More info
Objectives
This multidisciplinary programme offers students the opportunity to study the African continent from many different angles. As a result, students acquire solid knowledge and understanding of the major historical, literary, cultural, socio-economic and political factors and issues at play in Africa; acquire methodological skills; and do a research internship. Such knowledge and research experience is essential for any profession that involves contact with Africa, for instance policy-making or research positions within the government, positions within NGOs concerned with development cooperation, positions in international organisations, journalism and public relations. Besides specialist knowledge of Africa, students also develop a number of general digital and communication skills that form valuable assets in their search for employment and make a relevant job experience thanks to a period of research internship in Africa or Africa related setting elsewhere. Moreover, the programme aims to raise students to a level of knowledge and skills that allows them to proceed to PhD research.
Programme
Within the timeframe of one year, you will take six months of courses, do a ten-week research-internship, and write your MA thesis.
Semester 1
The first semester is devoted to teaching in small groups and serves to both broaden and deepen your knowledge of Africa as well as to prepare you for the research internship. Courses include both multidisciplinary courses and methodology and skills courses.
Semester 2
At the beginning of the second semester you will go to Africa or an Africa related setting elsewhere for a ten-week field assignment. You will be based at a host organization, such as an NGO, thinktank, art, media, or government agency, where you conduct a research of joint interest (80%) next to other internship activities (20%). From April onwards, when you have returned from your field trip, you will start writing your MA thesis which is based on your own original research carried out during the research internship period.
Master’s thesis and requirements for graduation
In order to graduate, students must have successfully completed the 60 EC programme and have completed their final thesis as a component of that programme. The thesis, which is based on your own original research, carries 12 EC and as a rule will not exceed a maximum of 20,000 words excluding notes, bibliography and appendices.
Career Preparation
Career preparation in African Studies
In addition to offering you a solid university education, Leiden University aims to prepare you for today’s labour market. Your studies will contribute to the development of your employability. After finishing the programme, it will become easier for you to make the transition to the labour market, to remain employable in a dynamic labour market in a (career) job that suits your own personal values, preferences and development.
'Employability' consists of the following aspects that you will develop within your study programme, among others:
1. Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Knowledge and skills specific to your study programme.
2. Transferable skills
These are skills that are relevant to every student and that you can use in all kinds of jobs irrespective of your study programme, for example: research, conducting analyses, project-based working, generating solutions, acquiring and developing digital skills, collaborating, oral communication, written communication, presenting, raising societal awareness, independent learning, and resilience.
It is important that during your study programme you not only acquire as much knowledge as possible about your subject, but also are aware of the skills you have gained and the further skills you still want to learn. The course descriptions in the Prospectus of the Master’s Programme in African Studies include, in addition to the courses’ learning objectives, a list of the skills that they aim to develop.
The skills you may encounter in the various courses are:
3. Self-reflection
This concerns self-reflection in the context of your (study) career, including reflecting on the choices you make as a student during your studies, esp. with respect to what you can do with your knowledge and skills on the labour market.
In addition, reflecting on your own profile and your personal and professional development. Who are you, what can you do well, what do you find interesting, what suits you, what do you find important, what do you want to do?
4. Practical experience
Gaining practical experience through internships, work placements, projects, practical (social) assignments, which are integrated into an elective, minor or graduation assignment.
5. Labour market orientation
Gaining insight into the labour market, fields of work, jobs and career paths through, for example, guest speakers and alumni experiences from the work field, career events within the study programme, the use of the alumni mentor network, interviewing people from the work field, and shadowing/visiting companies in the context of a particular subject.
Employability in African Studies
You will also find these employability elements in your study programme.
Activities to prepare for your career alongside / outside the curriculum
The curriculum of the one year’s master in African Studies is characterised by multidisciplinarity which offers students the opportunity to study the African continent from many different angles. As a result, students acquire solid knowledge and understanding of the major historical, literary, cultural, socio-economic and political factors at play in Africa. They also acquire insight into the issues that are particularly relevant for this continent and it societies. Moreover, they learn how to apply methods and methodologies from different disciplines in their research.
How can you use this knowledge and the skills that you acquire? Which focus should you choose within your study programme and why? What skills do you already have, and what further skills do you still want to learn? How do you translate the courses that you followed into something that you’d like to do after graduation?
These questions and more will be discussed at various times during your study programme. You may already have spoken about them with your study coordinator, the Humanities Career Service or other students, or made use of the Leiden University Career Zone. Many different activities are organised to help you reflect on your own wishes and options, and give you the chance to explore the job market. All these activities are focused on the questions: ‘What can I do?’, ‘What do I want?’ and ‘How do I achieve my goals?’.
Every year, various activities take place, within, alongside and outside of your study programme, which contribute to your preparation for the labour market, especially where it concerns orientation towards the work field/the labour market, (career) skills and self-reflection. These activities could be hosted by your study program to discuss the key decision stages within your program. Furthermore, you may want to attend career workshops and events organised by the Humanities Career service or your study association.
You will be notified via the Humanities website and by email about further activities in the area of career preparation. The following activities will help you to thoroughly explore your options, so we advise you to take careful note of them:
Humanities Career Service, LU Career Zone and Career Workshops Calendar
Humanities Career Service
The Humanities Career Service offers information and advice on internships, study (re)orientation and master's choice, orientation on the labour market and careers.
Leiden University Career Zone
The Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career. You can find advice, information, (career) tests and tools in the area of (study) career planning, career possibilities with your study, job market orientation, job applications, the Alumni Mentor network, job portal, workshops and events and career services.
Workshops and events
On the Workshops calendar you will find an overview of career and application workshops, organised by the Humanities Career Service.
