Global Order in Historical Perspective (MA)
Career prospects
Where do our graduates work?
Because of the extensive curriculum and specialisations, the career opportunities after completing the International Relations specialisation in Global Order in Historical Perspective are broad. Our graduates have landed jobs in various sectors of the job market, such as research institutes, international organisations, government bodies, media and academia. Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:
- Consultant at a financial organisation
- Policy advisor for a government
- Reporter at a national broadcaster
- Contracting advisor at an international bank
Kent Moore
Graduated in International Relations
"Being from my own cultural background, from the U.S., I came to Leiden with a certain view on the world. Through studying International Relations I acquired much more cultural sensitivity about certain issues. I learned about the impression the U.S. leaves on the world, which opened up my world to different viewpoints.”
Recruiting students for our study abroad programmes
"I currently work at CISabroad, a studying abroad organization that has affiliations with over 200 U.S. universities. For the most part I recruit students for our study abroad programmes, but I also arrange the logistics of some of the student trips abroad."
Inspirational lecturers
" As a lecturer I found Lindsay Black very inspirational. He is a very smart man and I owe him a drink or two for being so helpful during the process of writing my thesis."
Kaja Blumtritt
Graduated in International Relations
"I chose Leiden because of the university's good reputation for the subjects that I am interested in. Furthermore, I valued the opportunity to be able to combine different interests and the possibility to engage with critical approaches to law and international relations. The location between Amsterdam and The Hague is certainly also a plus."
What is it like to work in Brussels
"It is exciting, challenging and sometimes surprising when the Brussels bubble opens up new opportunities you have not even thought of before."
In which sector do students find jobs?
The graphs below are based on alumni data from the MA International Relations - Global Order in Historical Perspective 2016-2020.
- 43 % Government and semi-government organisations
- 29 % Consulting
- 14 % Media and journalism
- 14 % Education
Career preparation
Find out how this programme prepares you for your future career and check our career preparation activities.
The Master's programme in International Relations at Leiden University equips you with a range of transferable skills and knowledge that will help you stand out in your future career. Your specialised knowledge is complemented by a broad and contextual understanding as well as critical-thinking skills that can be applied to complex conceptual problems. Other skills you may encounter in the various International Relations courses are:
- Collaboration
- Creative thinking
- Persuasion
- Intercultural skills
- Research
You have the opportunity to do an internship at an organisation in the Netherlands or abroad. This experience is highly valued within international organisations. Organisations that our students have interned at include:
- Dutch Ministry of Defense
- Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies around the world
- Media outlets such as EenVandaag
- Netherlands Permanent Mission to the United Nations
- Netherlands Institute for International Relations ‘Clingendael’
- The International Centre for Counterterrorism
- The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies
Please note that you will need to find your own internship and have to follow an internship procedure for approval. Pursuing an internship may have consequences for the date of your graduation.
Our staff can help you identify both the career that is right for you, and the necessary steps to get you there. Our team at Humanities Career Service provide all Leiden University humanities students with professional advice and guidance on everything from internships and career planning to job applications. Humanities Career Service also organises regular workshops on topics such as effective interview skills and creating a successful CV.
The Humanities Career Service offers you various (online) workshops, webinars and info sessions. Check our overview of career activities.
The Leiden University Career Zone is an online career portal that helps you to prepare for the job market. Here you can find information, tools and tips to help you gain more personal insight, learn about the job market, develop your application skills, plan your academic and professional career, find job vacancies and discover what the Career Service can do for you.
Join the Mentor Network to contact alumni with experience on the labour market and ask them for advice. More than 1200 alumni are happy to help you!
Jelle on finding an internship via Leiden University's Mentor Network
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One of the many ways the MA International Relations prepares you for your future career is the Student-Alumni Career Networking Event. Practical advice, a panel discussion, and an informal networking reception are key ingredients for this successful event. Read more about the Student-Alumni Networking Event in 2023 or watch the video for an impression of the Networking event in 2022!
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