Do you want to get more out of your bachelor studies? Do you have the time and ability to follow an additional programme? If so, the Honours College is for you.

Problems in the world we live come and go, and are a source of debate in society, business and politics as well as a topic for researchers who aim to better understand mechanism in so many different areas. Effectively tackling these problems is a hard task for any party involved.

Are you inquisitive and ambitious? Do you want to get more out of your studies? Honours education provides extra challenge alongside your regular study programme. Honours education at Leiden University is organised by the Honours Academy.

Bachelor Honours Classes are small-scale, interdisciplinary courses that address complex scientific and social issues. Are you looking for an additional challenge alongside your Bachelor studies? Then why not register for an Honours Class?

At the conference of the Honours College Science & Society, students present TED Talks on a social issue of their interest. ‘It brings together everything they have learned in the past two and a half years.’

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Honours education provides extra challenge alongside your regular study programme.

Do you want to take on an extra challenge during your master's? Master Honours Classes & Challenges are small-scale, interdisciplinary courses that teach you more about tackling complex issues.

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Do you want to contribute to a more sustainable world? In the new Bachelor Honours Programme Sustainability you will gain fundamental knowledge on sustainability and develop practical skills by addressing real-world sustainability challenges.

The FSW Honours College offers you an interactive Honours track, alongside your regular bachelor’s degree programme.

Upon successful completion of your Honours track, you will be awarded a certificate and have your Honours College credits mentioned on your bachelor's diploma supplement.

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This webpage offers you the most frequently asked questions and answers provided by staff and students themselves.

Do you have a question concerning the Bachelor Honours Classes (BHC’s)? You can find the answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions below.

Below you can find the most frequently asked questions and answers provided by staff and students themselves.

The Bachelor Honours Programme Sustainability is open for enrollment to motivated second- and third-year bachelor's students of Leiden University, TU Delft and Erasumus University. Additional requirements can be found below.

All faculties offer a 30 EC programme. You can deepen and broaden your knowledge by following an Honours College track either at the faculty where you are doing your bachelor or at a different faculty.

The FSW Honours College programme consists of 30 EC in addition to your regular bachelor’s degree programme.

Take a look at the admission requirements and application procedures.

Does the Archaeology and Society track of the Honours College sound right for you? If so, take a look at the admission requirements and application procedures.

Are you interested in the Honours College track Governance and Global Affairs? Here you will find an overview of the admission requirements and the admissions procedure.

This honours college offers a three year, 30 EC package for students entering the programme in the first BA year, and a two year, 30 EC package for those entering in the second BA year.

As of 1 September 2024, the cum laude honour will no longer be awarded for the Master’s in Medicine. The Executive Board recently decided to grant an exemption to the Leiden University/LUMC Faculty of Medicine. This decision is in line with other medicine programmes in the Netherlands.

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Would you like to broaden and deepen your horizons in an interdisciplinary community? Would you like to explore how science, society and self can be consciously and strategically aligned to solve complex and interwoven problems? If so, take a look at the admission requirements and application proced…

In addition to cholesterol and high blood pressure as risk factors for atherosclerosis, we may need to address our own immune system to prevent a heart attack or stroke. Marie Depuydt revealed which cells exactly reside in the atherosclerotic plaque that narrows an artery. The presence of a diverse…

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The Honours Academy celebrates its tenth anniversary. How did the institute develop over time, and what are aspirations for the future? We speak with the current Dean and a predecessor who was there at the Academy's founding. A conversation about identity, inspiration, and impact ensues. ‘It is about…

Do you have a question concerning the Leiden Leadership Programme? You can find the answers to the Frequently Asked Questions below.

Humanities make a difference!

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Ad IJzerman, Emeritus Professor of Pharmacochemistry, was made a Knight of the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands on 26 April. He was presented with the royal honour by Mayor Elbert Roest in the town hall in Bloemendaal.

The course Designing Your Life helps students navigate their career pathways. As it turns out, these pathways are full of twists and turns and - as with many journeys - you only make progress once you gather the courage to take the first step.

With the new academic year, the Honours Academy welcomes a new assessor: Maarten Kolpa. What does an assessor do? And what can he do for honours students? Maarten talks about it in an interview. "I find it important that the student perspective comes first."

Particularly during this time of social distancing and remote learning, it is important to carry on meeting new people – even if you don’t always feel like it after another day staring at your screen, says Wessel van Dam. In his role as assessor at the Honours Academy, Wessel represents the interests…

Master’s students in the Honours Class ‘Leiden, City of Refugees?’ were asked to contemplate the concept of ‘the other’ from both an academic and an artistic perspective. The result was the exhibition ‘The Invitation’ which was presented at Stadsbauhaus on 4 June.

Theoretical research does not always give us the right solution to a problem in society. This message, loud and clear, is delivered during the final presentations of the Master Honours Class 'Social Innovation in Action'.

Carel Stolker, former Rector Magnificus and President of the Executive Board of Leiden University, has been made an Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau for his services to the city and University. Mayor Henri Lenferink awarded the royal honour to Stolker at the University’s Dies Natalis on 8 February…

Three young MI students have upheld Leiden's honour in the finals of the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC). PhD candidate Ludo Pulles and Master's student Reinier Schmiermann travelled to Russia and came 15th out of 117 teams. PhD candidate Pim Spelier participated in the online contest…

Almost 81 years after his famous protest speech against the German occupation, Leiden professor Rudolph Pabus Cleveringa will be remembered in his Groningen birthplace of Appingedam. A statue of him will be unveiled there on 12 November amid various other activities.

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Simulations of galaxy formation provide much more information about galaxies than a telescope. Simulations have been improving significantly in recent years. Astronomer Evgenii Chaikin made such a significant contribution to this field that he graduated with honours on February 27th.