Participants in this 2-week summer programme will explore the rich field of International Relations as a sub-discipline of Political Science. We will examine the history of IR, will take a look at different theoretical perspectives and explanations, and will address contemporary issues in world politics, such as climate change, development, and war.

Our summer programme gives students the opportunity to study in an international classroom: participants come from diverse backgrounds, creating an excellent space to explore the field of IR, and to develop intercultural skills. Benefiting from insights from political science, history, and anthropology, this programme provides students with an interdisciplinary exploration of a very exciting field in the social sciences. As our hyper-connected world draws closer together, it falls to present and future generations to understand how this affects the political climate and the practice of world politics. Every aspect of our lives is intertwined with political decisions, and decisions made in faraway places have the potential to affect us as well.

During the first days of the programme, students will be introduced to the field of IR, to the concept of globalisation, and will get to know the different actors (state, inter-state and non-state actors) that play a role in IR, as well as get a glimpse of some of the main theoretical perspectives in the field. After discussing the history of IR we will address a number of topical issues and challenges in contemporary world politics. The programme includes guest lectures from specialists in academia as well as the practice of IR. We will offer a wide variation in topics and approaches, as well as many different discussion and work forms, which will enable you to position yourself and form an informed opinion on many topics in an increasingly complex international environment.

Students will experience studying in a supportive international environment hosted by the University of Amsterdam. The lectures and all course materials are in English. Participants in the course will develop study skills and become acquainted with learning methods that will give them an advantage as they continue their education at university.

Roel van Engelen (MSc) is a lecturer and assessment coordinator in the Political Science Department of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (FMG), and is Academic Director of the Pre-University Honours Programme in International Relations. Roel has designed and taught undergraduate courses on International Relations and Political Economy, and has ample experience with different teaching methods and activating and interactive work forms. Roel is particularly passionate about teaching International Relations, an extremely exciting field of study that is in constant movement and in which connections to current developments in world politics are never far away. 

Want to get to know more about studying at the University of Amsterdam? Follow us on social media and join our summer community. Get a feel for our summer school vibe and our academic and social community, and learn about studying with us through the eyes of past summer school students. 

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Looking for an alumni perspective? Read this interview with Grace Forrest, who attended the Pre-University Honours Programme: Politics & Identity in summer 2018.