Masters Degrees in Middle Eastern Society & Culture Studies, Netherlands

Leiden University’s Master’s in Middle Eastern Studies covers virtually the entire Middle East, both in time and in geography. This is unique for the Netherlands, and extremely rare elsewhere. If you are interested in Middle Eastern languages, literature, religion and history, you will discover that developments in modern times take a central place in the study of these disciplines. On the other hand, it is equally possible for you to explore the classical heritage of Islam for which Leiden is internationally renowned.

Visit the website: http://en.mastersinleiden.nl/programmes/middle-eastern-studies/en/introduction

Course detail

The MA in Middle Eastern Studies exposes you to research covering the history, literature, languages and politics of the Arab, Persian and Turkish world, with special attention for the field of Islamic law, anthropology, philology and the modern Middle East.
You can specialise in one of five different areas, each of which can be further tailored to your field of interest by opting for a particular disciplinary approach, such as linguistics, anthropology, history, literary studies, or the Modern Middle East; or by choosing a particular geographic region, such as Morocco or Central Asia; or alternatively by concentrating on a particular historical period, such as the Middle Ages or the twentieth century.

Format

The staff’s extensive international network will give you opportunities for research abroad at various institutions and universities in the Middle East itself, making the programme even more unique in the Netherlands.

Specialisations

- Arabic Studies

The history of Islam, contemporary developments in the Arab world, Arabic literature, and rich manuscript traditions are your topics of study in Arabic Studies.

- Islamic Studies

You study the rich context of Islamic law and anthropology of the Muslim world from the perspective of the social sciences combined with philology.

- Turkish Studies

If you concentrate on Turkish Studies, you take courses on such topics as Turkish history and Turkey’s relation to Europe, viewed against its transition from the multi-ethnic Ottoman state to a nation state.

- Persian Studies

Persian Studies will focus on courses combining philology with modern history, literature with linguistics, religion with rituals, and visual arts with the rich Persian iconography and visual arts. The scope of the programme extends beyond present-day Iran.

- Modern Middle East Studies

Modern Middle East Studies focuses solely on modern times, as you study the rich cultures, literatures and religions of this strategically important region while examining the Islamic Revolution (1979) in Iran, revolts and revolutions in Arab countries, and political developments in Turkey, Central Asia and Afghanistan.

Careers

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you will be qualified to work in a wide variety of careers requiring specialist language or cultural knowledge. For example, within the diplomatic service, policy-making positions at ministries, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service, positions in the educational sector or NGOs involved in development cooperation projects, but also within international organisations, the cultural tourism or socio-cultural sectors.

How to apply: http://en.mastersinleiden.nl/arrange/admission

Funding

For information regarding funding, please visit the website: http://prospectivestudents.leiden.edu/scholarships

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Leiden University’s Research Master’s in Middle Eastern Studies allows you to focus on a region, such as the Arab world, North Africa, Turkey and the Persian world, or on a discipline, such as history, politics, religion, languages and literature, both regionally and cross-regionally.

http://en.mastersinleiden.nl/programmes/middle-eastern-studies-research/en/introduction

Course detail

Middle Eastern and Islamic studies in Leiden have a justly deserved worldwide reputation. Their breadth and depth are not only unparallelled in the Netherlands, but represent the very best of Middle Eastern and Islam-related research and teaching in Europe and beyond.

The broad expertise of Leiden’s teaching faculty provides opportunities to explore the spectrum of Middle Eastern life and culture, from its Christian communities to Islamists and from the origins of Islam to the living, vibrant present. For those concentrating on Islamic studies, the programme embraces Muslim societies across Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The opportunity to work intensively in primary languages is offered in all tracks, but not demanded.

The programme, while paying special attention to regions and inter-regional relations, draws upon a comparative Area Studies approach. Middle Eastern Studies (research) not only encourages intra-Middle East comparisons, but closely co-operates with Asian Studies (research). This co-operation is institutionalised, for example, through a common introductory course on Area Studies.

Format

Within Middle Eastern Studies, it is possible to focus on:

- Turkish Studies;
- Arabic Studies;
- North African Studies;
- Persian Studies;
- Islam;
- Eastern Christianity;
- Modern Middle East Studies.

It is also possible to combine courses, allowing thus for more flexibility and a wider view on the region.

Careers

The programme prepares you for functions outside of academe in the public or private sector in which advanced research skills and substantial practical research experience are among the qualifications required. This may be in a research agency or research department in a businesses or governmental organisation, or any number of other career opportunities. If you wish to pursue an academic career, the Research Masters Middle Eastern Studies is an excellent preparation for writing a PhD thesis

Positions you could hold after your studies:

- Desk editor at an educational institution
- Editor at a knowledge and inspiration platform
- Editor at a publishing agency
- Librarian / Education Coordinator at the Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo
- Coordinator Study in Holland Desk at Netherlands Institute for Higher Education in Ankara
- Marketing and Communication Associate at Leids Universitair Fonds (Leiden University Fund)
- Photo editor at ANP
- Co-owner of a travel agency
- PhD candidate at Leiden University
- Trainee in Information Management at a recruitment and secondment agency

How to apply: http://en.mastersinleiden.nl/arrange/admission

Funding

For information regarding funding, please visit the website: http://prospectivestudents.leiden.edu/scholarships

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Middle Eastern Studies in Groningen emphasizes current developments in the Middle East. You will study four core themes: history, politics, culture and religion. There are three specializations in the first semester: Conflict, International Organizations, and Research Seminar. The second semester is for internship in the Middle East or for a tutorial. You conclude your studies with writing a Master's thesis.

What do we offer you? Prevailing views about recent conflicts in the Middle East with focus on Jihadism and the war in Syria. Understanding the role of the United Nations and the Arab League in the Middle East. Cultural approaches to the Middle East in film and literature.

Our students are working in ministries and embassies, in businesses and NGOs, in the media and refugee organizations.

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