Can the EU survive the rise of euroscepticism and populism? Why has international cooperation on global environmental issues proven to be difficult? How can we address other issues in an increasingly globalized world?
IRIO in Groningen is a multidisciplinary English-taught degree programme in which you explore political questions on an international level. You focus on the place of politics, history, economics and law in international relations but also the role of international organizations. You also learn or improve your proficiency in a modern foreign language and choose a minor that fits your profile.
If you choose IRIO in Groningen, you choose:
Please note: IRIO is a quota study: only 300 students are accepted every year.
IRIO in Groningen is a bachelor programme where international relations are not a specialization but core business. The main emphasis is on the place of politics, history, economics and law in international relations but also the crucial role of international organizations. Attention is paid to research skills, language training, methodologies, historical context and theory. Last but not least: in Groningen you study IRIO with Dutch and international students and staff!
The first year will consist of introductory modules in the fields of international relations, law and economics. You will also study a language: you can either choose to start Chinese, Dutch, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish or choose to improve your English, French or German.
Semesters | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
History of International Relations 1 (5 EC) | ||||
International Politics (5 EC) | ||||
Introduction to International and European Law (5 EC) | ||||
Academic Skills for IR (5 EC) | ||||
History of International Relations 2 (5 EC) | ||||
Political Science (5 EC) | ||||
International Organisation 1 (5 EC) | ||||
Introduction to Economics (5 EC) | ||||
Language Course 1a (5 EC) | ||||
International Organisation 2 (5 EC) | ||||
Language Course 1b (5 EC) | ||||
Statistics for IR (5 EC) |
In the second year you will deepen your knowledge of international relations, economics and law. Attention will be paid to decision-making processes on an (inter)national level; international relations will be placed in a theoretical and philosophical framework; you will study international monetary issues; and you will broaden your knowledge of the law of the European communities and European Union. Furthermore, you will complete your language modules.
Semesters | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
Language Course 2a (5 EC) | ||||
Policy and Governance (10 EC) | ||||
Theory of International Relations (10 EC) | ||||
Language Course 2b (5 EC) | ||||
European Law (5 EC) | ||||
Language Course 3a (5 EC) | ||||
Methodology and Research Practice (10 EC) | ||||
IPE of Monetary Relations (5 EC) | ||||
Language Course 3b (5 EC) |
In the final year of the programme, you can specialise by choosing a minor in a field of your interest; for example on Development Studies. You can also choose to spend a semester abroad. You will complete an International Law module and you will study international trade theory. Finally you will choose a core module: a tutorial that will examine a specific theme through literature and source research. You will conclude the core module by writing your Bachelor's thesis.
Semesters | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
Minor (30 EC) | ||||
IPE of Trade (5 EC) | ||||
Core Module IRIO and Bachelor Thesis (20 EC) 1. Kernvak naar keuze uit aanbod van ongeveer 10 kernvakken. 2. De bachelorscriptie en kernvakscriptie zijn geïntegreerd. | ||||
International Law (5 EC) |
Please note that individual courses may possibly still change in the event of a programme change.
Programme options |
---|
Minors (minor) The fifth semester of your studies is dedicated to your Minor: a coherent set of future-oriented course units. It prepares you for a follow-on Master's degree program or for entering the labour market. You can opt for a Career Minor, a Minor abroad, a University Minor or a Faculty Minor. |
University of Groningen Honours College (honours program) The Honours College will give talented, motivated students the chance to be challenged even more by following Honours programmes and taking part in numerous other activities. The Honours College consists of a broadening part and a deepening part and has a study load of 45 ECTS credit points on top of the 180 ECTS credit points from your regular Bachelor programme. |
If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.
If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.
If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.
If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.
Language requirement English: Minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. For more information, see: https://www.rug.nl/let/studeren-bij-ons/bachelor/aanmelding-en-inschrijving/language-requirements-ba
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
previous education |
Dutch VWO diploma, a German Abitur, an International Baccalaureate diploma (minimum score: 24), a European Baccalaureate or another diploma that is sufficient for acceptance to a Dutch university. Students with a Dutch 'hbo propedeuse' diploma also need to meet the language requirements mentioned above. |
language test |
The IRIO programme is taught in English. Dutch students with a VWO diploma do not need to submit proof of their English proficiency. For other EU candidates, the Admissions Officer will notify you if you need to provide test results. All non-EU candidates will need to provide test results. The minimum level of English proficiency is: TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. |
other admission requirements |
The IRIO programme of the University of Groningen has a selection procedure. This means that the IRIO department selects the candidates to be admitted to the programme. It has been decided to select in this way because we would like to admit the most suitable and best motivated students. For details about the selection criteria and application instructions for the programme have to, please visit: https://www.rug.nl/let/irio-bachelor-admission. Participation in this selection is required for all candidates!
|
De Faculteit der Letteren gaat er van uit dat jij, via een bezoek aan de Open dagen, deelname aan een Eén Dag student en/of aan een Webklas, jezelf goed hebt voorbereid op de opleiding van jouw keuze. Op basis van deze voorlichtingsactiviteiten bepaal jijzelf of je goed matcht met de opleiding.
