Study abroad
What is the best time to go abroad?
The best period to spend abroad within the framework of the Political Science programme is the first semester of the third year. This semester includes only one course that is part of your curriculum: Introduction to International Political Economy. The remaining 24 ECTS concern elective space, which you can fill in with courses that you follow abroad.
The course in Introduction to International Political Economy can be followed remotely.
Alternatively, you may replace the course by a suitable course at the institution abroad, on condition that the Examining Board for Political Science gives permission for this.
Where can you go?
Our programme has contracts with a wide range of universities abroad. The website of the International Mobility Office provides a good overview. If you are not sure yet where you would like to go, take a look at the overview of destinations for Political Science or the website of the International Office. More information about studying abroad can be found on the website wilweg.nl of Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education.
What can you do?
A wealth of high-quality information about how to arrange your stay abroad can be found on the website of the International Mobility Office.
Courses within the elective space
You are relatively free to choose any courses you like within your 24 ECTS elective space. You should list your courses in your learning agreement and have this signed by the Examining Board as well as the host institution. Take the following aspects in mind:
- Make sure there is nooverlap with your Bachelor’s courses (both the courses that you have already followed as the ones that are still to come). You can, for example, check this in the study guide.
- Also make sure there is no overlap between your electives.
- If you are interested in several different disciplines, you could also check whether the host institution allows you to follow courses at other faculties or degree programmes.
- Check in advance whether you are indeed able to follow these courses – so also check, for example, whether you satisfy the admission requirements.
- Courses without academic content will not be approved (e.g. sports, photography, etc.).
But wait, there’s more ...
Harvard National Model United Nations
If you would like to participate in a mock decision-making process within the United Nations, you can apply for a seat on the United Netherlands delegation on behalf of the degree programme. Please note that the selection procedure is strict, but once you have been selected, you will participate in extensive preparation activities, including numerous lectures, training courses (in the fields of negotiation, presentation skills and language proficiency) and informal meetings. In addition, you will visit the United Nations office in New York and subsequently re-enact decision-making situations in certain committees at one of the world’s most famous universities (Harvard in Boston, Massachusetts). You will be competing for a wide range of prizes with 2000 fellow delegates, many of whom study at major US universities such as Yale and Westpoint Military Academy. In 2005, United Netherlands managed to take home two Awards for Outstanding Delegates, and several other prizes have been won since. More information can be found on the website www.unitednetherlands.nl/.
A trip abroad with your study association
If you would like to go abroad, you can also join one of the trips organised by the study association ismus. ismus organises annual trips to various destinations abroad, for example Denmark, Lithuania and Latvia, Morocco and Bulgaria.
Guidelines for travel to unsafe areas
The Executive Board is ultimately responsible for the wellbeing of the university’s students and staff. The Board aims to prevent students and staff members ending up in unsafe situations abroad. For this reason, the Executive Board has created the ‘Travelling abroad safely guidelines (PDF, 474 kB)’ guidelines.