The student portal (this website) basically shows you all information that you need as a student, like current information about the study programme, direct links to relevant systems, consultation hours study advisers, time tables and news. For some programme specific information you need to log in with your ULCN-account (see right below) or indicate which programme you are following when you go to the student portal. Some of the links below are also part of the programme specific information.

The ULCN-account is your Leiden University account with which you can have access to all university systems. It consists of your student number preceded by an ‘s’ and the password you received from Leiden University.

uSis is Leiden University’s student administration system. You can for instance find your official grades and personal time table in here. You can also enroll for courses and exams and submit (administrative) requests for exemptions and elective space. You can have access to this system by using your ULCN-account (see above).

If you have questions you can take a look at the FAQ uSis. If you need help with enrolling for courses, please check this video.

Each student gets a personal University e-mail account (U-mail). This is accessible as long as you have an internet connection. You can log in with your ULCN-account. Please note: the University uses only this U-mail address to inform her students. If you do not want to miss any important information, please forward your university e-mails to you private e-mail address.

You are supposed to carry your student card (which is also your proof of registration) and LU-Card with you at all times. You need the student card when attending exams and the LU-Card for printing/ making copies and when entering university buildings, the bicycle shed or borrowing books from the library.

Brightspace is the digital learning environment where you can find extra information about all courses. There, you will get access to all recent information, like assignments, deadlines, articles that you have to read, pre-publication of grades etc. You need to register for the course to get access to the Brightspacepage.

Make sure that your registration in Studielink is complete before 31 August if you wish to start with the study programme from September 1^st. If you wish to start in February, please complete your registration before 31 January.

You need to enroll for your courses and exams in MyStudymap. Enrolling is necessary to get access to Brightspace. You can enroll up to five days before the start of your course. You can find the enrolment deadlines for each course in the Prospectus. Enrolment for exams and resits are mandatory. Your enrolment is provisional until you confirm it in MyStudymap. This is possible up to ten days before the start of the exam/resit. If you do not confirm on time, you are automatically de-enrolled from the exam/resit. 

You can find your personal programme activities like lectures, tutorials (werkgroep) and exams in MyTimetable. 

The academic year of the Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs is divided into two semesters. Each semester in its turn is divided into two blocks and each block consists of 8 weeks. You usually follow 3 courses per block: you follow lectures and/ or tutorials in the first seven weeks and the eight week will be closed with exams. After week 8 a new block with 3 new courses will start. January and June are meant for retakes.

You can find the literature that is required per course in the e-Prospectus (see below). You can get a discount for books from our study association B.I.L..

You can find all information about your study programme and courses in the e-Prospectus: course descriptions, literature, examination and teaching methods, time table, etc

You can find the examination method for each course in the e-Prospectus. The schedule for exams (dates and locations) can be found in uSis. Enrolment for exams and resits are mandatory.

Grades from completed courses will be registered by the Education Services Centre (see below under ‘Organisations’) in uSis. Only grades in uSis are official (grades in Brightspace are not official).

Next to lectures (where all students sit in the lecture hall mainly listening to the lecturer) there are also tutorials in smaller groups, in which you will practice with theory and skills. The assessment will be based on exams and/or assignments, like papers and presentations.

If personal problems (of any kind) cause you to fall behind with your programme, you can contact the study advisers, student counselors or student psychologist (see below under ‘Organizations’). We recommend you to contact the study adviser first.

Studying with a disability usually costs extra time and energy. Perhaps extra support is possible for your situation. For advice please contact the student counselors.

Combining a study programme with top-class sport demands a lot of commitment and a good study plan. The student counselors for elite athletes can give you more information.

The Board of Examiners is responsible for the organisation and quality of exams. They can: grant requests for exemptions, grant requests for retakes, make arrangements for fraud, plagiarism etc.

You can contact the Education Services Centre (OSC) for questions about: course and exam enrollment, the time table and the registration of grades.

De Programme Committee (Opleidingscommissie, OLC) consists of academic staff and students. The OLC can give both requested and unrequested advice about all educational matters to the Programme Board and possibly also to the Faculty Board. If you have complaints or suggestions to improve the programme, please contact the OLC of your programme.

The study advisers are your first point of contact for advice and information about matters like the content and structure of the programme, programme and examination regulations, study plan and approach, but also if personal circumstances prevent your study progress.

You can go to the student counselors for questions and problems regarding study completion delay, legal position and regulations and financial matters.

Student psychologists can support you with personal problems that affect your study programme directly. Based on your situation the student psychologist will decide with you what the next best step will be.

The study association B.I.L. is the link between students and the Insitute. The B.I.L. offers the possibility to get to know your fellow students even better by organizing all sorts of activities, like lectures and company visits, but also parties. You can also get a discount for books if you become a member. 

In the libraries there are quiet places to study and you can make use of reference books. Furthermore, you can find all books, journals, and data bases that are in the possession of the libraries in the catalogue. 

You have access to university study spots , Wi-Fi, uMail, Blackboard, uSis and SURFspot with your ULCN-account. Click here for more information about ICT facilities.

There are several computer rooms in the university buildings where you can work. There are also both silent and non-silent places where you can study, work with other students or sit with your laptop and make use of the WiFi connection.