The master in Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory at Leiden University studies contemporary literature and culture (art, cinema, pop music) from a theoretical, critical perspective, with special emphases on approaches developed in cultural and literary studies, feminist theory, phenomenology and eco criticism. Special attention is paid to interculturality and diversity, popular culture, and discussions about the relation between culture, the political and dilemmas of justice.
Why study Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory at Leiden University?
Offering a wide and diverse array of courses, this master specialisation studies literature and culture within a theoretical and critical framework. By reading literary texts and cultural artifacts (including cinema, visual arts, and popular music) in combination with critical, theoretical and philosophical texts, we reflect on the relations between culture and politics, literature and justice, identity and the body, and on questions about the globalization of culture, the posthuman and the popular. A special emphasis is given to questions of sexuality, diversity and inclusion.
Alumni of the master's programme in Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory are employed in a wide range of fields. Our graduates have taken roles within public relations, journalism, in translation agencies, or as copywriters, correctors, education-centre directors, policy makers in city councils and ministries, cultural representatives, art editors for newspapers, librarians or editors at publishing houses. You will also be qualified to continue in academic research and could apply for a PhD programme.
Leiden University offers ambitious students a world-class environment in which to reach their potential.
A top-ranked university
Leiden University's Faculty of Humanities is consistently ranked among the top 30 Humanities faculties worldwide in the THE World University Ranking. At Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands, learning incorporates the latest research and resources found nowhere else in the world, such as those of the famous Leiden University Library and its collections of original manuscripts, periodicals, and photos.
An ideal location for the study of media
Leiden University offers you an excellent location from which to explore and study media. Our location close to the major European cities of The Hague, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels and London, brings you within easy reach of some of Europe’s most famous museums, galleries and exhibitions.
A head-start to your career
Our reputation as a centre of excellence means that your qualification is respected by organisations worldwide. Graduates of the Master’s programme in Media Studies enjoy successful careers thanks to their mix of in-depth, interdisciplinary knowledge and relevant professional experience.
Access to the Humanities Hub labs
As a Humanities master’s student you will have access to the Humanities Hub which comprises labs with digital facilities for both students and researchers. The labs include an AI Lab, Media lab, film studio and podcast studio and give you the opportunity to develop your digital and media skills within the field of the humanities. Check the Humanities Hub page for a full list of all the labs and facilities.
Humanities Hub Leiden
Diversity and inclusion
We are convinced that our education can only flourish if everyone within the programme feels supported, respected and empowered to do their best work. We find it important to offer a learning environment that allows for different perspectives and points of view that students bring with them, depending on their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, health, religion, age or socio-economic background. Every new generation sees the world from a new perspective – and our students are the newest generation. We look forward to hearing more about your perspective. Leiden University has been pursuing diversity policy since 2014, with the aim of creating a diverse and inclusive learning and working environment for all staff and students.
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The one-year master in Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory offers you the choice of four themes and a wide array of study options.
Programme overview
The programme consists of four fields of study which are outlined below.
Critical Theory and Literary Theory studies a wide range of theoretical approaches to literature and culture, which challenge and enrich the ways in which cultural objects are viewed. You will discuss cultural objects from a critical standpoint and bring them in dialogue with concepts and ideas developed in aesthetics, phenomenology, feminist and queer theory, cultural studies, ecocriticism, posthuman and decolonial studies.
Interculturality, Diversity and Inclusion begins from the standpoint that the world is composed of intercultural meetings, where each cultural self seems to be created in response to others. If literature was once studied as the privileged medium for the creation of a national self, today scholars often focus on the way in which literature articulates emerging trans-national, intercultural and migrant identities. The theoretical component of the programme is dedicated to a comparative discussion of the key-concepts, theories and methodologies developed to analyse the literature of modernity, (post-)colonialism, gender, and globalisation. You will follow a variety of courses which will illuminate the genealogy of these concepts and approaches, tracing both their origins in specific cultural and political contexts, and their trans-national, intercultural trajectories.
Literature, Politics and the Law, studies how literature (and culture in the larger sense of the term) has responded to the legal dilemmas and political crises of our time. By studying cultural texts about the ongoing ecological disaster, the refugee crisis, or the transformations of capitalism, we discuss how literature and the arts can help develop new modes of thinking about these issues. By reading literary texts, theatrical plays and films that respond to legal debates and historical trials we discuss culture as a terrain in which dilemmas of justice are dramatized and new conceptualizations of justice are introduced.
Popular Culture and Critical Theory studies various critical approaches to popular music and explores the ways in which pop music has introduced new ideas about identity, creativity, the body, collectivity, pleasure and consumption.
Course overview
For a detailed programme, please check the Prospectus.
Please note that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may slightly differ.
Admission and application
Do you want to find out if you are eligible for this Master's Programme?
