Start of Honours College

In the coming period, the top 20% of first-years from each programme will be invited to register for the Honours College that is due to start in the second semester. The Honours College offers talented and motivated bachelor's students with an strong academic interest the opportunity to follow an extra track comprising a minimum of 30 study points.

Depth or breadth

Leiden University's aim with the Honours College is to offer talented students an extra opportunity to get the very best out of their bachelor's study. For those students who accept the invitation, the programme will start in the second semester with an orientation course, worth 5 study points, on the ten tracks of the Honours College. The students can decide to focus on an in-depth study in the area of their chosen bachelor's programme or they can opt for a broadening of their interests by choosing a completely different field. For some tracks, prior knowledge of the subject is a prerequisite.  

American political scientist Elinor Ostrom in the Honours Class in Political Sciences in 2005. In 2009 she won the Nobel Prize for economy.

Ten tracks

Ten different tracks are offered: Archaeology, Science and Life Sciences, Medicine, History, Art and Literature, Law, Law and Religion, Social Sciences, Linguistics and Philosophy. The tracks run through to the third year of the bachelor's programme and constitute a good preparation for a research master's study. 

The Archaeology Honours Class, 2008

Conditional start

Although the Honours College starts in the second semester, it is only clear at the end of the academic year who will be invited to take part. The students who participate have to have obtained their first-year diploma (propaedeuse) within one year and with a high average (7.5 or higher). Failure to achieve this means that the student is in principle no longer able to take part in the Honours College. The students also have to maintain a high level of motivation.  

Diploma presentation for the Honours Programme in 2008 in the Marekerk.

Honours Programme

Students stay within the Honours College for the remainder of their bachelor's study. In the third year they follow one of the Honours Classes from the existing Honours Programme. The Honours Programme thus becomes integrated with the Honours College. Students who complete the full track are awarded an Honours certificate with their bachelor's diploma. 

Vice Rector Magnificus Rietje van Dam-Mieras is Dean of the Honours College. She is also chairman of the Honours Council, which has representatives from all the faculties.

More information about the Honours College

(3 November 2009)