History, Arts and Culture of Asia (MA) (60EC)
Career prospects
Where do our graduates work?
Your expertise in Asia will qualify you for jobs in a variety of fields where there is demand for expertise in Asia, including journalism, publishing, international trade, marketing, business, public relations, education, development aid, and in government, non-profit and international organisations.
Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:
- Assistant curator at a Singaporean museum
- Curator at an art museum
- Account manager at a translation agency
- Communications officer at an animation studio in Japan
- Editor at an academic publishing house
- Content editor at a booking website
- International Relations officer at a Dutch University
- Archivist at a municipality
Roshny Kohabir
Graduated in MA History, Arts and Culture of Asia (MA Asian Studies)
"The MA Asian Studies helped me to further develop and deepen various skills such as written and oral communication and presenting research results. Creativity and an open mind were a necessity when it came to creating a critical and analytical view during the process. I obtained these skills as a recent Humanities graduate, and used them during my activities as a writer for tender applications. Of course they will be of great use for my future career. As a very recent graduate of the Master’s program Asian Studies, I immediately began my search for a job opportunity that formed a connection between my passions and my skills."
Humanities skills
"After graduating the BA International Studies, I started the MA Asian Studies program. My choice was an easy and a logical one, I simply wished to dive in to South Asia more than I did during my Bachelors. It was the best choice I could have made. I grew, developed skills, obtained in-depth knowledge on diverse subjects, joined field trips and I had the opportunity to create my own program through the generous amount of electives and freedom."
Thesis vs. Passions
"My true passion I discovered during my academic career; “misunderstood Asian Art and traditions.” I wrote my thesis by reading numerous ancient Hindu literature books, and connecting various phenomena to contemporary affairs. I praise the University for its large library and collections. Without those collections my education and the process of writing my thesis would not have been the same."
Lisette Atsma
Frontend developer
"After graduating, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I did all kinds of jobs to earn money. I hadn’t even considered earning my living in IT as an option until I saw friends getting jobs in the sector without specific training in the field. A friend worked at Sogeti and I decided I would also give it a try. I applied for a young professional position and was hired as a test engineer."
Skills I learned at Leiden University
"Asking critical questions is definitely something. But above all, I learned how to learn. At high school, everything came to me pretty easily, but at university, I really had to buckle down. Now that I’m studying again in addition to my work, I can use these study skills very well. I meet lots of people, mainly because I am always working at different companies. The work is creative and my background knowledge of both writing and graphic aspects is widely deployed. I have a good eye for detail, which means I can sometimes surprise people with the things I notice. That is of course nice as well."
In which sector do students find jobs?
- 38 % Art and culture
- 38 % Education
- 13 % Governement and semi-government
- 13 % Non-profit
This graph is based on alumni data from the MA History, Arts and Culture of Asia 2020 through 2024.
Career preparation
Find out how this programme exactly prepares you for your future career and check our career preparation activities.
Launch your career with a master’s degree
Continuing your studies after your bachelor's degree pays off. Graduates with a master's degree are more likely to find higher-level positions: 77% start at a university of applied sciences (hbo) or university level, compared to 63% of graduates who only hold a bachelor's degree. This difference remains visible in the long term. After more than two years of work experience, 87% of master's alumni work at a university of applied sciences or university level, compared to 76% of bachelor's alumni.
A unique strength on the job market
As a Humanities graduate, you have developed talents that are in high demand on the job market. Intercultural skills, written communication, and social awareness are qualities that clearly distinguish Humanities graduates on the job market. Your ability to think analytically and creatively also gives you an edge.
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 the Humanities Career Service provides 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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