Arranging graduation
You're about to graduate. That means there’s a lot to be arranged. The university expects you to take certain steps, as does your faculty and/or institute. Your faculty has various regulations and procedures in place that you need to follow carefully when arranging your graduation.
Steps towards graduation
Graduation means there’s a lot to be arranged. Below you will find a general overview of the steps to be taken. Make sure to first read the information provided by your faculty and department, as regulations and procedures can vary.
- You receive the final grade needed to fulfil your examination requirements.
- You request graduation: look under the faculty/study programme tab to find out exactly what steps your programme requires you to take to arrange graduation. You may receive a message from uSis entitled ‘You can graduate’. This message will explain the options available if you wish to delay graduation.
- Your student registration will not automatically be cancelled when you graduate. You have to cancel your registration yourself via Studielink. However de-registration is not compulsory if you have a reason for not wishing to do so. Make sure to carefully read the information on de-registering or re-registering.
Requesting postponement of graduation
If you receive a message from uSis entitled ‘You can graduate’, but you don’t yet want to graduate because you are taking additional courses or an internship that you want to be mentioned on your final transcript, you can request postponement of graduation. Look under your faculty or study programme tab for more information.
Conditions of postponement
The maximum duration of postponement you can request is until you have been registered on your study programme for the official programme duration plus one additional year. For Bachelor’s programmes this is 3+1 years, for most Master’s programmes this is 1+1 year. If you are more than a year behind in your studies your request will not be granted.
Official regulations on postponing graduation
The regulations and agreements concerning the postponement of graduation have been laid down by Leiden University Executive Board in the Leiden University Regulations on Postponing Graduation.
CSM graduates who started in academic year 2020-2021 and later
To apply for your master diploma you have to submit the following documents to the OSC:
- The diploma registration form; link can be found on the right-hand side of this page.
- The programme evaluation; you will receive a link to the digital evaluation form from the OSC after you have sent in your application.
- If applicable: proof of dispensation or compensation from the Board of Examiners in case these do not show up in the list of study results.
If you have any questions you can contact the OSC at osc.fgga@fgga.leidenuniv.nl.
Please do not apply for graduation via uSis. This function is not available for FGGA. You also do not have to wait for the message ‘You can graduate’ from uSis before you send the OSC your application.
After applying, the board of examiners will make a decision. The processing of the application will take about 4-6 weeks and students will receive a confirmation by e-mail.
If necessary the OSC can give you a written statement that you have fulfilled all the obligations of the Master's examination on request. Students of the class of September 2012 and earlier can use an earlier system of graduating. Please contact your study advisor for more information.
We would like to refer you to the diploma register of DUO. If you have a DigiD, you can download an official excerpt with your diploma data for free. The digital extract has the same value as a certified copy of the diploma. If you are unable to download the extract, you can contact osc.fgga@fgga.leidenuniv.nl to request a Statement of Graduation.
Also employers and organisations can apply for an official excerpt at the DUO website.
More information on the Portfolio can be found in the e-prospectus and on the Portfolio Brightspace page.
If you have completed all components of the programme but you do not yet went to graduate (for instance because you are taking additional courses, doing an internship or participating in the Academic Excellence Programme), you must request postponement of graduation. In that case please send an e-mail to ISGA.BoE@fgga.leidenuniv.nl. If you request postponement, please also inform the OSC so they can hold on to your graduation dossier until the Board of Examiners issues a decision.
CSM graduates who started in academic year 2019-2020 or earlier
To apply for your master diploma you have to submit the following documents to the OSC:
- First upload a pdf version of your master thesis in the thesis repository. Uploading your master thesis in pdf is separate from the files you handed in with your thesis supervisor, and is a mandatory part of the diploma application process. More information on the repository can be found below.
- The diploma registration form including the consent form for the publication of your thesis in the Student Repository; link can be found on the right-hand side of this page.
- Programme evaluation; you will receive a link to the digital evaluation forms from the OSC after you have sent in your application.
- If applicable: proof of dispensation or compensation from the Board of Examiners in case these do not show up in the list of study results.
If you have any questions you can contact the OSC at osc.fgga@fgga.leidenuniv.nl.
Please do not apply for graduation via uSis. This function is not available for FGGA. You also do not have to wait for the message ‘You can graduate’ from uSis before you send the OSC your application.
After applying, the board of examiners will make a decision. The processing of the application will take about 4-6 weeks and students will receive a confirmation by e-mail.
If necessary the OSC can give you a written statement that you have fulfilled all the obligations of the Master's examination on request. Students of the class of September 2012 and earlier can use an earlier system of graduating. Please contact your study advisor for more information.
We would like to refer you to the diploma register of DUO. If you have a DigiD, you can download an official excerpt with your diploma data for free. The digital extract has the same value as a certified copy of the diploma. If you are unable to download the extract, you can contact osc.fgga@fgga.leidenuniv.nl to request a Statement of Graduation.
Also employers and organisations can apply for an official excerpt at the DUO website.
In the Student Repository, Leiden University programmes are building an online archive that makes Bachelor and Master theses easily searchable and publicly available (if desired). At Leiden University we treat BSc and BA theses confidentially unless supervisor and student agree to make the thesis publically available. Master theses are made publicly available unless supervisor and student agree (in exceptional circumstances) to make the thesis not publicly available.
Do not forget to fill out the consent form (part of the graduation application form). For more information and a manual for uploading your thesis pdf, please see the Student Repository Website.
Writing a thesis is seen as a practical exercise in which you make use of educational facilities. During the thesis writing enrolment is required until the moment assessment takes place. Enrolment as extraneous is not allowed in principle. The final version of the thesis is assessed by the supervisor on plagiarism and then read by the second reader. After approval of both the supervisor and the second reader Master's examination will take place. The Master's examination consists of the discussion of the master's thesis written by the student (the defense). The thesis defense lasts about 25 to 30 minutes. Present are the student, the supervisor and the second reader.
The front of your thesis should contain the following information: Student ID, name, master (Crisis and Security Management), name track (if applicable), name of supervisor, name second reader, date and title. Please note: be careful with personal information when you upload your thesis to the repository (for instance remove your student number from the title page before uploading).
If you have completed all components of the programme but you do not yet want to graduate (for instance because you are taking additional courses or doing an internship), you must request postponement of graduation. In that case please send an e-mail to ISGA.BoE@fgga.leidenuniv.nl. If you request postponement, please also inform the OSC so they can hold on to your graduation dossier until the Board of Examiners issues a decision.