Humanities Lab
Humanities make a difference!
Humanities are the wide range of disciplines that study human cultures, including their languages and histories, their religions, stories and myths, their shared beliefs and values, their poetry, novels, music and paintings. Humanities Lab challenges you to cross disciplinary borders when working on topical issues such as (post)colonialism, identity, big data and cultural memory. These issues are too complex to be handled by any one discipline, either from the natural or social sciences, from law, medicine or the humanities. In the Humanities Lab you learn how to switch conceptual and methodological tools while focusing on different aspects of the problems at hand. You work together in small groups to improve our understanding of the many different connections involved, pushing toward possible solutions.
- Explore connections between different disciplines
- Work on topical issues of societal interest
- Boost your academic skills and attitude
Learn about the Humanities Lab in 3 minutes
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Watch the video on the original website orFAQ
Our FAQ contains all the questions we have encountered over the years. Please read through the FAQ, our website and prospectus to find the information you need. If you can’t find what you are looking for, please let us know, so that we can include it in the FAQ. Due to privacy legislation, you are requested to use your university e-mailaddress (umail); we may not reply to e-mail from personal e-mailaddresses.
Application and admission
At what point in their regular studies can students join Humanities Lab?
There are two possible starting dates for your Honours College track:
- In the second semester of your first academic year (first course in block 4). Applications open roughly between December and February.
- At the start of your second academic year (first course in block 1). Applications open roughly between June and August.
The duration of the programme will be 2 or 2.5 years, depending on your starting date.
Can anyone tell me more from the student's perspective what it is really like and how much time it takes, participating in this programme?
Feel free to contact our student ambassadors! They can tell you everything about our programme.
Will I be bound to stick to my study plan during the programme?
It is important to think about how you are going to plan your bachelor’s and Honours courses in the coming years, and how you may combine the Honours programme with a stay abroad or internship. It is a plan, it is not set in stone. You can always change your plans.
When will I know whether I am accepted into the programme?
Upon the reception of your application you will receive an automatic reply confirming that your application was complete, or that you forgot to send in one or more required documents. The Board of Admissions will review all applications right after the deadline and inform all applicants as soon as possible per umail.
My application was conditionally accepted. When will I know whether my acceptance will become unconditional?
Students who apply during the Winter of their first BA year, may be conditionally accepted because at that point, it is impossible to comply with all conditions. You will receive an email as soon as possible after the deadline.
In August, the Humanities Lab team will review all new applications and all conditionally accepted students from the winter round. If you meet the requirements, your conditional status will be automatically changed into ‘unconditional’. You will receive an email from us in September, followed by an official acceptance letter from the Honours Academy. If there are any circumstances we need to consider, please contact us.
Programme
What does the programme structure look like exactly and is it flexible?
The programme structure is rather flexible. You can find more information on our website.
What are the compulsory parts of the programme, which parts are elective and what can I choose in this part?
Humanities Lab 101 (block 1) and the Capstone project (block 4) are compulsory. For the Capstone project students can choose one of the topics on offer. Students choose two Key modules and one Advanced module from the modules on offer. You also have to take one from a wide range of Honours Classes offered by the Honours Academy.
Check the prospectus for more information about the courses and the course descriptions.
Are there possibilities to combine a semester abroad or an internship with the Humanities Lab programme?
Yes, it is a rather flexible programme and if you plan ahead it is certainly possible to go abroad or do an internship. The programme schedule can help you plan your courses
What kind of modules are on offer this year?
You can find the courses on offer in the prospectus. There is continuity in the programme, but we also try to innovate. Usually the majority of the courses will be offered again in the following year, one or a few courses may change.
What kinds of assessment can I expect?
None of the Humanities Lab courses have exams. Usually the assessment includes different components: paper, presentation, etc. Most courses have experimental assessment methods as well like making a video or website or you may have to do an onsite presentation during an excursion. You can find the assessment methods per course in the course descriptions in the prospectus.
