You can think of taking extra courses or a minor, but also, for example, following an honours track. The Honours College FSW (Science, Society and Self) offers an extra challenge of 30 EC in interdisciplinary subjects in the form of small-scale education. You can also take separate honours class courses.

The Honours College is a personal and challenging education that you do in addition to your bachelor's or master's degree. You work together with students from other disciplines and broaden your view, for example by looking at a scientific issue from different disciplines. Because you follow education in small groups, there is plenty of room to experiment and follow your own interests.

Consult the Prospectus for the current Honours programmes and different tracks. Also, check out the other honours programmes that you can follow in your bachelor's or master's programme at the Honours Academy!

Read more about FSW Honours College!

Walkin-hour for more information
Thursday from 10.00-11.00 at the Student Plaza FSW.

An ideal way to gain work experience is through an internship. This can be done in many different ways and depends on the study you are doing.

Most master's programmes at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences include a compulsory internship in the curriculum, but not in all cases and not in the bachelor's programme. In the bachelor's programme, there is often the possibility to schedule an internship in your free electives.

Students often do an extra-curricular internship (in bachelor's or master's), for which you do not receive credits, but in which you gain a lot of relevant experience, which offers an extra challenge and which you can easily mention on your CV.

Ten reasons to do an (extra) internship:

• Discover whether you really want to work for your potential employer.
• Put theory into practice.
• Explore what your interests are.
• Get inspiration for a topic for your thesis.
• Increase your networking potential.
• Gain experience with applying for jobs.
• Familiarise yourself with the pace of work.
• Get your bearings on the labour market.
• Use your practical experience to complete your studies.
• Gain work experience for your CV.

Information about internships

• Ask your study advisor or internship coordinator for advice on finding and arranging an internship.
• View information about internships in the Prospectus.
• Enrol in the Brightspace course about internships in your study programme.
• View internship job sites.
• View the vacancies in the LU Job Portal.
• Need application tips for finding an internship?
  • View the tips on the LU Career Zone
  • Follow application workshops
  • Make an appointment with a career counsellor from the Career Service FSW for help finding an internship.

Abel van de Sluis

Third-year student Political Science

"My name is Abel van de Sluis, I am a third-year student Political Science. Besides my fascination with politics, I have always found journalism interesting. That is why I am taking a minor in Journalism and New Media this year. A benefit of this minor is that you get the opportunity to do an internship, to experience what it is like to be a journalist and if this would suit me. Since mid-January, I have been doing an internship at talk show Jinek, where I am also involved in politics a lot. I often assist political reporter Jaïr Ferwerda in preparing and making his reports. For example, I keep in touch with spokespersons for ministers or political parties and I draw up questions. It is a great challenge for me to combine my knowledge of and interest in politics and journalism this way! I recommend all students to discover different fields of study; this way you can find out exactly what you want to do. If I had not studied journalism, I would always have doubts about whether it would be something for me. Even if it turns out it is not, this is a great way of narrowing it down!"

Studying abroad is a great way to broaden your horizons. It is good for your academic education and your personal development. You gain all kinds of new experiences and learn to hold your own in a different environment. A stay abroad is also a nice addition to your resume. Because the labour market is becoming increasingly international, many employers see experience abroad as a plus.

You can gain experience abroad in various ways. For example, you can take a semester abroad through an exchange programme or you can go to a university abroad as a free mover.

For up-to-date information about studying abroad and Corona, visit the Studying Abroad website. Contact your study advisor or exchange coordinator of your study programme for personal information.

Participation is an important democratic right. At various levels (degree programme, faculty, university or national) you can participate in decision-making and advice on all kinds of matters that concern the education and organisation of Leiden University. You also learn a lot from it.

You can think of a student representative on the university council, faculty council or programme committee. Or at the Leiden University Student Platform or even as an assessor in the Faculty Board. Also, think of participation through national student organizations that stand up for student interests.

Check out more information about the possibilities for active co-participation.

Many students choose to take up a board position during their studies in one of the many associations and committees that exist in Leiden and The Hague. Think of study associations, linked to your education, or employee participation boards, but certainly also associations next to your studies, such as student (social) associations, sports associations and hobby associations.

It is a valuable experience to gain work experience in this way during your studies because you can already develop many qualities that employers in the labour market demand of you.

Create a realistic planning and consider whether it is feasible to take up a board position in combination with your study.

You can find more information on board positions.

Are you interested in entrepreneurship and would you like to do more with it during your education?

You can find more information about entrepreneurship in the LU Career Zone and which (network) organisations for students are already available in this area to help you with this.

Socially engaged with your faculty and elsewhere

Do you want to contribute to shaping your own learning environment? Do you want to change something? Do you have an idea for starting your own project, and would you like some guidance from experienced students? The POPcorner FSW can help.

The Pre-Study Programme (in Dutch) is a good example of social involvement, facilitated by your faculty. 

Volunteer work

Being socially engaged and looking for an extra challenge can also be done through volunteer work!

The faculty's Community Engagement Service will be happy to assist you.

• Community Engagement Service FSW / Volunteering
• Check out vacancy websites and the Job Portal on the LU Career Zone for side jobs and volunteer work.