IB Pathways
International Relations and International Organization

University of Groningen · Netherlands

International Relations and International Organization

International politics studied through history, economics, law and international organisations, plus training in a modern foreign language and a minor of your choice, in a programme running for three decades.

Image: University of Groningen

Where
GroningenNetherlands
Degree
BA
Length
3 years
Taught in
English
Starts
Autumn 2027
Apply by
1 May 2027
Admission
Open to all who qualify
EU/EEA fee
€2,7712027/28 statutory fee
More facts
Degree
BA
Length
3 years
Taught in
English
Starts
Autumn 2027

Deadlines

  1. 1 December 2026*

    Create your Studielink account
    Your own plan
    Details

    Not an official deadline. With a Dutch address you log in with DigiD, which the government says takes about five days. Without one you upload a scan or photo of your passport or EU identity card and Studielink verifies it automatically. Either way, do it well before 15 January.

    Source

  2. 1 May 2027

    Application deadline for all other bachelor's
    Hard deadline
    DetailsSource

  3. 6 July 2027*

    IB results released
    Details

    Both Dutch deadlines fall well before this. How a conditional place pending results is handled is set by each institution; ask yours.

    Source

* Last year’s date, not yet confirmed.

Every date in the Netherlands

What it is

First-year modules include Economics for Public Policy, the historical foundations of modern IR, Introduction to International Relations, contemporary global history, political systems of the world and theories for analysing IR; year two covers security studies, EU governance, global political economy, international law and research methods. Assignments are varied, from essays and research papers to video production and group presentations, with a language course along the way. You choose from about ten specialisation themes, take a minor in year three and write a bachelor thesis. Graduates work as policy advisors, lobbyists, journalists and researchers in governments, NGOs and international organisations, or continue to a master such as International Security.

What you need

  • IB Diplomaat least 24 points
Requirements in full

Every IB applicant at University of Groningen

The IB Diploma counts as Dutch VWO; no minimum points. An IB taught in English waives the English test.

Where it says so

Check it on rug.nl

How places are decided

    • Everyone eligible is admitted
    Not selective: meet the requirements and you are admitted. Apply by 1 May 2027; matching is optional and its advice is not binding.
Sources (2)
  1. International Relations and International Organization at RUG — checked 2026-09-25
  2. IB applicants at RUG

Other degrees at RUG