Vragen over matching bij de Faculteit der Letteren? Hier kun je verdere informatie vinden: www.rug.nl/matching
This programme has a numerus fixus with a maximum of 300 attendees a year.
More information on admission: https://www.rug.nl/let/irio-bachelor-admission
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 15 January 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
EU/EEA students | 15 January 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
non-EU/EEA students | 15 January 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
previous education |
A Dutch VWO diploma, a German Abitur, an International Baccalaureate diploma (minimum score: 24), a European Baccalaureate or another diploma that is sufficient for acceptance to a Dutch university. For other VWO-equivalent qualifications, see: https://www.rug.nl/education/application-enrolment-tuition-fees/admission/procedures/application-informatie/with-non-dutch-diploma/entry-requirements/bachelor-entry-requirements/vwo-equivalent-qualifications. Students with a Dutch 'hbo propedeuse' diploma also need to meet the language requirements mentioned above. |
language test |
The IRIO programme is taught in English. Dutch students with a VWO diploma do not need to submit proof of their English proficiency. For other EU candidates, the Admissions Officer will notify you if you need to provide test results. All non-EU candidates will need to provide test results. The minimum level of English proficiency is: TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. |
other admission requirements |
The IRIO programme of the University of Groningen is a numerus fixus programme with an unweighted lottery. For details about the application and lottery procedure, please visit: http://www.rug.nl/let/irio-bachelor-admission. Participation in the lottery is required for all candidates! |
This programme has a numerus fixus with a maximum of 300 attendees a year.
More information on admission: https://www.rug.nl/let/irio-bachelor-admission
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 15 January 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
EU/EEA students | 15 January 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
non-EU/EEA students | 15 January 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
As a graduate of International Relations and International Organization, you may choose to continue your studies, as most students do, by enrolling for a Master's programme. With a Bachelor's degree in IRIO, you have direct access to the following Master's tracks at the University of Groningen:
If you are in possession of an excellent academic record, you are also eligible to apply to the following Master’s tracks that are offered at the Faculty of Arts (please note that a selection takes place):
Just like most other university Bachelor and Master programmes, the IRIO programme does not train you for one specific job. The IRIO programme prepares its students for professions and research careers where knowledge of international-political developments and the ability to analyse and assess complex issues and to form grounded judgements are relevant.
Many graduates become policy advisors for national governments, NGOs, and international organizations in international politics. An increasing number of graduates also use their analytical skills to advise international businesses. Research, media and communication are also prospective fields of employment.
For some examples of where our graduates work, please check our alumni flyer
My name is Liz Winterhalter and I am a student in the International Relations and International Organizations Bachelor’s programme. I was born in the United States but was raised mainly across the Middle East and Europe. This cosmopolitan start to my life has motivated me to pursue the study of politics and of course take a major interest in the languages and cultures of the world. As far as hobbies go, I love going to the gym, playing video games, drawing, knitting, and playing chess. Additionally, next to my studies, I am an active member of the IRIO study association Clio.
I chose the IRIO programme here at the University of Groningen because I saw so much potential in the classes that are provided. Due to my background of moving, I had absolutely no geographical limit to where I could place my application, but Groningen spoke to me for three main reasons. The first reason is that the courses within the programme are specific. With IR studies in general, they tend to be very broad, so seeing that the individual courses are all for a specific field was very intriguing. Secondly, I loved the built-in language course to study. Language learning is a huge passion of mine, and having another language in the field of IR is an invaluable skill. Lastly, the overall flexible course structure, and the ability to have a bachelor's degree that can really be supplemented with anything additional you wish to take is a huge advantage.
My name is Isa and I am a student of International Relations & International Organization. I am from Overijssel but have moved to Groningen in 2023. Currently I am an active member of SIB (Student Association for IR) and play volleyball at Donitas twice a week. Outside of studying I love to read a lot, play the piano, have dinner with friends and play videogames.
I first found out about IRIO because a relative was studying it. A year after, I started trying several MUN debates and discovered how limited my view of the world really was. Naturally, I got very curious. As a kid you eventually realise that the world is much bigger than your backyard and this was the moment that I found it stretched even further.