Get the most out of your studies at Leiden University by taking part in our extracurricular activities.
Community building
Throughout the year, the Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory programme organises activities to encourage community building. Examples include excursions to museums and exhibitions, learning to use a real printing press. Teaching generally takes the form of small-scale seminars and tutorials, in which lively and engaging discussions are encouraged. Small classes allow for plenty of contact between you and your lecturers and fellow students, ensuring you get the most from this educational opportunity.
Leiden Leadership Programme
Are you interested in developing your leadership potential? The Leiden Leadership Programme (LLP) is an Honours Programme specifically developed for ambitious master's students at Leiden University and the Delft University of Technology who recognise the importance of leadership abilities. The LLP offers in-depth training sessions, assessments, seminars, and the creation of a Personal Leadership Roadmap – a five-year plan for reaching and developing your leadership potential.
Study at the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts
The Academy of the Creative and Performing Arts (ACPA) is a research institute and part of the Faculty of Humanities. The ACPA offers education such as electives, and talent programmes such as the Practicum Artium (PA), which gives you the opportunity to study photography, graphic design or drawing, and the Practicum Musicae at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague, where you can study classical music, singing, early music or jazz. Find out more about ACPA.
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Maria Boletsi is Associate Professor at the Film and Literary Studies Department of Leiden University. Maria’s research is situated in comparative literature, literary and cultural theory, conceptual history, Modern Greek literature and culture, English, Dutch, and postcolonial literature. View her full profile here.
Dr. Y. Horsman
Yasco Horsman is a University Lecturer at the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society. He is currently working on a book on Radio and Modernism and collecting notes for a genealogy of the “funny animal” figure in early animation and comic strips. View his full profile here.
Dr. T. Hui
Tingting Hui is an Assistant Professor at Leiden University’s Centre for the Arts in Society. Her research explores and disentangles the relationship between language and body by studying heoretical, philosophical, and literary texts that dramatize or reflect on the implications of speaking with an accent. View her full profile here.
Dr. L. van Kessel
Looi van Kessel is a University Lecturer at Leiden University. His primary area of interest is in postwar American literature, and especially the treatment of deviant sexuality in this period. His modes of inquiry cross through several disciplines, such as queer studies, genre studies, discourse analysis and legal theory. View his full profile here.
Prof. Dr. N. Lawtoo
Nidesh Lawtoo is Professor of Modern and Contemporary European Literature and Culture at Leiden University. Nidesh’s areas of interest include philosophy and literature, European modernism, subject formation, Nietzsche and his legacy, science fiction film, political theory, poststructuralism, posthumanism, and environmental studies. View his full profile here.
Dr. M. Peters
Mathijs Peters is a University Lecturer at Leiden University. His research focuses on philosophy, phenomenology, critical and popular music. View his full profile here.
Dr. A.L.B. van Weyenberg
Astrid van Weyenberg is an University Lecturer at the Centre for the Arts in Society. At present, she is researching the constructions of Europe as a narrative in European cultural projects. She seeks to analyze what stories of and for Europe cultural projects construct and what political implications a close reading of these stories reveals. View her full profile here.
Alumni of the master's programme in Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory are employed in a wide range of fields. Our graduates have taken roles within public relations, journalism, in translation agencies, or as copywriters, correctors, education-centre directors, policy makers in city councils and ministries, cultural representatives, art editors for newspapers, librarians or editors at publishing houses. You will also be qualified to continue in academic research and could apply for a PhD programme.
Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:
Project manager at a translation agency
Content manager and web editor at a translation agency
Freelance writer and editor
PhD candidate at Leiden University
Recruitment officer at a headhunting agency
Policy advisor at a Dutch university
Foreign rights manager at a publishing house
Journalist at a press company
Laura van Gelder
Graduated in Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory (MA Media Studies)
"I’m on the writing team of satirical platform De Speld and I work as an international editor for Univers, the independent newspaper of Tilburg University. I write satire, news articles and background stories. On my day off, I work on my doctoral thesis as an external PhD student at Leiden University."
Curiosity is one of my strongest allies
"All three of my current ‘gigs’ require me to spend a lot of time reading and writing. If anything can prepare you for that, it’s a master’s track in comparative literature studies. But more importantly, my work requires an analytical mind. I’d say that curiosity is one of my strongest allies. I have to be able to interpret texts of different forms and contexts, and I have to be able to engage creatively with those texts. Studying literature helped develop my personality in a more analytical and inquisitive one, which I benefit from on a daily basis."
A strong foundation
"I chose this programme because I was interested in art, literature and philosophy. Having no formal training in these disciplines, it was quite a challenge for me at first to read the dense philosophical writings of thinkers like Jacques Derrida and Judith Butler. But I genuinely enjoyed the reading sessions, the discussions, and the essay-writing. I developed a particular interest in concepts of cultural memory and collective identity, which became the focus of my master’s thesis, and, later, of my PhD thesis. The master’s programme has been instrumental in kindling my interest in the field of memory studies, and provided me with a strong foundation which I continue to build on today - in more ways than one."
