International Relations and Diplomacy (MSc)
Student life
The Hague is the international city of peace and justice, home to many international organisations, embassies and multinational corporations but also a fun student city filled with music, cafes, museums and the most popular beach in the Netherlands!
Zhu Liu
Student
"Studying in the Hague is an unique experience! Here, not only you can find lovely canals and modern urban architectures, but also an international atmosphere. Dutch professionals and expats from around the world make it a lively city to explore."
Sonja Albrecht
First year student Leiden University College
''I love the mix of high rise and historic buildings in The Hague. There is a lot of greenery around the city and the beach is nearby, which is great.''
The fact that I can study in the Peace Palace library and do research in places where history was made in international law is amazing. I cannot believe that I can do that on a daily basis. We are located closely to the political center, so we often see prime-minister Mark Rutte pass by on his bike on this way to work. Furthermore, you get a lot of opportunities to meet important people, because they visit The Hague. Recently some students got the chance to meet Ban Ki-moon, secretary-general of the United Nations.
The Hague student city
Studying on the IRD means you have full access to all the services and facilities Leiden University offers – Leiden and The Hague, two great student cities just 10 minutes away by train! Leiden offers you the university’s libraries, student and cultural associations; while the Hague is lively, close to the Netherlands’ most popular beaches, a thriving hub of expat culture and European politics and foreign affairs - with a great transportation system.
More information: www.studyinthehague.com
IRSA Study Association
IRSA is the study association of the MSc International Relations and Diplomacy at Leiden University, and Clingendael Institute.
Other associations
As well as the various student associations, you can also find an array of other associations and clubs in Leiden and The Hague for people with similar interests and backgrounds. More information
Housing
Student housing procedures and norms vary greatly from country to country. In the Netherlands, most universities do not have their own dormitories and students generally arrange their own accommodation. Find out how you can arrange your student housing. Make sure to start early! Affordable rooms are in short supply. More information about housing.
Studying with a disability
At Leiden University we make every effort to ensure that students with a functional disability or learning disorder can still follow the programme of their choice. The Fenestra Disability Centre is there to provide practical support and the relevant information.