Arts, Literature and Media (research) (MA)

Career prospects

Where do our graduates work?

As a graduate of the master's programme in Arts, Literature and Media (Research), you are prepared for a career in a wide variety of fields such as museums, galleries, cultural institutions or (art) libraries and archives.

It is also possible to find employment within the publishing and general media sectors, education, in journalism and public relations. You are also in a strong position to enter a top PhD programme and a research-oriented career.

Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:

PhD candidate in English Literature at a European university
Editor in chief for a Dutch arts and culture magazine
Cataloguer of Photography at an art museum
Event Manager for Foundation
PhD candidate in Arts and Culture at an international university
Policy officer at The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations
Assistant academic staff member at a Belgian university
Library staff member at a university library
PhD candidate at a British university
Account manager for books and literature at an antique store
Teaching coordinator at a Dutch university
PhD candidate at a Dutch university
Project officer at an art museum
Project coordinator at an advertising agency
Coordinator/lecturer in art theory and practice at an art academy
Marketing and product manager/assistant at a company producing designer glasses
Project officer at a foundation promoting regional artists
Gallery assistant for modern art at an art school
Auctioneer at an online auction house
Curator at a museum
Collections manager at a natural history museum

The graphs below are based on alumni data from the research programmes of the Faculty of Humanities 2016-2020.

In which sectors do students find jobs?

40 % Research
17 % Education
8 % Government and semi-government organisations
8 % Publishing and the book industry
3 % Communication
3 % Culture, sports and recreation
21 % Miscellaneous

Career preparation

Find out how this programme exactly prepares you for your future career and check our career preparation activities.

With the skills and knowledge you have gained during your master’s programme at Leiden University you will be able to work in a range of professional and academic careers. These include highly sought after skills such as:

to think critically;
the ability to write well;
to organise your work and meet tight deadlines;
to convey meaning precisely;
to research and thoroughly analyse literary and academical texts;
to critically use literary and cultural theory.

The research master’s programme in Arts, Literature and Media at Leiden University aims to equip you with these important skills and knowledge that will help you thrive in your future career. Your specialised knowledge is complemented by a strong, critical-thinking approach to problem-solving that can be applied to even the most complex conceptual problems.

Do you consider to put your knowledge into practice during your studies? Determine whether an internship could be an option for you. Start orientating your possibilities by visiting an internship information session. This way you can receive information about the internship procedure and listen to tips of former interns.
Notice that you will search for an internship yourself to find a place of your interest. Do you need some help with this or the application process? Do not hesitate to contact the Career Service. When you have found an internship, inform us. Then, the internship coordinator advises you how to proceed and provides your internship plan with feedback so it can be submitted for approval to the board of examiners.

Our staff can help you identify both the career that is right for you, and the necessary steps to get you there. Our team at Humanities Career Service provide all Leiden University humanities students with professional advice and guidance on everything from internships and career planning to job applications. Humanities Career Service also organises regular workshops on topics such as effective interview skills and creating a successful CV.

The Humanities Career Service offers you various (online) workshops, webinars and info sessions. Check our overview of career activities.

The Leiden University Career Zone is an online career portal that helps you to prepare for the job market. Here you can find information, tools and tips to help you gain more personal insight, learn about the job market, develop your application skills, plan your academic and professional career, find job vacancies and discover what the Career Service can do for you.

Join the Mentor Network to contact alumni with experience on the labour market and ask them for advice. More than 1200 alumni are happy to help you!

Jelle on finding an internship via Leiden University's Mentor Network

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