Hebrew and Aramaic Studies (research) (MA)
Career prospects
Where do our graduates work?
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.
Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates 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
Eelco Glas
Graduated in Hebrew and Aramaic Studies (research master Classics and Ancient Civilisations)
“Presently I am a PhD researcher at the University of Groningen working on a project about the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. My main occupation is of course doing research, but participating in conferences and lecture series, teaching, and organizing various research and student related activities, are also important components of my daily routine.”
Learning so much more
“Of course I have to write a dissertation, and for this I need solid research skills. When I applied as a student for the Research Master in Leiden my main aim was to work on my languages, especially Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. When it comes to the expertise on Semitic languages Leiden is singular in the Netherlands, and for this reason only I would recommend Hebrew and Aramaic Studies. Yet I learned so much more than "just" languages. Working with languages is always a matter of interpretation, a critical stance towards sources and their context, not giving up when things get complicated, and inquiring minor details and meta-questions alike.”
Everyday profit
“Within this master I have acquired the determination and attitude necessary to deliver solid work, something from which I profit every day and from which I will profit in the future, within or outside academia.”
In which sector do students find jobs?
The graphs below are based on alumni data from the (Research) MA Classics and Ancient Civilizations 2016-2020.
- 57 % Education
- 14 % Research
- 10 % Government and semi-government organisations
- 5 % Publishing and the book industry
- 5 % IT
- 5 % Culture, sport and recreation
- 4 % Other
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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