Joost Damen
Graduated in Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory (MA Media Studies); currently works at the Special Collections at Leiden University Library
“I cherish the things I've learned in this master’s; the various concepts and methods I've been taught here have helped me to better understand literature, arts and culture. In addition, they have been of great help to me in recent forays into critical economics and philosophy. And lastly, the programme has brought me friends from around the world!”
Suzanne Oskam
Graduated in Modern European Philosophy (MA Philosophy) and Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory (MA Media Studies)
"From a young age, I have been captivated by the power of stories as conduits for conveying profound philosophical reflections. Driven by my lifelong aspiration to make a positive impact on the world through storytelling, I pursued two Master’s degrees simultaneously: Philosophy and Media Studies. The combination of these disciplines provided me with a holistic understanding that allows me to approach complex issues with depth and breadth."
Ph.D. Research After my Masters, I chose to pursue a Ph.D. My research focuses on the evolution of literature and reading skills in the age of digital media, blending philosophy with literary theory to examine contemporary cultural dynamics.
Alongside my Ph.D journey, I found a meaningful professional outlet at a company dedicated to supporting cognitively talented youth. This role allows me to leverage my academic and creative skills to contribute to a more equitable future for education.
Memories of Cyclus Finally, as a writer, the critical eye cultivated through my studies has equipped me with the ability to delve into more nuanced and intricate explorations of the human condition. This has proven invaluable to the development of my magnum opus, the cosmic epic Memories of Cyclus.
My academic journey continues to shape my understanding and my capacity to meaningfully contribute.
In which sector do students find jobs?
The graphs below are based on alumni data from the MA in Media Studies 2016-2020.
19 %Media and journalism
16 %Communication and marketing
11 %Culture, sports and recreation
10 %Education
6 %Government and semi-government organisations
6 %Information management
6 %Publishing
5 %IT
5 %Wholesale and retail
3 %Non-profit organizations
13 %Other
Career preparation
Find out how this programme exactly prepares you for your future career and check our career preparation activities.
The master in Media Studies at Leiden University aims to equip you with a range of important skills and knowledge that will help you thrive in your future career. Your specialised expertise is complemented by vocational skills and the ability to apply multidisciplinary, critical-thinking skills to solve even the most complex conceptual problems.
Do you consider to put your knowledge into practice during your studies? Determine whether an internship could be an option for you. Start orientating your possibilities by visiting an internship information session. This way you can receive information about the internship procedure and listen to tips of former interns.
Notice that you will search for an internship yourself to find a place of your interest. Do you need some help with this or the application process? Do not hesitate to contact the Career Service. When you have found an internship, inform us. Then, the internship coordinator advises you how to proceed and provides your internship plan with feedback so it can be submitted for approval to the board of examiners.
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 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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Find out how to apply for Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory at Leiden University by following our step-by step guide.
This specialisation is part of the MA in Media Studies. If you would like to apply to this programme please first select the research MA Media Studies (CROHO code: 60830) in Studielink and then select Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory.
This specialisation is part of the MA in Media Studies. If you would like to apply to this programme please first select the research MA Media Studies (CROHO code: 60830) in Studielink and then select your specialisation.
Step-by step guide
This guide clearly explains the steps you need to take to apply, and the subsequent admission process.
To be eligible for Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory at Leiden University, you must meet the following admission requirements.
Diploma requirements
You are eligible to apply for the MA Media studies: Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory if you have:
A bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university (in the specialisation) in Film and Literary Studies: Literary Studies; or
A bachelor’s degree from a research university, equivalent to the level of a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree; and
Elementary knowledge of the foundations of cultural analysis, literature and theory; and
A broader theoretical and historical focus on the literary phenomenon as part of the cultural domain in general; and
Analytical skills to produce adequate close readings of literary texts and other cultural artefacts.
The Board of Admissions will assess whether your degree and background are sufficiently related to the level and content of a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university in Film and Literary Studies: Literary Studies on the basis of the requirements specified above.
Students with a Bachelor in Film and Literary Studies: Literary Studies from Leiden University are directly eligible for admission. Students can apply in Studielink. There is no need to submit an application for admission using the online application portal.
If you have a related bachelor’s degree from a research university that does not meet the requirements specified above, you may be eligible for the 60 EC pre-master’s programme. After submitting your application in Studielink, the Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be directly admitted to the master’s programme or whether you will first need to complete a pre-master’s programme. It is not possible to apply for a pre-master’s programme directly. Once you have completed the imposed pre-master’s programme, you will be admitted to the relevant specialisation of the Master’s programme. Read more about the pre-master’s programme.