How and when can I enroll for Humanities Lab modules?
Humanities Lab students cannot enroll themselves for courses in uSis, MyStudymap or Brightspace. For Humanities Lab 101 all accepted students will be enrolled automatically. About one week before the start of the course, the course will show in your uSis account/MyStudymap and you will have access to the Brightspace module.
For all other Humanities Lab courses, students have to register via an online form. Per block, about two to three weeks before the start of the course, the Humanities Lab team sends out a form to your umail-inbox. On the form you indicate which courses you are interested in, in the order of your preference. Humanities Lab makes the distribution and takes care of the uSis and Brightspace registration, which you will have access to during the week prior to the start of the course. Usually students are assigned to the course of their first or second preference.
More information about registration for Honours Classes is available on the Honours Academy website.
I need to make a change to my study plan, what do I need to do?
Your study plan is not set in stone. If you need to change it, please contact Eelkje and Sieglinde, coordinators of the programme.
Information about how to change your individual programme is available in the prospectus.
I would like to be involved in the programme, as student representative, member of the teaching committee or member of the Programme Board.
We are always looking for students to join! Please contact Eelkje and Sieglinde, coordinators of the programme.
Some of the grades of courses in my Humanities Lab programme do not show in uSis yet, is there a problem?
As long as the grades show in your ‘Course history’ there is no problem. Some grades don’t show automatically in your ‘Academic requirements’ in uSis. We will take care of this before you graduate. If you want this to be taken care of sooner, please contact the student administration.
I need a grade transcript, who can make this for me?
Please contact the student administration of your bachelor’s programme.
When and where are Humanities Lab classes scheduled?
Humanities Lab courses are offered in Leiden as well as The Hague. All Humanities Lab courses are (usually) scheduled on Friday afternoon, between 13.30h and 17.00h. Honours Classes are offered throughout the year, on various days and hours of the week.
When will I know for which module I have been admitted?
About a week before the start of the course you will be enrolled for the course in uSis and Brightspace
Do I need to enroll for the module in MyStudymap or Brightspace myself?
Humanities Lab students cannot enroll themselves for courses in MyStudymap or Brightspace.
Please see above, ‘How and when can I enroll for Humanities Lab modules?’
Can I be sure I get into the classes of my preference?
The Humanities Lab team distributes all students over the modules, trying to accommodate the preferences they on their registration form. Usually all students can take part in the course of their first or second choice. Sometimes, however, that is not possible, due to the high number of applications or other reasons.
How and when can I enroll for the Bachelor Honours Classes?
The Honours Academy sends out an e-mail about registration for the honours classes twice a year to all BA students. Usually in late August / early September and late November/early December.
Contact details and further information about registration can be found on the website of the Bachelor Honours Classes.
I do not feel well, I might want to stop honours and don’t know what to do.
Please get in touch with your coordinator of studies if you do not feel well and obviously you can also get in touch with the coordinators of Humanities Lab. If you are considering not continuing Humanities Lab, contact the Humanities Lab coordinators.
Graduation
I will not be able to finish my regular BA programme and/or Honours track within the required three years, what to do?
If you are not able to meet this time limit due to exceptional circumstances, you can request an extension of time limit from the Honours Academy Board of Examiners. Check the website for more information.
I have completed my bachelor's and Honours track, when will I know whether I comply with the conditions for a certificate?
The Humanities Lab team will check if you meet all requirements to be granted the Honours certificate. You will receive an email late August/ September from the Humanities Lab team about this.
How do I receive my Honours certificate? Is there a certificate ceremony?
The certificate ceremony (usually) takes place in November for all Honours College students from the entire University and is organised by the Honours Academy. In October you will receive an invitation for the ceremony from the Honours Academy.
What happens to my Honours courses if I don’t comply with the criteria for a certificate after all?
If you stop the programme half way or if you don’t comply with the certificate conditions after all, the Honours courses you passed will still be included on your diploma supplement.
