Your first year is an overview of the field of politics. You encounter key concepts such as conflict, cooperation, interests and power, as well as the big questions that political scientists ask about current societal trends and the political systems which we observe worldwide. Alongside courses on public policy, political thought, international law and contemporary history, we introduce you to active research in political science. Your year-long tutorial and lab groups train you in analytical and critical thinking, as well as in writing, debating and presentation skills.

In the second year, you choose your specialisation from one of the following fields: International Relations, Public Policy and Governance, Comparative Politics or Political Theory. Courses cover the major issues in contemporary politics from social inequality and justice to political economy across both democratic and authoritarian regimes. A research project of your choice brings together the academic, methodological and practical skills of the first four semesters. Your career orientation is further expanded in the third year.

The final year provides yet more opportunity for specialisation through your choice of electives, covering practically all issues and regions in the world. You may also choose a work placement, study abroad or complete a minor, or learn an additional language. You will round off your Bachelor’s programme by researching and writing your own thesis under the supervision of experienced senior lecturers in a small, specialised group context. 

If you are ambitious, you can choose to take part in our Honours and Talent Programme (HTP). You’ll take the HTP alongside your regular studies. You will be introduced to scientific research in an original way through a challenging package of in-depth or broadening courses. If you are up to it, then it's an opportunity not to be missed!

The UvA has partnerships and exchange agreements with more than 100 other universities. As part of your Bachelor’s programme you can do an exchange semester abroad. This can be a valuable learning and cultural experience, and a great addition to your study programme.

There are various opportunities during the Bachelor’s programme for you to shape your programme to your liking. You can gain 30 elective study credits with courses that are part of the Bachelor's programme in Political Science.

Also you can choose a minor: a cohesive programme lasting half a year (30 credits) taken outside your own degree programme. You could choose a minor in Communication Science or Business Economics, for example. 

Another option is to do an internship. An internship can sharpen you intellectual attitude, knowledge and skills, obtained in the earlier study years. It may also be a good preparation for writing your Bachelor's thesis. Furthermore, it often proves to be a stepping stone to professional practice for many students. 

There are possibilities to do internships in a wide range of organisations, from the UN and the EU to institutions such as foreign embassies, ministries and local authorities, as well as think tanks, banks, political parties and organisations such as Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Cordaid, the International Organization for Migration and the Red Cross. There are also in-house training opportunities; for example, to work as a junior assistant in the research of professionals and PhD candidates. 

The workload is 40 hours a week.

• Lectures and tutorial groups: 12 hours per week (Project periods in your first and second year are full-time. Later on in the programme, the number of contact hours decreases.)
• Self-study: 28 hours per week

• Lectures: During lectures, a teacher explains the subject matter, and you have the opportunity to ask questions.
• Tutorials: In tutorials, you practice with the subject matter in smaller groups, under the guidance of a teacher.
• Practical sessions/workshops: During practicals, you learn practical skills and conduct experiments.

During your studies, you are not alone. You will receive personalized guidance at each stage of your study that is tailored to address specific questions or concerns at that moment.

Are you a Dutch-speaking student? Then you can also participate in our Dutch Bachelor’s programme in Political Science. The Dutch taught programme is exactly the same as the English taught programme.

Yes! I’m interested in the Dutch Bachelor’s programme

You have the option of following the Bachelor's program in Political Science entirely in English, or in a combination of English and Dutch (bilingual track). In the first case, the teaching and exams will be entirely in English. If you opt for the bilingual variant, you will start with Dutch taught lectures, tutorials and exams. The literature is mainly in English. During the first year you will also have lectures in English, and during the second year some tutorials will be given in English. In the third year, courses are mainly English taught. See more information on the Dutch website about the Dutch-English variant of the programme.

To receive a positive BSA at this programme, you must obtain at least 42 of the 60 credits in the first year of your enrolment. Each year, approximately 85% of students receive a positive BSA.

We are the largest Political Science department in the Netherlands. The advantage of this is that we can offer most specialisations, and that there are plenty of options within those specialisations as well. As a result, there are always courses that match your interests, and you often find a good connection to the Master of your choice.

The Bachelor's in Political Science is also characterised by its international character. The programme attracts students and teaching staff from all over the world. This broadens your horizon, helps you gain further insights, promotes your intercultural skills and helps you build an international network. You will therefore be well prepared for living and working in a globalising world. We recommend that you compare the study programs of the Political Science programmes at various universities to discover for yourself which programme appeals to you most.