Program Overview
The African Studies (Research) at Leiden University is a MA programme in Humanities over 24 months, delivered On-campus. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.
Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of humanities. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.
Graduates of the African Studies (Research) programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across Netherlands and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.
Key Program Features
- Duration: 24 months
- Language of instruction: English
- Study mode: On-campus
- English requirement: IELTS 7
- Tuition: EUR 16,000 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; EUR 14,600 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
- Location: Leiden, Netherlands
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the African Studies (Research) programme are prepared for diverse careers in humanities:
- Researcher / Academic
- Cultural Programme Manager
- Editor / Writer
- Translator / Interpreter
- Museum Curator
- Communications Specialist
Program Curriculum
Course Structure
- The irrelevance of national boundaries today and historically
- The impacts of the variable lengths of colonial domination and its consequences for politics in Rhodesia/Zambia and Rhodesia/Zimbabwe
- The prime importance of extractive industries for the economy of the region
- Social movements against Apartheid, and South Africa post-Apartheid.
- The ways mobility has shaped West African societies and their livelihoods
- The specific histories of the trade-economy (Trans-Saharan, slave-trade)
- Colonial regimes (French and English)
- The spread of Islam and political violence
- The effects of slavery on the region\x92s history
- \x91The Nile question\x92
- The influence of religious ideologies on gender relations
- The features of pastoralism
- The dissolution of socialist regimes into ethnic politics
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- A bachelor\xc2\x92s degree from a university, not being a university of professional education, equivalent to the level of a Dutch academic bachelor\xc2\x92s degree, or demonstrate to meet the requirements for such a degree, including the General Academic Skills listed here.
- Affinity with and suitability for academic research, demonstrated by good grades comparable with an average mark of at least 7.5 (Dutch grading system) for the entire bachelor\xc2\x92s programme, and a grade for the bachelor\xc2\x92s thesis of an 8 or higher.
- A completed bachelor\xc2\x92s programme in the field of African Languages and Cultures, (African) Linguistics, History, Cultural Anthropology, Literature, Sociology, Political Sciences, Public Administration or other studies related to the Social Sciences.
English Proficiency: IELTS 7 or equivalent.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
EUR 16,000 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; EUR 14,600 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
Tuition fees: EUR 16,000 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; EUR 14,600 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
IELTS requirement: 7
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Contact Leiden University directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.
About Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden, Netherlands
Leiden University is a distinguished institution of higher education committed to academic excellence, innovative research, and preparing students for leadership in their chosen fields. The...
University Profile- Language English
- Duration 24 months