Notable programs
Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies and Advanced LLM in Public International Law
Named after Hugo Grotius (Leiden alumnus 1596, founder of international law). Direct partnership with the International Court of Justice — no other university holds this institutional relationship. The Hague campus operates on the doorstep of international criminal courts and tribunals. The Advanced LLM rated excellent across all assessment areas. Graduates practise as lawyers in international dispute settlement, diplomats negotiating treaties, and human rights advocates at UN agencies. The 2025 Grotius 400th anniversary conference confirmed active heritage cultivation.
Faculty of Archaeology
QS global top five (rising from 6th in 2023 to 5th in 2024). Only Cambridge, Oxford, and UCL consistently rank higher. A dedicated Faculty of Archaeology rather than a department within humanities — rare globally. World-leading Egyptian collection and Leiden Papyrus Museum. Strong traditions in Classical Mediterranean, Near Eastern, Dutch historical, and digital archaeology. Dean Jan Kolen described the sustained rise as an incredible achievement.
Leiden Institute for Area Studies (LIAS) and African Studies Centre
LIAS covers Chinese, Japanese, Korean, South and Southeast Asian, Tibetan Studies plus Arabic, Assyriology, Egyptology, Hebrew and Aramaic, Papyrology, Persian, and Turkish studies. Europe's oldest Chinese studies programme. The International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) is based in Leiden. The African Studies Centre (founded 1958) is the only multidisciplinary academic knowledge institute in the Netherlands devoted entirely to Africa, described as unique in the Netherlands and highly recommended throughout Europe.
BA International Studies (The Hague Campus)
The largest bachelor programme in the Humanities faculty with approximately 1,600 students. English-medium with regional expertise tracks covering Africa, East Asia, Europe, Middle East, Latin America, North America, South and Southeast Asia, and Russia/Eurasia. Humanities perspective on contemporary global issues. Strong pipeline to international organisations, diplomacy, consulting, and area studies doctoral programmes.
Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges (Leiden University College, The Hague)
Separate honours college in The Hague with a residential college model. Keuzegids 2025 Top Programme at 89 out of 100 for 12 consecutive years. Four majors: World Politics, Sustainability, Global Public Health, and International Justice. Small cohorts, interdisciplinary, fully English-medium. More selective than standard Leiden bachelor programmes at approximately 20 to 30 percent acceptance rate.
BSc Security Studies (The Hague)
The first academic bachelor programme in continental Europe focusing on contemporary security and safety challenges. English-medium at The Hague campus. Interdisciplinary coverage of terrorism, cybersecurity, hybrid warfare, organised crime, and international security. Pipeline to Dutch government security agencies, NATO positions, and security consulting. Unique positioning versus traditional international relations degrees.
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