Egyptology (research) Leiden University

Overview

The research master's in Egyptology, a specialisation of the Classics and Ancient Civilizations (Research) programme, at Leiden University provides you with a multidisciplinary study of the languages, literatures and cultures of Ancient Egypt. The Egyptology (Research) programme gives you the opportunity to study with internationally acclaimed academics immersed in the latest research and engaged in actively expanding our knowledge of the field. Your teachers are experts in languages, literatures and cultures of Ancient Egypt and active researchers working on innovative projects that constantly build bridges to the courses offered in your programme.

Focus on your area of interest

You will be able to tailor your study programme to your personal interests by creating your own combination of courses from the Egyptology programme or from other research master’s programmes within the Faculties of Humanities and of Archaeology.

Study abroad

We encourage all student to consider applying for a study time abroad. The specialisation Egyptology (Research) programme welcomes initiatives by students, e.g. to follow research programmes in Cairo or in another European university, to join excavations in Egypt or to do an internship in a museum.

What you will learn

Your future employers will not only be interested in your knowledge of Classics and Ancient Civilisations, but also in the skills that you have developed during your studies. Therefore, it is important that you are aware of the skills that you are training in your MA programme.
In the MA programme you learn how to analyse a problem, how to formulate a research question, how to select and assess your sources, how to assess secondary literature, how to give a clear and well-argued oral presentation either for specialists or for a wider audience, and how to write a clear and well-argued paper. You will be training the following transferrable skills:

• critical thinking (formulating questions, checking assumptions, assessing sources and scholarship)
• analytical skills (selecting, ordering, sorting out, and solving a problem)
• oral presentation skills (speaking, listening, discussing, receiving feedback)
• writing skills (reporting, summarizing, presenting an argument, with structure and style)
• independence (self-discipline, initiative, motivation)
• project management (planning, demarcation of a topic, discipline, meeting deadlines)
• flexibility (adapting to changes)
• creativity (curiosity, developing new ideas and innovative topics)
• academic integrity (acting with honesty, fairness, and responsibility)
• collaboration (working together with other students on a joint project)

Career prospects

As a graduate of a Classics and Ancient Civilizations (Research) programme at Leiden University you are qualified to work as a junior academic researcher in an academic environment or carry out further research work on a PhD programme. It is also possible to find employment within the fields of publishing or teaching, at policy-making departments of governmental bodies, within the education sector, or within cultural tourism.

Leiden University Master's graduates are sought-after employees at (inter)national organisations. Our graduates are known for their combination of robust academic training, in-depth and relevant knowledge, and critical, multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving. Our graduates end up working in a diverse range of positions, examples include:

• PhD candidate at Dutch and international universities
• Project assistant at a Dutch city council
• Research assistant at a university
• Curator at a museum
• Policy officer at a ministry
• Communications officer
• Programme manager
• Teacher of classical languages at a secondary school

Accreditation

Accredited by NVAO, the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders.