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Russian and Eurasian Studies

Master

The MA programme in Russian and Eurasian Studies is a one-year master’s programme (60 EC) that explores Russia and post-Soviet Eurasia from a variety of perspectives. The flexible degree format allows you to focus on the region's language, literature and culture, or on its politics, history, international relations and economics. You can also combine elements from the two focus areas.

The core curriculum for all students, regardless of focus area, includes the course on Eurasia and Eurasianisms: Concepts and Contentions (5EC) and the Research Seminar (5 EC) in the first semester, and the writing of a thesis (20 EC) in the second semester. Students are expected to choose at least two bound electives of 10EC in their programme. In addition, they can opt for: a third course (10 EC), either within the programme’s bound electives (including doing an internship of 10EC), the recommended electives or an elective of another MA-program.

This choice, as well as any departures from the standard programme, is subject to approval by the Examinations Board.

In order to be able to complete the MA thesis (20 EC) in the second semester, students are advised to choose two courses in the first semester and one in the second semester, in addition to the core curriculum. Please note that in the second semester of the academic year only a limited number of courses is offered by the programme and that the programme is subject to changes. Not all courses are taught each year.

Students are encouraged to start working on their final thesis (20 EC) from day one, but they are expected to intensify this work in the second semester.

Programme

Vak EC Semester 1 Semester 2

First semester

Core Curriculum
Research Seminar 5
Eurasia and Eurasianisms: Concepts and Contentions 5

Bound electives (choose at least 2)
Old Church Slavic Language and Culture 10
Ukrainian Politics and International Relations 10
Literair vertalen Russisch-Nederlands (MA) 10
Post-Soviet Wars: Economic Collapses and Their Violent Consequences 10

Recommended electives
Culture and Conquest: the Impact of the Mongols and their Descendants 10

Second semester

Core Curriculum
MA Thesis Russian and Eurasian Studies 20

Bound electives
The War in Ukraine and the Language of Propaganda 10
Russia Revisited in War and Revolution, 1914-1921 10
Internship Russian and Eurasian Studies 10

Extra curricular
Topics in Georgian morphosyntax 5

Career Preparation

Career preparation in Russian and Eurasian 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 studies, you focus both on obtaining as much knowledge as possible and on being conscious of which skills you have acquired and which skills you’d still like to learn. In the course descriptions of the master Russian and Eurasian Studies you will encounter several of the following ‘transferable skills’ that we will work on.

  • Problem solving (recognizing and analyzing problems, solution-oriented thinking)

  • Analytical skills (analytical thinking, abstraction, evidence)

  • Project management (planning, scope, boundaries, result-orientation)

  • Responsibility (ownership, self-discipline, bear mistakes, accountability)

  • Motivation (commitment, pro-active attitude, initiative)

  • Self-regulation (independence, self-esteem, aware of own goals, motives and capacities)

  • Verbal communication (presenting, speaking, listening)

  • Written communication (writing skills, reporting, summarizing)

  • Collaboration (teamwork, group support, loyalty, attendance)

  • Flexibility (adaptability, dealing with change, teachability, eagerness to learn)

  • Critical thinking (asking questions, check assumptions)

  • Creative thinking (resourcefulness, curiosity, thinking out of the box)

  • Integrity (honesty, moral, ethics, personal values)

  • Intercultural skills (communications between different cultures)

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 Russian and Eurasian Studies

You will also find these employability elements in your study programme.

Activities to prepare for your career alongside / outside the curriculum

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:

  • Labour Day, 17th September. Career orientation. Meet alumni.

  • Humanities Career Event

  • Various workshops, organized by Career Service Humanities.

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.