Entry requirements

Source: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/study-programmes/bachelor/political-science/international-relations-and-organisations/admission-and-application/admission-requirements Parent: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/study-programmes/bachelor/political-science/international-relations-and-organisations/about-the-programme/programme-structure

International Relations and Organisations (BSc)

Entry requirements

Whether you are eligible for admission to the IRO programme depends on your previous education and your command of the English language. The detailed entry requirements are listed below, separately for students with a diploma obtained in the Dutch school system and those with a non-Dutch diploma obtained in other countries, or an international school diploma.

Non-Dutch diploma

Previous education

Equivalent to Dutch VWO?

The requirements for the International Relations and Organisations (IRO) bachelor’s specialisation are an equivalent of a Dutch pre-university education (VWO) diploma, and proficiency in English. The following diplomas are regarded as equivalent to Dutch VWO:

• a first-year or final diploma from a university programme;
• an International Baccalaureate (IB) or a European Baccalaureate (EB).

Other secondary school diploma’s obtained outside the Netherlands may also be regarded as equivalent to Dutch VWO. These are to be evaluated by Leiden University’s Admissions Office.

In order to establish whether your diploma qualifies for admission into a bachelor’s programme at Leiden University, you can check the list of the most common foreign/international ‘accepted’ diplomas drawn up by the Admissions Office. Where applicable, minimum grades are listed:

› General admission diploma requirements

Mathematics

The level of mathematics that we require is an equivalent to the level of mathematics at Dutch VWO level (pre-university education). The general rule is that you should have taken mathematics throughout your entire high school career, i.e. you must have had mathematics education until you graduated from school. Additionally, your curriculum must contain the areas of probability and statistics. The Admissions Office will check whether you meet the admissibility requirements by assessing whether your educational background in mathematics is equivalent to the Dutch VWO level. In some cases, an additional mathematics test may be required.

Dutch diploma

Previous education

You are eligible for admission to the bachelor’s specialisation International Relations and Organisations if you are in the possession of:

• a Dutch pre-university education (VWO) diploma with no further requirements of your subject cluster;
• a final diploma from a higher professional Dutch accredited (HBO) institution of education;
• a first-year or final diploma from a Dutch university programme.

Propedeuse from a university of applied sciences

The holder of a propedeuse diploma from a university of applied sciences (HBO-P) must demonstrate that he or she possesses the knowledge, understanding and skills required to successfully complete the bachelor’s programme. This means sufficient skills in mathematics (VWO certificate or Boswell Beta) and English (see the Proficiency in English section).

Please note: all candidates holding a non-Dutch VWO or HBO-P diploma have to submit a request to be admitted in the uSis portal.

This also applies to holders of a VWO diploma obtained on Aruba, Saint Martin and Curaçao, as well as to students a VWO diploma obtained in Bonaire, Statia and Saba prior to 10 October 2010.

Colloquium doctum

If you are not in possession of a pre-university (VWO equivalent) diploma, but nevertheless eligible for admission, you may be required to take a test at the level of a VWO final examination for the profile that qualifies you for admission. The entrance examination applies to the following subjects and assesses students on the basis of the following criteria:

• at least a HAVO (vocational secondary school) diploma, and
• some years of relevant work experience, and
• qualifications in the following subjects: Mathematics C VWO certificate (or equivalent), and English VWO certificate (or English Proficiency Test result).

Proficiency in English

As this study programme is taught in English and all study activities must be undertaken in English, it is essential that you have a good level of proficiency in written and spoken English.

You do not need to submit an English proficiency test if you:

• have obtained a Dutch VWO diploma
• have obtained a bachelor’s or master’s diploma from a Dutch university of applied sciences (HBO) or a Dutch university
• have completed your secondary or higher education in the USA, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada), Singapore, South Africa or Malta.
• have obtained an International Baccalaureate™ Diploma (IB DP) taught in English or with English A HL.
• have obtained a German Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (Abitur) and English was included in your final year at least at Grundkurslevel.
• Exemptions can also be granted on the basis of certain other educational diplomas. Check our diploma requirements list to find out whether your diploma might entitle you to an exemption.

If none of the above apply to you, you must provide proof of proficiency by means of one of the following tests. You must arrange the test yourself.

Note that English test results may not be more than two years old and must be obtained in one single test. Leiden University accepts three kinds of official tests*:

• IELTS - Academic modules only, on paper or on computer. Minimum score of 6.0 overall and 6.0 for each separate component
• We do not accept IELTS Academic online
• We do notaccept IELTS General Training, IELTS Indicator, or IELTS One Skill Retake
• TOEFL Internet Based. Minimum score of 80 overall and 20 for each separate component
• We do not accept the TOEFL IBT Home Edition™, except in the following situation only:\ You are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres are inaccessible or closed due to unsafe conditions in a country.
• We do not accept the following types of test: TOEFL My Best™ scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials™  or institutional tests such as ITP.
• Cambridge C2 Proficiency in English or Cambridge C1 Advanced English, with a minimum score of 169 for each separate component.

* New TOEFL grading scale 2026\ In January 2026, TOEFL introduced a new grading scale. Test certificates issued in 2026 and 2027 will show overall scores in both the old grading scale (0-120) and the new grading scale (1-6). Component or band scores will only be shown in the new grading scale.\ Leiden University’s 2026-2027 overall score requirements will continue to be based on the old grading scale. If you took your test on or after 21 January 2026, you must meet the overall score requirement shown on our website in the old grading scale (0-120), and the component score requirements shown on our website in the new grading scale (1-6).\ \ Also see general language requirements for additional information.