I mainly chose IRIO because it is highly relevant. For me it got really exciting because everything you can learn is applicable to real-world news items and current debates. The idea of being able to dissect global issues beyond generalisations like e.g. ‘this country/thing is bad’ but towards ‘why?’ and ‘how?’ was very appealing to me. Because of this, IRIO seemed like the best study for me since it has a a lot of different subjects. You get a toolbox with international History, Economics, Law, Political Science, Philosophy etc. Additionally, I thought Groningen’s study was unique because it offers a language component. I was considering pursuing fields like diplomacy and removing language barriers comes in very useful.
Read more about Isa and why she chose to study International Relations and International Organization in Groningen!My name is Sofie, I am 19 years old and since 2020 I have been studying International Relations & International Organization (IRIO) at the University of Groningen. In my spare time I take boxing classes at the student organization ACLO and participate in fun activities organized by Study Association Clio.
I chose IRIO because I am interested in how the international world works. I would like to learn how countries and international organizations interact with each other, how international cooperation arises, and what causes international conflicts. IRIO seems the best study for this, because it has courses on history, politics, law and economics. Because of these different perspectives, you gain insight into all aspects of the international world. Moreover, these perspectives result in a varied programme that is never boring! I am also very enthusiastic about the foreign language as part of the IRIO programme, because I believe foreign language skills can be very useful in an international career. Ultimately, an international career is my ultimate goal and the IRIO study seems like a good starting point to achieve that.
After studying French law for almost two years, I was looking for a broader programme where I could fully study in English and that would give me the possibility to learn about various subjects, such as law, economics, history, politics. However, the feature that convinced me to apply for this programme were the compulsory language courses that allow me to learn a foreign language intensively. I picked Chinese and studying this language is so much fun!
The international aspect of the programme is also extremely interesting. You meet people from all over the world and get to know more about different cultures, which is exactly what I needed after spending 20 years in the same town. During your studies, you learn about the world and how it is constructed. You will start to feel closer to this world, which at first seems so unreachable.
In my opinion, one of IRIO biggest strengths is the variety of assignments. You will have to choose your own topics to write your essays, but you will also have to shoot videos, prepare presentations, and write papers in groups.
Are you at secondary school and want to know what studying at university is like? The International Relations and International Organization (IRIO) programme is offering a web class! This online course from the University of Groningen is specially designed for secondary school students. Try out what it takes to study IRIO by participating in this 4-week long course filled with various academic materials and completing assignments about the main topics of this bachelor programme.
The course takes about 10 hours in total and you can receive a certificate upon the completion of the online course.
If you are interested in an IRIO web class, register here.
After I graduated from my BA programme, I went on to study the Master’s programme Sustainable Development (with a focus on Earth System Governance) at Utrecht University. After studying IRIO—and thereby understanding how the world can be perceived—it made sense to me to study how the world could or should be.
Having said that, I could have gone many other directions with my BA. As IRIO offers an interdisciplinary programme, you can truly forge your own path. I have friends who went on to study law, political economy, crisis management and even one who ended up studying marketing.
Currently I work as a sustainability advisor at Rijkswaterstaat (an executive organization of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management), with a focus on climate adaptation and riverine litter. After finishing my Master’s, I started with the traineeship of Rijkswaterstaat and ended up staying in my current position. It was actually my sister who suggested the organization might be a good fit for me.
I think one of the main benefits of studying IRIO is that you learn to assess the world around you from different perspectives, due to IRIO’s interdisciplinary courses. Other skills that you develop during IRIO are analytical thinking and writing, which I both apply daily. The ability to write comprehensively is key in a governmental organization, where being able to type up a good briefing can make the difference in leveraging your goals.
Another benefit of my BA is that I understand the broader policy context which I now work in. As an executive organization of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, we execute both Dutch and European policies. It’s really interesting to see how this broader policy context interacts with the work we do at Rijkswaterstaat on a daily basis, and that it’s not just a one way street but the interaction goes both ways.
Be open to different experiences during your BA, in order to figure out the direction you want to take after your BA (but also for the sake of fun :)). I think most students only start to think about their future after their BA as they reach their final year, but you should really use the years leading up to that to attend activities and try out different types of experiences. There’s exchanges, internships, extra courses or something as simple as attending activities by IRIO’s Study Association Clio.
During my BA I took extra courses, went on an exchange to Queen’s University in Canada—which was a very formative experience—and was very active at the Study Association Clio and participated in many of their activities. I knew I wanted to continue studying in the direction of sustainability after I attended one of the alumni talks organized by Clio. Sometimes opening yourself up to those types of activities can provide new insights.
Therefore, my advice would be: do not only focus on your study books, but go out and experience IR in practice!
Clio is the study association of International Relations and International Organization at the University of Groningen.
It has around 1000 members and is one of the largest study associations in Groningen and the largest study association at a Dutch Faculty of Arts. Clio organizes numerous events including parties, workshops, excursions and offers services like high-quality summaries, the internship database and various discounts around Groningen.