African Studies Leiden University

Overview

The African Studies programme at Leiden University  offers a coherent programme that revolves around six cross-cutting themes:  ‘Framing Africa’, ‘Developing?’, ‘Decolonizing?’, ‘Dwelling and moving’, ‘Caring’ and ‘World-viewing’. You will critically analyse current events as they unfold from a broad, comparative and global perspective. Multi-modal research methods and mixed methods will also be introduced to you. The subsidized ten-week embedded research project that you carry out at a professional organization in Africa, e.g., an NGO, government agency, think tank, or research institute, is an absolute highlight of the programme.

Career prospects

The master’s programme in African Studies offers outstanding preparation for high-level positions in the international job market. Your degree equips you for an impactful career in cultural organisations, education, policy-making, business, tourism, development, publishing, public relations, or journalism.

Examples of the diverse professions of our graduates include:

• Policy officer for agriculture and trade at an embassy in Ghana

• Teacher of African languages

• Journalist

• Curator at a cultural institution

• Manager of a translation and/or interpreting agency

• Project Manager at an NGO in Africa

• PhD candidate at the Centre of African Studies in Edinburgh

• Team leader at a human rights organisation

• Policymaker at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs