Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory (MA)

The master in Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory at Leiden University focuses on the study of literature from a comparative and theoretical perspective, with a special emphasis on literary movements and genres of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. It covers a wide range of languages and cultures from around the world.

Part of

Media Studies (MA)

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Why study Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory at Leiden University?

Offering a wide and diverse array of courses, this intercultural and intermedial master’s programme is not limited to the study of literature within one language or culture but covers languages and cultures from various parts of the world. This transnational and interdisciplinary outlook is an aspect which the programme shares with the MA Literary Studies track Literature in Society. However, it differs from the latter in two respects:

It studies literary texts within a broader cultural context and from an intercultural and intermedial perspective;
While recognizing the need to historicize its object, it puts emphasis on theoretical approaches to the study of literary artefacts.

Through its theoretical approach the programme is also closely related to the two-year Research MA in Arts, Literature and Media; consequently, many of our courses are crosslisted. An important difference with this ResMA programme is that the scope of our one-year curriculum generally does not allow for an integrated internship or semester abroad. These options are, however, open to those able and willing to extend their studies with us for a third semester.

The four main themes of this programme are:

Cultural Theory, with a special focus on literary theory
Comparative Literature
Interculturality (cross-cultural approach)
Intermediality (cross-mediatic approach)

The programme allows you to exchange at least one course in the curriculum for a course offered by related Leiden programmes or other Dutch universities.

Learn more about the study programme

Study at an international centre of expertise

Leiden University is an internationally-recognised centre for the study of the humanities. You learn from leading scholars in the field of literary and cultural theory and access the unique and world famous resources and facilities of the Leiden University Library.

Admission and Application

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Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory degree

Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory at Leiden University is an accredited degree programme. After successful completion of this programme, you will receive a master’s degree in Media Studies and the title Master of Arts (MA).

Find out more about the career prospects

In which sector do students find jobs?

19 Media and journalism
16 Communication and marketing
11 Culture, sports and recreation
10 Education
6 Government and semi-government
6 Information management
6 Publishing
5 IT
5 Wholesale and retail
3 Non profit organizations
13 Other

The graph above is based on alumni data from the MA in Media Studies 2016-2020.

Introduction to the MA Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory

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