History: Ancient History

Courses

Programme

Literature Seminar [10 EC]
Students commence their programme with a Literature Seminar, whether starting in September or February.

Research Seminar [10 EC]
Students follow one Research Seminar in the first semester of their programme. Students starting in September follow their Research Seminar in the Fall Semester, students starting in February in the Spring Semester.

Optional Courses [10 EC]
Students follow one or two optional courses. All MA courses offered at level 400 or higher can be followed as ‘Optional Course’. These may comprise MA-courses offered by Leiden University (including any Literature and Research seminars offered by the Department of History, subject to availability of space) and those offered by other universities.
Students can either follow one course of 10 EC or two of 5 EC. It is advisable to take these courses in the first semester of the programme, but it is possible to take them in the second semester, provided you start with the thesis in the first semester.
Alternatively, students can opt for a work placement (Dutch: stage) as an Optional Course. All information on work placements can be found on the site of the Career Service: Studenten Loopbaanservice Geesteswetenschappen (in Dutch, some information in English). The Career Service handles the entire application procedure. Please note that a work placement should last at least three months fulltime (for 10 ECTS). A work placement needs to be supervised by both a member of the staff of the History department as well as by a supervisor from the inviting institution/company.

Thesis and exam [30 EC]
The Master’s Programme will be concluded by a 30 EC MA-thesis. This thesis will be based on original research and will be ca. 23.000 words in size. Students are guided in writing their thesis by thesis supervisors. Students are also expected to take a thesis seminar. This seminar consists of a number of meetings in which students are given the opportunity to present their work and to comment on the work of others. The seminar aims at providing students with some additional support in the writing process as well as achieving further uniformity where practical matters are concerned. Before graduation students sit for a final exam for which they defend their thesis and answer questions on additional literature.