Preliminary Info
We advise you to try to complete your Studielink registration as soon as possible in order to be able to use all university facilities and to complete your course registration in uSis. Your acceptance to the university should be “unconditional” before your classes start.
Registration for courses (September 2019 start)
In the 1st semester students follow two Common Courses, one Core Course and one Seminar. Registration takes place by the Student Services Centre (SSC) in the Hague in August 2019.
In the 2nd semester students follow one Seminar, the Thesis Seminar or the Internship Project and Seminar. Students register themselves for the Thesis Seminar of their specialistion after the general information meeting in December 2019.
Please note that official course registration in uSis does not lead to automatic Blackboard enrollment. You must enroll yourself on Blackboard for your courses. Click this link for instructions.
Registration for courses (February 2020 start)
In their first semester students follow two compulsory courses ('Great Debates in Political Science' and ‘Methods in Political Science). Registration for ‘Great Debates in Political Science’ will be taken care of by the Student Service Centre (SSC) in January 2020. On February 25th there will be an informative session on registration for the ‘Methods in Political Science’ course, in Leiden, after the joint lecture of Great Debates. Registration in uSis is possible from 16 March 10.00h - 22 March 23.59h.
Registration for 'The Politics of Policy Making' and ' Policy Evaluation' will be taken care of by the SSC.
In the second semester (September 2020-January 2021) students follow a Thesis Seminar (20 EC) plus a Core Course (10 EC).
Please note that official course registration in uSis does not lead to automatic Blackboard enrollment. You must enroll yourself on Blackboard for your courses. Click this link for instructions.
Course and Examination Regulations
CER
Start February 2019
Welcome back
All February 2019 intake students follow a master thesis seminar (20 EC) plus their specific core course (10 EC) in the first semester of the academic year 19-20. Students will be registered for both of these components by the SSC in August.
Please check in your UsiS overview whether you are registered correctly in time before the start of the academic year!
We advise you to try to complete your Studielink re-enrollment as soon as possible in order to be able to use all university facilities.
Start September 2019
Welcome meeting Master IO (September start):
We would like to invite our new MSc students to a welcome meeting on Monday, September 2, 2019. The meeting will take place from 10.00-10.30 a.m. in Wijnhaven Building, room 3.48. During this meeting you will receive practical information regarding the programme and the support services.
The first lecture , 'Great Debates', will be also on Monday 2 September, 11:00-13:00 in room 3.10.
For information about registration please consult the Preliminary Info
Start February 2020
Welcome meeting Master IO (February 2020 start):
We would like to invite our new MSc students to a welcome meeting,Tuesday 4 February 2020, 11.15 - 13.00h in room B4.01 at Schouwburgstraat building.
During this meeting, which will include lunch, you will be welcomed by the Institute and you will receive practical information regarding the programme and the support services.
For information about registration please consult the Preliminary Info
General information meeting on the Thesis Seminar Fall 2020:
THE HAGUE
Thursday 7/5/2020, 13.15 - 15.00, Stichthage 13.08
Career Preparation Module
Career Preparation Module
You have chosen to pursue the MSc in Political Science. But what’s next, once you are a freshly graduated political scientist? Where do we find political scientists on the job market?
Political Science does not prepare you to to one specific career. You find political scientists in many different fields on the job market. Political Science alumni work for the Dutch government, for the media, in large international corporations, in international organisations, at embassies, in academia or they start their own business in consultancy.
Preparing for the job market starts already during your studies by reflecting on your own interests, your possibilities, and of course your capacities. There are many choices to make on the basis of that. The choices you make, during your studies – the courses you take, the (research) assignments you conduct, the (extra) activities you do, the questions you ask yourself – all give direction to your future career. This module on Career Preparation pays attention to important components of a student’s career orientation and preparation for the job market.
You can read more on BlackBoard page Career Preparation Political Science (CPPS-POL-0000FSW) make sure you signed up for this helpful tool.
Your MSc in Political Science is designed as a one year programme. To ensure you will be fully prepared for your future professional career, we strongly advise you to seize all opportunities offered within and outside of your programme to fine tune your career preparation.
The module on Career Preparation consists of several components offered throughout the coming year of your master studies: an Introductory/Welcome session, various workshops and events, a Skills course, an optional Internship Track, assignments and activities within regular master courses, and elective modules and workshops that students may take in the extra-curricular space.
Within each component the focus lies on different questions and topics. We expect a pro-active participation in the elements.
Curricular:
Several courses from the Master Political Science contain components (i.e. lectures about the working field by political science alumni) and/or assignments (i.e. writing of policy memos, case studies, advisory reports) that are relevant to the students’ orientation on the job market and preparation for their further career.
There is also the possibility of doing an Internship Track (30 EC) during which students pursue a research internship for three months. This offers students the opportunity to gain practical experience in an (international) organisation, is a component of the master programme that fits into the module on Career Preparation. For more information see the Prospectus.
Co-Curricular:
If you would like to combine your MSc in Political Science with a professional programme focused on Leadership, take a look at the International Leiden Leadership Programme read more
If you are a Dutch student and you would like to improve your leadership qualities, you can sign up for the Dutch language leadership programme. read more
An extra course offered to the Faculty of Social Sciences students to support their professional skills is Professional and Personal Impact
Extra-Curricular:
Keep track of activities offered by SPIL, the study association for Political Scientists, as well as FSW’s Career Services. You can find event data on their websites.
Useful links:
Career Service Leiden University
Leiden University Career Zone
Career Services Events
Work & Life Skills
Job Application Skills
Your contacts – Study Advisers:
Master Specialisations Leiden:
Students A to K: Daniëlle Lovink - d.j.m.lovink@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Students L to Z: Rally Schwachofer - r.j.t.m.s.schwachofer@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Master Specialisation The Hague (International Organisation):
Ester J.M. Blom e.j.m.blom@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Competency Requirements
The Master Political Science Admissions Committee may have requested that the applicant demonstrates competency in Research Design in Political Science. You can find this on your Statement of Admission.
