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

uSis is the student administration system of Leiden University. You can have access to this system by using your ULCN-account (see above). You can find your official grades in here, and if you are properly enrolled for courses on MyStudymap, you can also find the courses and your time table in uSis. You can also submit (administrative) requests for exemptions and elective space. If you have questions, you can take a look at the FAQ uSis. 

Each student gets a personal University e-mail account (uMail). You can log in with your ULCN-account (see above). Please note: the University uses only this uMail 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 LU-Card for printing/making copies, entering university buildings and the bicycle shed, borrowing books from the library and to identify yourself at exams (along with your identity card/passport). If you have not applied for the LU-card yet, please do so as soon as possible via the LU-card webpage!

Brightspace is the digital learning environment from the university where you can find and get excess to extra information about all courses, like: the course manual, assignments, deadlines, articles that you have to read, pre-publication of grades etc. You'll automatically be enrolled for Brightspace after you're enrolled  for the courses. 

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.

Premaster’s students will be enrolled for courses and exams by the OSC (Educational Services Centre). However, you do have to enroll for retakes on MyStudymap. This is possible up to ten days before the retake takes place. Please note: if you don't have a registration for the retake, you will be banned from the exam!

As for your master's courses, you will have to enroll yourself for these 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. Enrolment for exams and resits are mandatory. 

You can find your personal programme activities like lectures, tutorials (werkgroep) and (re)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 eighth 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 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 Prospectus: course descriptions, literature, examination and teaching methods, time table, etc..

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

Grades from completed courses will be registered by the Education Services Centre (see below under ‘Organizations’). 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.

When personal problems (of any kind) cause you to fall behind with your programme, you can contact the study advisers, student counsellors 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.

The 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 Institute. 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, Brightspace, uSis and SURFspot with your ULCN-account. Click here for more information about ICT facilities. If you have any questions or problems regarding this, please contact the IT Helpdesk.

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.