African Studies (BA)
Career prospects
You’ve completed your degree – you’re now a graduate in African Studies. What’s next? The possibilities are wide open! Many graduates go on to roles that focus on research, analysis or communication. What do you enjoy doing? Your options may be broader than you expect.
Why employers find you interesting
With a degree in African Studies, you have a strong starting position on the job market. In addition to in-depth knowledge of the African continent it’s cultures and societies, you’ve developed academic skills that are highly valued across many sectors. Alumni report that they benefit most from skills such as oral and written communication, independent and solution-oriented working, analytical thinking and the ability to select and process complex information. An internship either in The Netherlands or abroad alongside your studies can further strengthen your profile.
Research among alumni shows that 65% of Area Studies graduates found a job within two months of graduating, and 86% within six months. For 71%, their first job was at higher professional or academic level.
Where can you work after graduating?
After completing your degree, you can work in a wide range of sectors, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Your knowledge of one of the largest continents and your versatile skill set open doors to diverse fields, from government or semi-government and education to financial services and communication and marketing.
Bron: Job market survey 2025 among graduates Area Studies 2020-2024. Career Service Humanities.
Many graduates continue with a master’s degree after their bachelor’s. Further study pays off: those with a master’s degree are more likely to secure higher-level positions.
Graduates at work
A glimpse of workplaces where recent Area Studies graduates have started their careers:
- Policy advisor at several (Dutch) Ministries
- PhD at different research universities
- Social media marketeer at a museum