• You start this degree directly after completing your bachelor degree in German Language and Culture.
• It is possible to enrol following many different degrees, although you might have to complete a pre-master first. 
• You combine the Master in German with the Teaching Master. You will be challenged to draw connections between the courses at the Faculty of Humanities, and your teaching practice.
• You follow courses within different fields of German Language and Culture (both linguistics and literature).
• Over the course of the two-year degree, you will intern at two different secondary schools. This way, you get acquainted with different types of education.
• You follow the courses of the Teaching Master in Dutch.

• You must first complete the Master in German. After that, you can enrol in the Master Leraar VHO.
• You start with the master in German after you have completed a bachelor degree in (or connected to) German Language and Culture; you might have to complete a pre-master first.
• First, you follow the Master in German, in which you specialise further in a specific field. Then, you focus on learning how to teach within ICLON’s teacher education programme.
• You specialise in one specific field of German Language and Culture.
• During the Master Leraar VHO, you will intern for one year at one secondary school.
• It is possible to combine the Master Leraar VHO with the World Teachers Programme (WTP), a bilingual (Dutch-English) profile.

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

The Master's programme in German Literature and Culture at Leiden University equips you with a range of transferable skills and knowledge that will help you stand out in your future career. Your specialised knowledge is complemented by a broad and contextual understanding as well as critical thinking skills that can be applied to complex conceptual problems. Other skills you may encounter in the various Literary Studies courses are:

• Problem-solving skills
• Oral and written communication
• Creative thinking
• Collaboration
• Argumentation

You have the opportunity to do an internship at an organisation in the Netherlands or abroad. Internships are a great way to gain first-hand experience in your area of interest and deepen your expertise. Organisations that our students have interned at include:

• Royal Library The Hague, Koopman Collection
• Dutch Embassy in Paris
• Royal Brill Editions

Please note that you will need to find your own internship and have to follow an internship procedure for approval. Pursuing an internship may have consequences for the date of your graduation.

The Literary Studies Career Colloquium enables you to actively prepare your future career by providing you with information and inspiration. This programme, specially tailored for Literary Studies students, consists of a series of meetings over the year on your personal profile, academic and practical skills. It includes two career events where you can meet professionals and alumni, in order to clarify your personal career prospects and start building your network.

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!