What?

Apply for the programme

• first in Studielink (the Dutch online higher education enrollment portal)
• then in uSis (Leiden University’s online application portal).

When?

Applications for BSc Political Science: International Relations and Organisations (2024-2025)

• open on 1 October 2024 and
• close on 15 January 2025 (23:59 CET).

How?

Studielink: what is it?

Studielink is the online portal for arranging enrolment at institutions of higher education in the Netherlands.

Getting started

Studielink website

› www.studielink.nl

• Choose your language in the upper right corner of the screen.
• Select one of the login options.

Authentication

• If you live in the Netherlands, you will need a DigID for your Studielink account. If you do not yet have a DigID, keep in mind that it takes at least five work days to set it up.
• If you have an eID issued in another EEA country, use the eIDAS login option.
• If you are from outside of the EEA, you will be asked to upload a scan or photo of your passport or ID for verification purposes.

E-mail: check regularly

While setting up your Studielink account, please make sure to use an e-mail account that you regularly access and check. All the information you need for the follow-up steps will be via e-mail.

Find the programme

In step 2, Choose a study programme, make sure to select the following options:

• Educational institution: Leiden University
• Type of study programme: WO Bachelor
• Academic load: Full-time
• Language: English

Then, in the search bar (Fill in study programme or location), type

• political science and
• enter

Select IRO

The Result that appears to the right of the search bar, should look like this:

• Political Science, Full-time, numerus fixus programme
• WO Bachelor, Leiden University
• Location: 's-GRAVENHAGE' ('s-Gravenhage is the formal Dutch name for The Hague)

Indicate the start date and whether you are a first-year student

The following screen asks you when you want to start and whether you are new to the programme:

• In the start date field select: September 1, 2025.
• In the start as field select: First-year (if this is applicable to you, of course).
• Click Next ›.

Confirming your selection

• In the next screen, Institutional questions, select the programme:
  • International Relations and Organisations (English language programme)
• and click on Next question.
• Answer the remaining questions.

After your application in Studielink you will receive an email with log-in details for uSis, Leiden University’s online application portal (it can take a couple of days before the email arrives).

Your application can only be processed after you completed the necessary steps in uSis. 

See also:

› Application procedure

Check the entry requirements

Make sure you will be able to meet the entry requirements when the programme starts:

• BSc Politicologie (in Dutch)
• Bsc Politicologie: Internationale Politiek (in Dutch)
• BSc Political Science: International Relations and Organisations

Visa and/or residence permit needed?

Familiarise yourself with the procedure for obtaining visa and/or a residence permit, if applicable to your situation.

What?

Submit your grade average.

When?

Deadline for submitting grade average: 31 January 2025.

How?

Collect required documentation

Start collecting the required documentation in time and make sure not to miss the upload deadline.

Upload grade average in uSis

After you have completed your application in Studielink, you will receive an e-mail message from the student administration system uSis. This message also contains your login credentials. The next step in the selection and placement procedure is to submit your grade average in uSis. Which procedure you have to follow, depends on your previous education, as outlined below:

Dutch diploma

Dutch pre-university education (VWO), University of Applied Sciences (HBO), propaedeutic year of University (WO):

• Upload your grade average, following the instructions.
• Please make sure that your grade average documentation is officially certified, or at least contains a date, a stamp and a signature of an authorised employee of the issuing school.

Non-Dutch diploma

Non-Dutch and international diploma’s (IB and EB), High School diploma, VWO diploma Dutch Caribbean:

• Continue your application and upload your grade average, following these instructions (in English).
• Please make sure to prepare the following documentation: passport or ID, diplomas and transcripts of grades.
• Transcripts must be certified by your educational institution (official stamp and signature for authentication).

What?

Participate in the online assessment. This consists of multiple choice questions. You will receive the accompanying study materials and detailed instructions beforehand.

When?

The assessment is open only

• from Thursday 20 February 2025, 13:00 CET
• to Friday 21 February 2025, 23:59 CET.

Outside this period, you cannot do the assessment.

How?

• Study the instructions for the online assessment. You will receive these instructions by e-mail on 10 February 2025, around 18:00 CET.
• Familiarise yourself with the study materials provided.
• Do the online assessment. Please make sure you have a fully functioning computer with an internet connection at your disposal for the assessment.

What?

Offered a place in the programme? Accept it in time!

When?

From the moment you receive the offer for a place in the progrramme, you have a maximum of two weeks to accept the offer (14 x 24 hours, to be precise). Whether/when you receive the offer, depends on your ranking number.

How?

Ranking number

On 15 April 2025 you will receive your ranking number from Studielink by e-mail.

Instructions for accepting/declining offer

Also, you will receive instructions for accepting or declining the place offered to you. Furthermore, you will receive a letter explaining the ‘score’ determining your ranking in the selection and placement procedure.

Vacant places

Initially, places are offered to candidates with a ranking number between 1 and 600. This does not mean that candidates with a higher ranking number will fall by the wayside. After all, offers must be accepted, in time. And it may happen that candidates ultimately fail to comply with the entry requirements. When a place becomes vacant, it is offered to the candidate with the next ranking number.

FAQ

› Frequently asked questions numerus fixus, selection and placement procedure (PDF)

Official selection regulations

The official document containing all guidelines for the selection and placement procedure can be dowloaded here:

› Selection Regulations of Leiden University for Bachelor’s programme Political Science (and the specialisations Internationale Politiek and International Relations and Organisations)