Classics and Ancient Civilizations (Research)

specialisatie Assyriology

The research Master in Assyriology will give you the opportunity to learn from acclaimed academics immersed in the latest research and engaged in actively expanding our knowledge of the field.

Leiden University is one of the leading centres for learning and research in ancient Middle Eastern history.

You will be able to customise your degree by creating your own combination of courses from other research master's programmes within the Faculties of the Humanities and Archaeology with courses from Assyriology.

You will also have the opportunity to follow research programmes at other top universities outside the Netherlands during an exchange at one of our partner universities – including Cambridge, Münster, and Heidelberg.

• Leiden University's Humanities Faculty was recently ranked 25th in the Times Higher Education worldwide ranking.

specialisatie Classics

The Classics Research Master, a specialization of the Classics and Ancient Civilizations programme at Leiden University, gives you the opportunity to study the Greek and Roman world with a focus on Greek and Latin language and literature.The Research MA programme in Classics and Ancient Civilizations has received the label 'top programme' in the Keuzegids Masters of March 2019. The study guide bases its results on the opinion of students (through the National Student Survey) and experts (NVAO).

Classics at Leiden University ranks among the best programs in the world. The seminars are taught by enthusiastic teachers, who invite you to be involved in innovative research on Greek and Latin literature, ancient history and philosophy. Leiden University, with a Classics tradition that goes back to 1575, has a great library and excellent research facilities.

The programme is taught by academic staff internationally renowned for their research. Research in Classics at Leiden University is at the leading edge of the field. External lecturers are regularly invited to teach on specialized topics. And, every semester, a number of national and international speakers - both well-known experts and promising young researchers – are invited to speak in the lecture series Forum Antiquum. You will also benefit from the collaboration of classicists from different Universities in the National Research School in Classics (OIKOS).

specialisatie Egyptology

During the Egyptology research MA you will focus on Ancient Egypt from its earliest beginnings to its role as a major player in history from the Bronze Age through to the Christian period.

You will join an acclaimed research master's programme that has its roots in the 19th century, when the city's National Museum of Antiquities acquired its famous collection of Egyptian antiquities. You will benefit from a combination of tradition and leading-edge international scholarship.

The programme is delivered by academics who are pre-eminent and active scholars in the field and whose wide-ranging research activities include Egyptian mortuary inscriptions, archaeological and epigraphic field work in Egypt, and Coptic magical texts.

You will be able to access the resources of one of the world's most reputable Egyptological libraries, the library of the Netherlands Institute for the Near East (NINO), giving you ready access to the library's extensive materials for your study and research.

• Leiden University's Humanities Faculty was recently ranked 25th in the Times Higher Education worldwide ranking.

specialisatie Hebrew and Aramaic Studies

The MA research specialisation in Hebrew and Aramaic Studies is delivered by internationally-acclaimed experts at Leiden University.

You will benefit from a broad range of relevant adjacent disciplines for the study of ancient languages and civilisations as well as from the famous library resources.

The programme offers ample room for cross-disciplinary work tailored towards your specific needs.

You will be able to focus on the literature and culture of Ancient Israel against the backdrop of the world of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible/Ancient Judaism, from its emergence in around 1200 B.C.E. until its disappearance as a political entity in 135 C.E.

Your study will focus strongly on languages, mainly Hebrew and Aramaic, with optional Phoenician, Ugaritic and other small corpus languages – but also on the region's wider cultural history with many different possibilities for specialisation (such as Linguistics, Ancient History, etc.).

Leiden University is home to the only Chair of both Hebrew and Aramaic worldwide and plays a major role in international research.

• Leiden University's Humanities Faculty was recently ranked 25th in the Times Higher Education worldwide ranking.

honours-/excellence program Leiden Leadership Programme

The Leiden Leadership Programme (LLP) is an honours programme of 15 ECs on top of the regular master's curriculum. The programme consists of training courses, seminars and a practical assignment.

Are you looking for an extra challenge in addition to your Leiden master's programme? Are you adventurous enough to look beyond the borders of your own master's programme? The Leiden Leadership Programme may be just what you are looking for. The programme gives you the opportunity to develop your leadership skills. You will follow seminars and courses, as well as carrying out a practical assignment for a company or organisation as part of a small, multidisciplinary team. Your lecturers will be leading academics and experienced professionals from the business sector.

Students can apply who have:

• Good study results in the bachelor's programme;
• The ambition and motivation to develop leadership qualities;
• A broad and interdisciplinary span of interest.