Ancient History (MA)

About the programme

The one-year History specialisation in Ancient History offers an attractive mix of theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

The study programme includes a literature seminar, a research seminar and workshop, an academic skills and thesis preparatory seminar, one or two electives and the final Master's thesis. For a more detailed programme and an overview of all the possible electives, please check the Online Study Guide.

Please bear in mind that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may differ slightly.

Latest knowledge

All courses are taught by academics who are active researchers. The curriculum is regularly updated to reflect contemporary academic debates and the very latest insights. Regular seminars are held presenting students with our researchers' latest findings. Your research thesis is often linked to one of the research projects of our faculty members, who play an active role in every individual's education, acting as mentors and community builders.

Where do our graduates work?

Because of the extensive curriculum and specialisations, the career opportunities after completing the History specialisation in Ancient History are broad. Our graduates have landed jobs in various sectors of the job market, such as research institutes, international organisations, the cultural and recreational sector, and academia. Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:

Researcher at the Centre for People and Buildings
PhD candidate at various universities
Curator at Maritime Museum Rotterdam
Political analyst at a ministry of defence

Programme structure

Literature Seminar, 10 EC
Research Seminar, 10 EC
Research Workshop, 5 EC
Academic Skills and Thesis Seminar, 5 EC
Optional Courses, 10 EC
Thesis and Exam, 20 EC

Learn from the latest research on Roman amulets by PhD Patricia Kret

Research on the Greek and Roman times often focuses on important leaders, writers or politicians. However, PhD student Patricia Kret is more interested in the normal people living in these times, an important line of research at the Ancient History section. Her research focuses on amulets which were often used, for example to cure diseases. Why did people believe so strongly in the power of these amulets? And what did they hoped the amulets would help protect them from? That's what Patricia is hoping to find out. Watch the video (in Dutch) to learn more about her research.

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Detailed programme

Ancient History
Course	EC
Life in a Multicultural Society: Historiographic Debates and Perspectives on Hellenistic Egypt	10
Debating Ancient Slavery	10
Empire and Diversity in the Roman World	10
Religions of the North: Impact of the Roman Empire on Religion in the Northwestern Provinces	10
Material Culture of Ancient Religion	5
Research Workshop: Greek and Latin Epigraphy (5 EC)	5
Academic Skills and Thesis Seminar	5
Academic Skills and Thesis Seminar	5
Research Workshop: Greek and Latin Epigraphy (10 EC)	10
Greek Papyrology	10
MA Thesis History & Final Exam	20

Electives
Course	EC
Objects of Heritage, Archives and Knowledge. Critical Approaches	10
Navigating History: New Perspectives on Maritime History	10
Essential Readings in Economic History	10
Current Debates in Medieval and Early Modern History I	10
Politics, Culture and National Identities, 1789 to the present	10
Circulation of People, Commodities and Ideas in the Indian Ocean World (1500-1800)	10
Literature Seminar Social History	10
Maritime treasures: diving into maritime history	10
The Business of Empire: Colonial and Imperial Entrepreneurship, 1415-1974	10
Political Eloquence in the Netherlands	10
Surinamese Political History: A Special Case of Shared History?	10
Empire and Diversity in the Roman World	10
Global Peace Movements in the Era of Decolonization	10
Thrones, Families, and Power: Dynastic Rule in Medieval and Early Modern Worlds.	10
Gender, Sexuality, Migration Since 1960	10
The Irish Revolution, 1912-1923	10
Dangerous Cities? The Risks of the Urban Environment (1750-2000)	10
New Approaches to the Holocaust in Central and Eastern Europe	10
In or Out? History of Inclusion and Exclusion since 1900	10
Research Workshop: Historical Sources and Questions in the Urban Arena	5
Research Workshop: Newspapers, Public Opinion and the Emergence of Mass Politics	5
Research Workshop: Sources in Global History	5
Stuff: Histories of Material Culture	5
Material Culture of Ancient Religion	5
Research Workshop: Primary Sources from the Third Reich and its Aftermath	5
Writing History in the Age of Mechanically Reproduced Art: The Photographer as Historian	5
Research Workshop: The Atlantic World: Knowledge, Power and Entrepreneurship	5
Debating Ancient Slavery	10
Current Debates in Medieval and Early Modern History II	10
Politics, Culture and National Identities, 1789 to the present	10
Literature Seminar Social History	10
Colonial Citizenship and Empire in Asia, 1780-1900	10
Culture and Conquest: the Impact of the Mongols and their Descendants	10
Arsenal of Democracy?: The United States and the World since 1945	10
Religions of the North: Impact of the Roman Empire on Religion in the Northwestern Provinces	10
Asian Events in Early Modern European Sources	10
Premodern Political Culture in Europe	10
A Life of Crime? Poverty, Illegality, and Making Do in the City, 1800-1930	10
Russia Revisited in War and Revolution (1914-1921)	10
Addressing Authority. The Politics of Petitioning	10
Global Memory Practices Since 1945	10
Research Workshop: Greek and Latin Epigraphy (5 EC)	5
Sources in Intellectual History: Intellectuals and the State in Contemporary Culture Wars	5
Research Workshop: Historical Sources and Questions in the Urban Arena	5
Research Workshop: Sources in Global History	5

Admission and Application

Do you want to find out if you are eligible for this Master's Programme?

Check the entry requirements

Jordi Guardiola Cánaves

Why did Jordi choose to study Ancient History in Leiden?

"One of the reasons for choosing the master’s programme in Ancient History at Leiden University was its long-standing tradition in the study of History."

A social history

"One of the reasons for choosing the master’s programme in Ancient History at Leiden University was its long-standing tradition in the study of History (the most used epigraphic system around the world is called Leiden Conventions). Moreover, I fell in love with the city as soon as I arrived. Nonetheless, what appealed to me most was the content of the courses, which focus on social history and the history of mentalities and religions, with a special interest in anthropological issues."

Methodologically effective

"I really liked how the courses were organised. They all revolved around the students’ exposition and discussion of the recommended texts, always with the guidance of the professors. I felt that this method enhanced our critical thinking and improved our presentation skills. I also valued the high level of autonomy and flexibility of the courses, which allowed me to combine the whole master’s programme with a part-time job in an international school."

Abilities to apply

"I intend to pursue a career in education. The master’s programme at Leiden University has made me realise how important it is for students to talk about History and to know that we can always reshape how we think about the past. Not only that, it has provided me with the confidence and independence to research and apply new techniques that may improve the quality of the learning process."

Liesbeth Claes

University Lecturer

"Ancient History in Leiden is focused on transformations of societies and empires in the Greco-Roman world, from Alexander the Great until the late Roman Empire. Our research programme has two major research lines: the history of mentality and religion of the Greco-Roman world and its social and economic history. All our courses are in one way or another linked to these research lines. Furthermore, we take pride in our strong emphasis on documentary sources, such as inscriptions, papyri, coinage and legal texts."