BA International Studies

Globalisation is shaping the world in which we live. In the BA International Studies, you have the opportunity to study one of eight world regions within the context of global interactions. At the same time, you will learn a key language of your chosen region and acquire skills that will prove to be highly valuable for your future career.

Become an expert on the world region of your choice

The International Studies programme will provide you with the tools to explore and analyse the forces of globalisation and their impact around the world. In doing so, you will acquire in-depth knowledge of one of eight world regions and learn one of the key languages. Our multifaceted approach will allow you to interpret and analyse the world from a humanities perspective. In order to be able to do this, you will explore the historical and cultural background of the region of your choice, as well as its political and economic developments.

What will you learn

International Studies is a multidisciplinary study programme, which means that you will use different disciplinary perspectives to analyse the world. These disciplinary perspectives of International Studies are culture & language, history, politics and economics and they are crucial for a well-rounded understanding of globalisation. You will be taught by lecturers with backgrounds in those disciplines, which will allow you to acquire a broad foundation in the field of International Studies. At the same time, you will gain in-depth knowledge about the regional specialisation of your choice, while also learning to speak, read and write one of this region’s major languages. This will give you a unique perspective on global and regional developments. Moreover, you will develop academic and practical skills that will support you in your further career path.

Eight world regions

In your first year you can tailor the International Studies programme according to your interests, by choosing one of eight world regions as a specialisation, while also learning one of that region’s major languages:

• Africa: Arabic, Berber, French, Portuguese, Swahili
• East Asia: Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese
• Europe: Dutch, German, French, Portuguese, Spanish
• Latin America: Portuguese, Spanish
• Middle East: Arabic, Modern Hebrew*, Persian*, Turkish*
• North America: French, Spanish
• Russia and Eurasia: Russian
• South Asia and Southeast Asia: Hindi, Indonesian

In the International Studies programme, you will develop the knowledge as well as the critical insights needed to gain regional expertise within a global context. In addition, you will acquire the practical and professional skills that will assist you in setting out on your career, whether you want to continue in a master's programme, join an international business, aim for an embassy or ministry, or set out as an entrepreneur.

First year: Foundations of Political Economy

This course provides an introduction to political economy, showing that economic processes, relations, and conditions cannot be understood independently of the broader clusters of social relations within which they embedded. The course addresses key theoretical and empirical concepts and approaches in political economy and uses these to explore international themes and trends.

First year: Introduction to International Studies

What is International Studies? This course offers a new academic approach to analyse the world’s complexities and challenges of today. You will explore the various approaches of this discipline in order to come to a comprehensive understanding of these large global issues and also to view the individual’s role in these issues. The course is divided into thematic issues like international justice, religionisation, migration, sustainable development, armed conflicts, resources and food production.

First year: Cultural Studies

As a student in International Studies, you are confronted with cultural differences and the impact it has on how people understand the world. The course discusses the interaction between culture and politics, and the impact of globalisation on regional cultures and theoretical framework.

Second year: Cultural Interaction

In this course you will assess the role of culture in the dynamics between politics, economics, and religion, and in relation to history and global and local situations. This will enable you to gain insight into cultural differences and interactions. Also, you will learn to apply the theories and methods discussed in the course to analyse communicative, narrative and visual productions from the region of your choice.

Third year: Practising International Studies (PRINS)

Practising International Studies is a 12-week consultancy project course where teams of 3rd year students analyse real life cases and problems presented by leaders from international organisations. Student teams use their broad multi-perspective background to come up with novel solutions and insights for these organisations.

Is this the programme for you?

International Studies offers a unique mix of multidisciplinary perspectives - history, culture, economics, politics – of a particular world region, and the language, academic, and practical skills to solve complex issues arising from globalization.

• Do you pay close attention to world news?
• Do you look for connections between the world and regional events and their impact on local populations?
• Do you want to develop professional skills and hands-on experience working with real global organizations?

Then International Studies is for you!

In this time of globalisation, the job market offers plenty of opportunities for people with a global view. Graduates of our International Studies programme not only have expert knowledge of a specific world region, but also possess professional and consultancy skills that are much sought after. With your International Studies diploma you are fully equipped to either continue your studies with a master’s or to start your career in the public or private sector.

Your starting position on the labour market

As a graduate of International Studies you have a lot to offer. Your language and intercultural skills are extremely valuable for organisations working in, or with, the region in which you have specialised. The career orientation of the programme, in which the third-year PRINS consultancy course is a key element, provides the foundation for your future.

Our alumni choosing to enter the job market immediately upon graduation (31%) have very good career prospects. 76% find employment within 2 months after their graduation, and 100% are employed within 6 months.

Where do graduates find work?

Our alumni have gone on to follow a wide range of career paths. While some of them went on to pursue a master’s degree, others started their career after graduation. Many of them began working as an intern with an (international) organisation, gaining extra work experience, before taking their next step on the job market.