Egyptology (research) (MA)
Career prospects
Our graduates end up working in a diverse range of positions, examples include:
- PhD candidate at Dutch and international universities
- Project assistant at a Dutch city council
- Research assistant at a university
- Curator at a museum
- Policy officer at a ministry
- Communications officer
- Programme manager
- Teacher of classical languages at a secondary school
Your qualifications
As a graduate of a Classics and Ancient Civilizations (Research) programme at Leiden University you are qualified to work as a junior academic researcher in an academic environment or carry out further research work on a PhD programme. It is also possible to find employment within the fields of publishing or teaching, at policy-making departments of governmental bodies, within the education sector, or within cultural tourism.
The graphs below are based on alumni data from the (Research) MA Classics and Ancient Civilizations 2016-2020.
In which sector do students find jobs?
- 57 % Education
- 14 % Research
- 10 % Government and semi-government organisations
- 5 % Publishing and the book industry
- 5 % IT
- 5 % Culture, sports and recreation
- 4 % Other
Filippo Mi
Graduated in Egyptology (research)
“Ever since I had memory, I always wanted to be an Egyptologist. I understood very soon that a solid and dedicated education was necessary to realize my goal. The programme at Leiden University was perfect for my educational needs: thanks to a team of renowned and esteemed Egyptologists, it covers all phases of Egyptian history, spanning from the Predynastic to the Coptic Period; other very specific courses, like Egyptian Epigraphy, taught me essential skills to be applied on the field and helped me to discover my niche in the vast panorama of the Egyptological world.“
“After my Master, I am still pursuing the Egyptological career with a PhD. at the University of Strasbourg (France). Furthermore, I collaborate as a field archaeologist with several archaeological projects all over Egypt. I have always been interested in the perception that ancient people had of the surrounding architecture, and I am now researching the way buildings influenced each other in the organization of space. I started my research with full awareness of the difficulties and challenges that a doctoral path presents and I am convinced that without the solid education I received in Leiden I would not have been able to be academically mature.”
Academic and communicative skills
“Studying Egyptology in Leiden has not only offered me the skills to be a good researcher. It also offered me the opportunity to learn how to communicate and share my research with the academic community. Leiden is a crossroad, where scholars always stop by. They are always invited to share and present their ongoing research, and this made me quickly realize that communication is an essential aspect: a research cannot be completely understood and appreciated if the researcher is not able to present it in an engaging and professional way.”
Career preparation
Find out how this programme exactly prepares you for your future career and check our career preparation activities.
The development of in-depth knowledge in the field and the ability to think critically and analytically are key goals of this programme. The Classics and Ancient Civilizations (research) programme introduces you to the concepts and academic approaches current in Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, including disciplines such as: linguistics, history, religious studies or material culture studies. You will learn to use these concepts and approaches in researching and analysing source material. Your thesis gives you the opportunity to apply these methods in your own research.
We also provide opportunities for students to broaden their experience and professional skills in preparation to excel early in their chosen career. Many of our students choose to do an internship during their study. Internships are a great way to gain invaluable first-hand experience in your area of interest before you decide on making it a career. Our students have done internships at, among others:
- the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities;
- the Netherlands Institute of the Near East (NINO);
- LeidenGlobal;
- at Leiden University;
- or have taken part in the international excavation project on the Lake of Galilee.
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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