MSc International Relations and Diplomacy
The Hague, Netherlands
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Apr 2027*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2027
TUITION FEES
EUR 8,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
* Apply by 1 April 2027 (EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students).
** per year. Scholarships available covering both tuition fees and living expenses.
Key Summary
About: The two-year Advanced MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy at Leiden University blends academic study in international relations and political science with practical training in negotiation and diplomacy. You’ll take wide-ranging courses, build analytical and research skills, complete an internship, a master’s thesis, and network with scholars and practitioners in The Hague and Leiden.
Career Outcomes: Graduates are prepared for roles in international diplomacy, international organizations, national and international public administration, think tanks, NGOs, research institutions, and international business. You can also pursue careers as policy analysts, diplomatic service officers, international civil servants, or continue to doctoral research programmes.
The two-year Advanced MSc International Relations and Diplomacy programme offers you a unique blend of academic education in international relations and political science with practical graduate education and training in international negotiation and diplomacy. The programme is taught jointly by Leiden University’s Institute for Security and Global Affairs, the Institute of Political Science and the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael.
The location of The Hague is beneficial for this master’s programme in terms of substantive focus and the various links to international institutions located in this city. As one of the partners, Clingendael’s objective is to promote the understanding of international affairs, and the institute devotes special attention to European co-operation, international security, and diplomacy.
In the current era of global interdependence, collaborative efforts are needed to meet the most pressing challenges in international politics, security and economics. Increased transnational channels of communication, global trade and capital flows characterise an increasingly interconnected world of both nation states and non-state actors. The resulting challenges to global governance can be met most effectively by patterns of international and transnational co-operation and diplomacy.
What you will learn
The International Relations and Diplomacy programme gives you a unique combination: a thorough academic education in international relations and political science with practice-based training in international negotiation and diplomacy.
In view of the range of courses the students attend, their analytical and research skills, possible internship experience, master’s thesis, and contact with experts in relevant fields, graduates of this programme possess a high level of academic education and preparation for relevant positions in international organisations, international politics, and diplomacy. The programme also aims to prepare students for possible continued academic training within the framework of a doctoral programme.
The MSc IRD prepares you specifically for a career in international diplomacy, international government and non-governmental organisations, national or international public administration, ‘think tanks’ and research institutions, international interest associations or international business.
How you will learn
In the Advanced MSc IRD, you:
- Take part in an intensive and highly interactive style of teaching;
- Find that small programme size and diversity of co-students results in truly international perspectives;
- Actively prepare for and participate in seminar-format classes;
- Complete classroom work, individual research, and written assignments in close collaboration with other students and lecturers;
- Spend about 2-3 days per week on campus.
Career prospects
Graduates of the MSc in IRD currently hold a variety of managerial and consultancy positions within diplomatic and international relations organisations such as national and international ministries, as well as private organisations.
Most classes are taught in a seminar format where participants are required to prepare for and attend all class sessions. Since the programme involves classroom work as well as individual research, there is often close consultation between students and faculty. The academic year is divided into two semesters: September to January and January to June. The duration of the programme is 2 years.
First Year
In the first year, students attend courses on such as international relations theory and methodology. The Clingendael Institute will offer courses on diplomacy and practical negotiation trainings. The students also conduct an internship.
Second Year
The second year provides students with knowledge in more specific subfields such as international political economy, conflict, civil war and mediation etc.. The students practice research design, develop a thesis proposal and present their independent research in a thesis.
Electives
The programme also offers various electives for both the years. These electives cover niche subfield such as non-western approaches to diplomacy, advanced research methods to name a few. The students get to choose one elective in the first year and two electives in the second year. Electives are subject to change and their availability is contingent upon minimum threshold of 5 students registering for the course being passed.
Internship
All students are required to complete an internship . Both Leiden University and Clingendael have contacts with international and domestic organisations including the institutions of the European Union and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The programme’s Internship Coordinator assists students in finding internships and is available for consultation.
Educational methods
In the Advanced MSc IRD, you:
- Take part in an intensive and highly interactive style of teaching;
- Find that small programme size and diversity of co-students results in truly international perspectives;
- Actively prepare for and participate in seminar-format classes;
- Complete classroom work, individual research, and written assignments in close collaboration with other students and lecturers;
- Spend about 2-3 days per week on campus.
The MSc IRD prepares you specifically for a career in international diplomacy, international government and non-governmental organisations, national or international public administration, ‘think tanks’ and research institutions, international interest associations or international business.
Skills after graduation
In view of the range of courses the students attend, their analytical and research skills, possible internship experience, master’s thesis, and contact with experts in relevant fields, graduates of this programme possess a high level of academic education and preparation for relevant positions in international organisations, international politics, and diplomacy. The programme also aims to prepare students for possible continued academic training within the framework of a doctoral programme.