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Braziliëstudies

The interdisciplinary Minor in Brazilian Studies, offered by the Department of Latin American Studies, gives the opportunity to combine courses in Brazilian Portuguese language with modules in the history, literature, culture and cinema of Brazil. The Minor is taught by staff within the Department of Latin American Studies and by the yearly Visiting Professor of Brazilian Studies.

Brazil, a country of continental proportions, is fast emerging as a key player on the world stage and, with a population of nearly 200 million people, it is the largest Portuguese-speaking country and the world’s sixth-largest economy. Brazil has historic links with the Netherlands which date back to the 17th century, and it is the Netherlands’ and the EU’s most important Latin American economic partner.

Portuguese is the world’s sixth most widely spoken language, shared by around 260 million people across four continents, in the countries of Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, being also spoken in Macau (China) and Goa (India). Thus, learning Portuguese at Leiden not only introduces students to the vibrant culture, society and history of Brazil, but opens the possibility of communicating in a global language, a valuable asset in today’s competitive world.

The Minor consists of four language/cultural modules of 5ECTS each (Portuguese 1-4, 20 ECTS in total), in addition to 5ECTS in history (Brazilië: de constructie van een wereldmacht) and 5ECTS chosen between the course ‘Literature and Nation in Brazil’ (literature/cinema and culture) and the course delivered by our yearly Visiting Professor from Brazil (occupier of the Rui Barbosa Visiting Chair in Brazilian Studies). Depending on the appointee to the Chair and their specialism, the Visiting Professor’s course might be in the fields of literature, history, international relations, political science etc.

The Minor in Brazilian Studies begins in September and runs over the course of two semesters (ie. 4 teaching blocks). The modules on offer can be taken as a whole package (30 credits) or in combinations of 15 ECTS per semester (10 ECTS language plus 5ECTS content), or as individual options (provided the relevant requirements are met, as the case may be). Students are required to check relevant pre-requisites prior to enrolling by contacting Dr Sara Brandellero