Gap year students
We love gap year students and try to show it. For a degree like the BA International Studies, travelling is important. It will afford you the chance to put your every-day experiences and assumptions into another cultural context.
- Gap year 'benefits'
- Gap-year experience in Costa Rica (2012)
- Travel experience
- Gap year and applying for BA International Studies
Gap year 'benefits'
- We will guarantee your university place for your gap-year. You can already apply now for a spot in the group of students that will start in September 2013. Please submit your application via our online application system and choose September 2013 as start date for your studies.
- There is a moderated Facebook group for registered BA International Studies students so you can keep eachother up-to-date on your travels
- We will publish a selection of your photos and essays on-line
- We will reward the best essay and best photo by reimbursing the cost of your first semester textbooks.
Gap-year experience in Costa Rica (2012)
Dance of the Devils
Gap-year essay by Jort (future BA International Studies student, the Netherlands)
"This study is about learning new people and especially new cultures. I’d like to share one of my experiences during my gap-year that impressed me a lot.
During my gap-year across Latin America and Spain I stayed in Costa Rica for two months learning Spanish and meeting new people. One of the most interesting people I met was my favourite teacher and “amigo” Omar. Omar is indigenous to Costa Rica and comes from the Indian village of Boruka. He always told stories about life back home in Boruka and about his culture. I enjoyed these stories and luckily for me Omar was passionate to tell them. At the end of my stay he invited me to his home to join dinner with his family. It was great meeting his family and exchanging our different cultures. After dinner Omar had a surprise for me.
He disappeared into a room and came back with a painting he made for me and three special objects as a farewell gift. The next day I would leave for Argentina and Omar wanted to make sure that I would arrive safely. During an Indian ritual he blessed me and gave me a special red-coloured berry to absorb bad energy, a boor's tooth to protect me and an ancient stone for wisdom and luck in my life. Up to now the berry hasn’t turned black so I’m still going blessed through life and I am hoping to keep this for many years to come. ;-)"
Travel experience
A gap year means you will be responsible for earning your keep and for managing a tight budget. And, you will have traveled. For a degree like the BA International Studies, this is important. It will afford you the chance to put your every-day experiences and assumptions into another cultural context. You will meet (young) people of different religions and belief systems, of different economic and social backgrounds and with different hopes, ambitions and, most importantly, opportunities.
You may actually have been able to make a little bit of difference. One person, one young person, can do little to change a world, but you can do a lot to change a little part of it. Your experiences in your gap year will stay with you for ever and we expect you to carry that experience into your further studies, regardless of where you go and whether it overlaps with the area in which you choose to specialise.
Gap year and applying for BA International Studies
If you already know that you want to study International Studies at Leiden University but decide to do a gap year first? If you are an international student, we can already offer you a place for the 2013-2014 class (if you meet the requirements). Please apply via our online application system and choose September 2013 as starting date.
For Dutch vwo-students it is - unfortunately - not yet possible to apply for September 2013.