Master
International Relations and Diplomacy
★ StudyPath verdict
8.0/10
Best for aspiring diplomats and international policy professionals seeking practical negotiation skills alongside academic rigour at a top Dutch university.
Tuition · Intl
↗€21,100
EU: €21,100/year · click ↗
Duration
3 years
120 ECTS
Start
Sep 26
apply by Apr 26
Language
English
IELTS 7+
Accred.
NVAO
NVAO 2025
Admission
Open
no intake cap
Enrolled/yr
?
no data yet
Intl. %
?
no data yet
S:F ratio
↗25:1
institution-wide ↗
Min. English
7
IELTS required
Entry route
↗Bachelor
8 bachelor routes ↗
Satisfaction
↗4.0/5
NSE 2026 ↗
Employment
↗83%
field est. ↗
Median salary
↗€3,239
/mo gross · field ↗
Alumni
?
no data yet
↗ Real values are sourced; tiles marked “?” aren’t collected yet · Satisfaction/outcomes are live from StudiekeuzedatabaseLast sync: 24 Jun 2026
About this program
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.
Institution’s own description (HOVI via Studiekeuzedatabase)
English120 ECTSMaster of ScienceSector: Recht en BestuurCode of Conduct (intl.)Full-timeMaster
Teaching formats
LectureWorking group
About Leiden University
Leiden University, founded in 1575, is the oldest university in the Netherlands and one of Europe's most prestigious. Known for excellence in law, humanities, and international studies. 16 Nobel Prize winners are affiliated, including Einstein who was a professor there. Has a second campus in The Hague.
Living in Leiden
Student cost of living
Rent · room
€520/mo
Monthly total
€900–€1,600
Cost of living
Medium
Population
126k
Intellectual, historic, and cultured. Leiden exudes academic tradition with its beautiful old buildings and prestigious university. The city is quieter than Amsterdam but offers rich cultural experiences, including world-class museums like the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden.
View city guide →Specializations
Year 3 tracks
?No data yet
Curriculum
Course structure by year
?No curriculum data yet
Career outcomes
Graduate surveys · field-group level
Good job-market outlookfield: politicologie
Median starting salary (field)€3,239/mo gross
Employed ~1.5y after graduating83%
Months to a substantial job7
Working in their own field49%
Permanent contract35%
Satisfied with their job3.9/5
Top graduate occupations (field)
Specialisten op het gebied van beleidsadministratie29%
Bedrijfs- en organisatieanalisten12%
Specialisten op het gebied van public relations6%
Administratief secretaressen en uitvoerende secretaressen5%
Professoren en andere onderwijsgevenden in het hoger onderwijs5%
Field-group estimates from national graduate surveys via Studiekeuzedatabase — not measured per programme
Progression & cohort
Official register statistics
Say workload is “just right”79%
Official register statistics (1cijferHO) via Studiekeuzedatabase
Student voices
National Student Survey (NSE) — first-party reviews coming
4/5overall satisfaction · NSE 2026 · 29 respondents
Content & set-up4.1
Teachers4.1
Atmosphere4.4
Involvement & contact4.1
Study guidance4
Testing & assessment3.9
Facilities4
Career preparation4.2
Teachers' English4.8
Would choose again4
Source: Nationale Studenten Enquête via Studiekeuzedatabase (Studiekeuze123/LCSK)
Application timeline
Application deadline
2026-04-01
Non-EU deadline
2026-04-01
Upcoming open days
Admissions
Minimum language scores · from StudyInNL
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: C2
- IELTS overall band: 7
- TOEFL internet based: 100
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English: 185
Scholarships
Internships
?No data yet
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