It is essential that you start your studies in the International Studies programme with a good level of written and spoken English, as the programme is taught in English, and you will have to do all your studying and writing in English. When you apply, you therefore have to include proof of your proficiency in English. You do not need to provide proof of your level of proficiency if you:

• (will) have completed your education in Canada, the USA, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia; 
• (will) have obtained an International Baccalaureate; 
• (will) have completed successfully the Dutch VWO.

If the above does not apply to you, you will have to provide other proof of proficiency, using one of the tests below. You have to arrange the test yourself. Leiden University accepts three kinds of official tests:

• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
  Academic modules only. Minimum score of 6.0 for bachelor’s programmes;

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
  Minimum score 550 (paper-based) / 213 (computer-based) / 79-80 (internetbased) for bachelor’s programmes. Original test results should be sent directly by the Educational Testing Service. The TOEFL institution code for Leiden University is 0504. Institutional Toefl tests are not accepted;

• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English.