Dutch Studies

First year

The first year of Dutch Studies consists mainly of language acquisition courses. In the first semester English is used as a language of instruction; in the second semester all courses are in Dutch. Apart from Dutch language acquisition the first year consists of courses of Art History, Introduction to Dutch Studies, Language Analysis and Culture and Society of the Netherlands. This last course is an obligatory BSA course (please see the information on BSA in the Student Charter)

Timetable

Second year

The second year consists of advanced language courses, introductory courses on Dutch Linguistics, Literature and History of the Netherlands. Students are also attending courses of History of the Dutch Language and Methods of Linguistic, Literary and Historical Research. All the courses in the second year are obligatory.

Timetable

Third year

Apart from a required course of Dutch Language (Vocabulary/Writing/Grammar) and a final paper in the Dutch studies, the third year consists of a modular course or a minor in Dutch Linguistics, Literature, History or Art History. Those courses are taken at another department, mostly the Dutch Language and Culture Department, The History Department or The Art History Department. In the third year the students are also required to take two Core Curriculum courses in order to obtain the general knowledge necessary for all the students of the Faculty of Humanities.

Timetable

More info

Objectives Programme Binding Study Advice (BSA): additional requirements Bachelor’s thesis and graduation requirements

Objectives

The Dutch Studies Department trains non-native speakers of Dutch to become experts on the Netherlands and the Dutch language. Students acquire extended knowledge of the language and culture of the Netherlands. They also acquire the ability to tackle theoretical and practical problems in a manner consistent with the practice in this field of study. Most of all, students learn to independently reflect on the literature of the field. Graduates have acquired a command of Dutch at C1 level for reading and listening skills. For spoken interaction, speaking and writing, graduates have acquired a B2 level or higher. For more information on these levels, see: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/CADRE_EN.asp

Other skills of a Bachelor’s graduate in Dutch Studies include:

• General knowledge of and insight into the field of Dutch Studies (structure and historical development of the Dutch language, an overview of authors, literary movements and works in Dutch literature, an overview of national history and Dutch cultural and art history, and a number of aspects of contemporary Dutch culture and society) and

• General knowledge of and insight into the core concepts, scientific apparatus, research methods and techniques used in studying national history, Dutch language and literature, art history and cultural history.

Follow-up Programmes

Students in possession of a Bachelor’s degree in Dutch Studies are automatically admitted to the one-year Master’s programme in Dutch Studies and to the one-year Master’s programme in Dutch Language and Culture. Depending on their study results, students can also be admitted to a two-year Research Master, e.g. ‘Study of Art and Literature’ or ‘Linguistics’

. For more information on the Master’s programmes and the application procedure, see mastersinleiden.nl.

Programme

General

The focus of the Bachelor’s programme in Dutch Studies lies on Dutch language and culture. The first (propedeuse) and the second year of the Bachelor’s programme consist of compulsory courses.English will be used as the language of instruction only in the first semester of the first year. In the third year, there is room for a subsidiary subjects (worth a total of 30 ects).

First and second year

Teaching in the first two years concentrates on language acquisition: language acquisition courses represent half the credits in the first year and one third of the credits in the second year. In the first two years, special attention is also paid to the study of language from a scientific perspective. In addition, the first year includes introductions to Dutch Studies, Dutch Art History and Dutch Culture and Society, while the second year includes introductions to Dutch Linguistics, Literature and History. From the first year onwards, students are trained in research methods and techniques.

Binding Study Advice (BSA): additional requirements

In addition to the general requirements, the Department also requires students to have successfully completed the first-year course ‘Introduction to Dutch Culture and Society’

For information on BSA in English, please see the website: hum.leidenuniv.nl/dutchstudies. On the homepage, go to ‘Study Manual’. You can also apply for this digital Study Manual. Please send your request to dutchstudies@hum.leidenuniv.nl

Third year

The third year consists of advanced language training. An important part of the third year is the Core Curriculum consisting of a Philosophy of Science course and one of the following courses: Introduction to Historical Studies, Introduction to Linguistics, Introduction to Literary Studies or World Art Studies. During this last year students specialize in Dutch literature, linguistics, history or art history. They are also required to write a BA-thesis worth 10 ects.

Subsidiary subjects

In addition to the main subjects and Core Curriculum subjects, the third year offers students room for subsidiary subjects worth 30 ects. Since students are also required to choose their specialisation and write a Bachelor’s thesis, they are advised to select a subsidiary subject of Dutch Linguistics, Dutch Literature, Dutch History or Dutch Art History.

Bachelor’s thesis and graduation requirements

In order to graduate, students are required to have completed the full 180-credits programme including the main Dutch Studies subjects, the Core Curriculum subjects, a subsidiary subject and the Bachelor’s thesis. To conclude the Bachelor’s programme in Dutch Studies, students must have written a thesis in Dutch of a maximum of 8500 words (10 ects). The thesis research and writing must be carried out independently, under the supervision of a professor. The choice of a supervisor depends on the choice of the thesis subject. Read more about the regulations for the Bachelor’s thesis (in Dutch).