International Relations and International Organization

Application forms for the Bachelor's degree in International Relations and International Organization can be downloaded from the web: www.rug.nl/let/internationaloffice
*If you wish to apply for a scholarship, the deadline for programme applications is two months before the scholarship deadline

You can also apply online, please go to www.rug.nl/howtoapply

The Bachelor's degree programme in International Relations and International Organization is a numerus fixus programme. This means that the programme is selective and that a limited number of study places are available.

Students are recruited nationally and internationally. To be accepted into the programme you need pre-university education, in principle, students from the European Economic Area (EEA) who qualify for university training in their own country will also be accepted in our programme.

Adequate fluency in both written and spoken English is a prerequisite for admission to the program (a minimum TOEFL score of 92-93 internet based, 580 paper-based, or 237 computer-based, or an overall IELTS score of 6.5).

The programme takes three years (180 ECTS). Each year is divided into two semesters with a course load of 30 ECTS each. The compulsory language minor takes up 30 ECTS of the programme. The programme includes the following components:

• History of International Relations

• Theory of International Relations

• International Organization in Theory and Practice

• International Law

• European Law

• International Economy

• International Trade Theory and Policy

• Policy-Making and Multilevel Governance

• Research Methods in International Relations

• Academic Writing Skills

• International Negotiation Skills

• Minor Language Programme: French, German or Spanish

Advanced students are encouraged to participate in an international exchange programme, an important international component.

In the third year of the Bachelor's programme you will chose a core course. This is rounded off with a Bachelor's thesis. In general, you can select one or two specialization tracks:

• International Order and Global Governance - Central themes are Human Rights and human security, democratization and development, ethics and power.

• International Political Economy - This track focuses on the interaction between states, markets and societies and how their mutual relations affect the behaviour of other actors.

• European Cooperation and Integration - The emphasis is on the complex policy-making structure within which institutions at the European, national and subnational levels to an increasing extent interact as a result of transnational and transgovernmental cooperation.

• International Security and International Relations Theory - In this track, the centrality of the phenomenon of violence is studied in metaphysical, theoretical and historical senses.

A Bachelor's degree in International Relations and International Organization provides you with a stepping stone to an international career. First of all, it provides access to a wide range of Master's programmes in Europe and across the world. Secondly, the programme provides a solid basis for those who want to pursue a career in international organizations and international agencies (of the EU, UN, etc.), national ministries, international commerce and business, journalism, non-governmental organizations, teaching, and last but not least academic life.

The Bachelor's degree grants direct entry to the one-year Master's programme in IR/IO at the University of Groningen.

BA in International Relations and International Organization

Study at the University of Groningen: a highly reputed European university!

Founded in 1614 the University of Groningen is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and enjoys an international reputation as one of the leading research universities in Europe. It is a university with a modern, student-oriented vision on education and a wide range of high-quality degree programmes that covers the Bachelor, Master and PhD levels. Utilizing its heritage to generate innovation the University of Groningen combines research and knowledge with an interdisciplinary approach.

The dominant principle at the university is permanent and systematic quality improvement, both in education and research and the school's degrees have all been accredited by the Dutch Government as well as being internationally acknowledged.

All students are offered balanced educational packages in diverse subject areas and the university also provide space for the personal ambitions and qualities of students. As a student at the University of Goningen you can make use of the top class computer facilities, high-speed access to e-mail and internet as well as an online student support system.

The University of Groningens have libraries that contains more than three million titles, over 15,000 periodicals and an online electronic library as well as a Language Centre that offers courses in many languages at various levels. The school's very own sports centre is open 7 days a week, offering a large selection of both indoor and outdoor activities and the student societies are there for students to socialise and meet likeminded people. For creative minds there is the cultural centre's theatre, exhibitions and various courses providing high quality entertainment and training options.

Facts & Figures of the University of Groningen:

• 26,700 students (October 1, 2009)
• 6,000 first year students (October 1, 2009)
• 4,691 fte staff
• 364 fte professors
• 1,500 PhD students
• 60 Bachelor's programmes, 115 Master's programmes
• 75 English-taught Master's programmes, of which 10 Double Degree programmes
• 8 English-taught Bachelor's programmes
• 16 Research Masters
• 9 faculties, 9 Graduate Schools
• Turnover: 550 million