
The Master's in African Studies at Leiden University offers a comprehensive exploration of Africa's diverse cultures and societies. This one-year program combines in-depth academic study with practical, research-based learning. You will engage with Africa from multiple disciplinary perspectives, including history, anthropology, literature, politics, and economics, developing a strong methodological foundation. The curriculum is structured around six cross-cutting themes designed to foster critical analysis of current events from a global viewpoint, alongside an introduction to various research methods.
The multidisciplinary program allows students to tailor their studies to their interests, focusing on chosen topics for their Embedded Research Project and thesis. Students will engage with six cross-cutting themes: Framing Africa, Developing?, Decolonizing?, Dwelling and Moving, Caring, and World-viewing. The curriculum emphasizes critical analysis of contemporary issues from a broad, comparative, and global perspective, and introduces multi-modal and mixed research methods.
This program prepares graduates for advanced roles across various sectors, equipping them with skills applicable to cultural, educational, policy, development, media, and public relations fields. Alumni have secured positions in diverse areas, demonstrating the broad applicability of the skills gained.
The program is suitable for students curious about African cultures, societies, history, literature, and political landscape.
Tuition and living cost information for international students is not detailed on the program page. Please refer to the university's official fee pages for current rates.
The African Studies MA programme is a one-year master's programme.
Applicants are required to have a relevant bachelor’s degree. Specific details regarding GPA or coursework are not provided on the programme page.
Yes, specific IELTS and TOEFL scores are required, but these are not detailed on the programme page. Please refer to the general university requirements for exact scores.
Graduates are prepared for diverse roles, including policy officer, journalist, curator, project manager at an NGO, or a PhD candidate. The programme equips students with skills applicable to cultural, educational, policy, and development fields.