, but the lecturers are, too. I am British but have been living in the Netherlands for a long time now. I think it’s fantastic here and Leiden really is a wonderful town. Well-motivated students and a high level of education. And so many great museums. I am practically addicted to my museum card!’

Study More about the programme

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Typical Day of

Course examples Starting your second semester you choose an area for further specialisation. In your second and third year you study its historical, political, cultural and economic perspectives. Let’s look more closely at two examples:

St A second year student with South East Asia as region of interest

08.30 09.00

11.00 13.00

15.00 17.00 19.00 21.00

23.00

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Breakfast with my fellow students at university’s café in The Hague Lively discussion in this morning’s Comparative Politics class focusing on the current situation in the relationship between India and China.

Ethnicity, diversity, migration of South East Asia class.

Discussion during lunch on our paper on modern Indonesian History. It’s due next week, I’ll prepare the next version.

Language course Indonesian. By now, these classes are taught in Indonesian.

Dinner at one of The Hague’s terraces near the Dutch Parliament building.

Rowing practice in Leiden at my student association.

Practice my pronunciation with native speakers of the large Indonesian community in The Hague.

Work on my blog and read up on Facebook. And then some sleep.

Middle East – History

Latin America – Politics

1. The new World order 2. Authoritarian reformers in the Interbellum 3. Women’s Rights 4. World War II and the struggle for independence 5. New Players: the cold war 6. Oil Politics 7. Egyptian leadership: pan-arabism and islam 8. Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 9. Intifada’s and the peace process 10. The Islamic Revolution in Iran 11. Islam and Secularism: the Turkish State 12. Political Islam and the Arab Spring

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The colonial experience Decolonisation and state formation Socio-economic foundations of politics The tradition of authoritarianism: a comparative overview 1980s: from dictatorship to democracy?

Political dynamics: democracy and populism – a comparative analysis Political institutions: presidents and parliaments – a comparative analysis Political economy: democracy and poverty – a comparative analysis Regional cooperation A geo-strategic backyard: Relations with the United States Current issues and future challenges

International aspects

On more than one level International Studies is an internationally oriented Bachelor degree.

The study programme is taught and examined in English, which attracts foreign students. You will therefore be part of a tight group of international students. The study

Study More about the programme

programme is also filled with international aspects. We regularly invite guest speakers from international organisations in the Netherlands and abroad, but also think of international films during your area courses or going on organised tours to international organisations in the Netherlands. In the final year of your degree, you have the opportunity

to travel abroad by doing or an internship or an academic course at a partner university outside of the Netherlands.

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Facilities and Student Support Services

Leiden University offers a wide range of facilities to support you in your study, but also to make your time as a student as enjoyable as possible. The University has one central library, and many faculties and departments also have their own dedicated libraries. Computer rooms are available at the faculties, the University Library and Plexus Student Centre. Students can

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also bring their own laptop to most computer rooms where wireless internet is available. Furthermore, the University offers a sports centre, a language centre, a student careers centre, and many other amenities.

As a student of Leiden University, you will also have access to various support services specially designed to assist students. Some of the servi-

ces, such as the International Student Adviser, offer support particularly aimed at international students. At the faculties, you can, for example, receive support from co-ordinators and study advisers. Special assistance is also offered for student with a disability. You can find information on all the facilities and support services available at: www.leiden.edu/students.

Study and Student Associations

Study associations are for students from a particular degree course; they focus on the academic aspects of student life and organize course-related activities, such as lectures, seminars, field trips or excursions.

The main focus of student associations is on social events such as drinks, sports activities, lectures, camp weeks, etc. Many of the associations offer you the opportunity to develop your organisational skills to complement your academic curriculum and to extend your social network.

dr. Marianne Wiesebron, Lecturer

There are Dutch-oriented student associations, some of which offer also short-term membership for international students.

The five main ones are Augustinus, Catena, Minerva, Quintus and SSR. As well as these associations, there are also religious student associations active in Leiden including Christian, Islamic and Jewish organisations. Some student associations focus on specific cultural activities. One of these, Prometheus, focuses on cultural activities ranging from lectures and music to theatre and movies. For more information about student life, please visit www.leiden.edu/students.

Tip International There is one main international student association active in Leiden: the International Student Network. www.isn-leiden.nl There are a further two internationally orientated organisations: SIB & AEGEE Leiden.

International Studies ‘International Studies brings together the expertise of the Faculty of Humanities in one degree programme. There is a huge amount of regional and language knowledge present in this department! Almost all continents are covered, and that is unique not only in the Netherlands but also when compared with universities around the world. I believe that such a degree programme could only get off the ground in Leiden. However, besides study possibilities this town has much more to offer internationally-oriented students, such as numerous museums and international student associations, for example. Leiden is a small city, which makes it easy to get around. When I have guests from Latin America they are always surprised but delighted not to need a car here. In a city such as São Paulo, where I spent a large part of my childhood, you cannot go anywhere on foot or by bike. Other backgrounds and other environments lead to very diverse perspectives. Our students are able to experience this for themselves, as they can spend a semester in ‘their’ area. We will compare the different regions because, although there are many differences in the world, there are also comparable developments in each period. This is what we are going to deal with in this degree programme, and as a lecturer I am definitely looking forward to it.’

Study More about the programme

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Leiden University - Faculty of Humanities

The BA International Studies degree is offered by a top international faculty in a top international university. Leiden University is the oldest and possibly most renowned of the universities in the Netherlands and is a member of Europaeum (a group of ten

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leading international universities) and the League of European Research Universities.

Leiden University performs well in QS World University rankings. In 2010 it was ranked 82nd in the world and 15th in continental Europe. The Humanities Faculty fared better still, ranked 38th in the World and 8th in

Continental Europe. The 2011 QS World University Rankings for Arts & Humanities place Leiden University’s Humanities Faculty among the best in the world and at the top in continental Europe.

Master’s programmes

The Faculty of Humanities offers a full range of English-language Master’s degrees, some of which are unique in the Netherlands.

Many of these will be open to graduates in International Studies, but some may have additional or supplementary requirements that may be met by choosing a specific minor during the third year of the BA programme.

Examples of Master’s programmes at the Faculty of Humanities: • Dutch Studies (Master of Arts) • European Union Studies (Master of Arts) • Latin America Studies (Master of Arts) • Russian Studies (Master of Arts) • African Studies (two year Research Master) For a full overview of all Master’s programmes at Leiden University, please visit www.mastersinleiden.nl.

Urbanisation The world’s population is growing rapidly, but the urban population is growing even faster.

New urbanisation is largely concentrated in the developing countries.

- 50% of the world’s people live in cities - The number of urban dwellers in Asia will increase to 1.084 million people by 2030 - In the United States of America at least 40% of people live in cities of over 1 million inhabitants - There were 1.4 billion more urban dwellers in 2005 than in 1980.

This trend is continuing. How will we cope?

Source: The State of the World Atlas, eighth edition, Myriad Editions, 2008.

Aysel Gojayeva (21), Master

student European Union Studies ‘In my home country Azerbaijan I was active in an international students’ association, focusing on themes such as integration, human rights and European values. After finishing my BA at home, I decided to do a Master’s degree abroad. I compared British, German and Dutch universities and chose Leiden University. Leiden’s faculty of Humanities is an internationally acclaimed faculty. There is a high level of academic teaching. I joined a group of over 80 international students from more than 20 countries such as China and the USA when starting my Master’s in Leiden in September.

I enjoy living in Leiden a lot. It’s a cosy monumental city with many parks. I especially like the fact that you can get everywhere on your bike. I am not a big fan of long travels on public transport. Often on weekends, me and my friends go for a bike tour through Leiden and have a picnic in the botanical garden.

Prof. Griffiths, founder and director of BA International Studies was an important factor in opting for Leiden, for me and most of my fellow students. He and his team are dedicated to their students. Their approach of personal attention and a close community of students has great appeal.’

Study More about the programme

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The start of a great career in

‘With a combination of general and regional knowledge and skills, our students will be an interesting prospect in journalism, the diplomatic services and also in business.’ Frank Pieke, Lecturer International Studies

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the Netherlands or abroad As an International Studies graduate you will not only have vocational and technical skills, but also affinity with the cultural values of your international co-workers. This will give you a flying start in a great career in business, science and government organisations in this ever more globalising world.

Career opportunities

International Studies graduates possess intercultural competences and relevant language skills, which have strong employer appeal in an increasingly globalised world. The expertise you can offer is vitally important in a wide range of employment sectors including

Prof.dr. Frank Pieke, Lecturer

government, business and commerce, diplomacy, communications and the media.

Job opportunities may arise as policy officer international relations at national government level or non-governmental organisation, manager in a multinational firm or inter-

national trade company, diplomat, journalist or editor at a newspaper or broadcasting service, independent consultant on diversity matters, employee at a museum or publishing company, adviser on cultural relations or as international trade officer. You also might move on to academic teaching and research.

International Studies ‘In this degree programme you do not just learn to look at the world from a general perspective. In the second semester you choose which specific area you wish to focus on. Then you will go more deeply into the language and culture. What kinds of issues will be covered? The really big issues in the world: safety, environment and migration, you name it. The degree programme is of a very international nature, which will enable you to develop highly important skills such as discussing and writing papers in English. You will also find yourself among international students. This means that at an early stage you will learn to appreciate how big and culturally rich the world is. With such a combination of general and regional knowledge and skills, our students will be an interesting prospect in journalism and the diplomatic services but also in business. Our students really will be prepared for an international career. The general aim is that you will spread your wings after graduating. Or rather during the degree programme, because in the third year there will be a whole wealth of internship opportunities. Of course, it is always a matter of waiting to see where students on a new degree programme end up. However, I firmly believe they will play a role in bridging the gap between world cultures.’

Future Career information

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Best of both cities: Leiden

You will go to classes in The Hague, the political capital and international City of Peace and Justice.

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and The Hague Study hard, but take the time to relax, too: in Leiden and The Hague there are ample opportunities for both. Take in the sun on one of the city’s many terraces or overlooking the canals, learn a new sport at the sports club, or join in one of the activities organised by the student associations.

Student cities

Leiden simply oozes history: the historic Citadel (Burcht), beautiful classical architecture, including the University’s own buildings, and the many canals give the city its own distinct atmosphere. The Hague is the epitome of a large and cosmpolitan city: it is home to many major businesses and institutions, and boasts a diverse range of cultures. With their vibrant city centres, both Leiden and The Hague are true student cities. You are always sure to meet a familiar face en route between the library and lectures. Student activities are generally focused around the city centre, and most places can be reached within ten minutes by bicycle. There are a host of friendly cafés and reasonably priced restaurants, as well as a wealth of art and culture.

Leiden

When starting your BA International Studies, you can also spend your time in Leiden. Its restored historic city centre with all of its monuments, ancient alleyways and canals is an especially pleasant place to study. Leiden

city centre and its railway station is only ten minutes by train from the centre of The Hague.

Studying in The Hague

You will go to classes in The Hague, the Dutch political capital and international city of peace and justice. Leiden University has a campus in the middle of The Hague city centre, close to the Dutch parliament buildings, the Royal Palace, embassies and ministries.

Besides this, it is a stone’s throw away from museums - such as the world famous Mauritshuis - and restaurants and terraces of Het Plein. The Hague is also the city of the Peace Palace, home to the international court of justice, and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Students Restaurants and cafés Nationalities Study associations Museums Cinemas

Best of both cities Leiden and The Hague

Leiden 19.000 230 90 45 12 3

Sports

Are you a sporting type? If so, Leiden is the ideal place for you. There are dozens of different sports on offer at the University Sport Centre, ranging from zumba to rugby and from tennis to volleyball. You can also join one of the many sports clubs, work out in the student fitness centre in Plexus, or just have a kick-about with a ball in Van der Werff park.

The Hague 30.000 700 160 18 12 5

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Join us at International Studies At internationalstudies.leiden.edu you will find further information about all our information activities, including the exact dates.

If you want more information International Studies or are interested in getting to know more about the department or study programme, you are welcome to visit us, or check out the website. You can also ask for details of the activities or order prospectuses for the different programmes via the Studielijn (+31 (071) 527 11 11, studielijn@leidenuniv.nl).

Orientation Day: 10 March 2012

This is the main event if you are just starting to think about your study options. You can take a free study options test, attend presentations about your particular areas of interest, and discover how you can make the right choice for your future.

Study Festival: 22 October 2011

If you already have an idea about what you are interested in, the Study Festival is your opportunity to explore all the Leiden study programmes by visiting their stands and attending the presentations by the different departments.

Open Days: November 2011 and April 2012

Find out more about the study programmes that interest you. You can visit lecture rooms, attend a try-out lecture and ask students and lecturers any your questions you might have.

Last Minute Leiden: 22 June 2012

If you want to start a study in September 2012, but you haven’t yet reached a firm decision, you can come to Last Minute Leiden for handy tips about how to choose the programme that best suits you.

At internationalstudies.leiden.edu you will find further information about all our information activities, including the exact dates.

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To help you choose the right study programme, we have given every information activity a symbol so that you know which phase the information is intended for: If you are just starting to choose your programme.

If you already know which fields you are interested in and want to explore the possibilities within specific fields.

If you want to find out about one or more study programmes.

If you want to confirm your choice or enroll in a programme.

For additional information and questions please contact: Website E-mail Telephone

internationalstudies.leiden.edu bais.info@leiden.edu +31 (071) 527 11 11

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International Studies at Leiden University

1 political cafÊ at our The Hague’s class room facilities

100 is the number of nationalities registered at Leiden University

9 world areas to choose from after your first semester

250 meters from class room facilities to Dutch Parliament buildings

12 minutes by train from Leiden to The Hague

5000 liters of water it takes daily to produce a person’s food

24 hours of classes each week in your first year

6800 languages are spoken over the world, dialects not included

35 countries have ever had a woman head of government

18.778 students currently studying at Leiden University

68 is the world average life expectancy

6.92 billion is the total estimated number of living people on Earth

internationalstudies.leiden.edu