If you have a Bachelor’s degree in a related field from a university of applied sciences, equivalent to the level of a Dutch hbo bachelor’s degree, the Board of Admissions may impose the 60 EC pre-master’s programme. Read more about the pre-master’s programme.
Language requirements
The following requirements apply*:
IELTS Academic modules only, on paper or on computer: 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 for each separate component score.
We do not accept IELTS General Training, IELTS Indicator, or IELTS One Skill Retake
TOEFL internet based: 90 overall, with at least 20 for each separate component.
We are not able to accept The TOEFL IBT Home Edition™, except in the following situation only:
You are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres are inaccessible or closed due to unsafe conditions in a country.
We do not accept the following types of test: TOEFL My Best™ scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials™ or institutional tests such as ITP.
Cambridge English Exam C2 Proficiency, or C1 Advanced (180), with a minimum score of 169 for each separate component.
Note that English test results may not be more than two years old and must be obtained in one single test.
*You do not have to submit an English proficiency test if you have completed your education in the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada) Singapore, South-Africa or Malta; or if you have obtained an English-taught International Baccalaureate™; or if you have completed a Dutch VWO diploma or an English-taught bachelor at a Dutch research university or (for September intake) a diploma of an English-taught higher professional education (hbo) programme completed at a Dutch university of applied sciences.
For detailed information, including exemption criteria and methods of submission, refer to English language proficiency.
Applicants who need a visa or residence permit or need to extend their residence permit must apply for admission before 1 April.
All other applicants must apply for admission before 15 May.
Please note: You must submit your application via Studielink and Leiden University’s application system (uSis), before the deadlines mentioned above.
Other deadlines
Leiden University reserves a limited number of rooms each year for international students. However, as the number of housing requests always greatly exceeds the number of rooms available, we strongly recommend that you also look into other housing options at the same time. Read more about how and when to arrange housing. If you want to request accommodation via Leiden University, submit both your application for admission and your housing request well before the deadlines! Accommodation is offered on a first-come first-served basis and is not guaranteed. You don’t have to await admission before requesting housing.
If you want to apply for a scholarship, grant or loan, please bear in mind that different deadlines apply, and these deadlines can often be earlier. Deadlines vary per scholarship. Visit the scholarship website for more details.
When you apply for admission, you’ll be asked to submit several documents.
Note: If you have a Dutch diploma that grants direct admission, you will generally not be asked to submit additional documents.
Required application documents
You’ll need to submit the following documents:
You can apply for admission before receiving the results of your English language test. However, a sufficient result will then be a condition of your eventual admission. Of course, if you already have your English language test results, you can upload them directly.
Digital copies of diplomas and transcripts are initially required. Once you have been admitted, we will inform you how to submit certified copies.
The documents must be in the original language. If they are not in English, Dutch, German or French, they must be accompanied by official translations into one of these languages.
If you have not yet completed your current programme, state your expected graduation date and submit copies of all transcripts obtained to date plus a list of subjects still to be completed.
Additional requirements specific to Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory
You are required to upload additional information: 1) about your acquired knowledge, understanding and skills in the field of the Master’s programme you are applying for and 2) about your acquired general academic skills. You can upload this format Questionnaire Master Application.
You can check the programme specific requirements regarding knowledge, understanding and skills on the Admission Requirements page.
The format includes the list of general academic skills which the candidate must possess in order to be admitted to the Master’s programme at the Faculty of Humanities.
The application procedure is broken down into three parts.
Part 1. Application in Studielink
All students applying for a degree programme at Leiden University must start the application process in Studielink, the national online registration system for students wishing to follow a degree programme at a Dutch university. Studielink is open for applications from 1 October in the year preceding the academic year in which you wish to start.
1. Go toStudielink and enter your details according to the instructions provided. For this step you will need:
a copy of your valid passport or European ID card, or
Be aware! If you wish to apply for a specialisation of a master's programme: first select the master’s programme in Studielink, then select the specialisation for which you wish to apply in Step 4 (Institutional Questions) in Studielink.
2. Within two days you will receive:
an email with information on the next steps you'll need to take;
your university ULCN student account details (unless, of course, you already have a ULCN account)
the link to Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis)
After receiving your ULCN student account details, log into Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis), using the link provided. Here you can view the status of your application, which will be one of two possibilities.
1. You can be directly admitted
If your (Dutch) diploma grants you direct admission, Leiden University's online application portal (uSis) will let you know. The portal provides an overview of what you have to do to complete your application, for example arranging housing, scholarships, applying for a visa/residence permit and insurances. Please follow the instructions carefully and proceed to step 3 Student registration.
2. You cannot be directly admitted: additional action is required
If you do not have a (Dutch) diploma that grants you direct admission, we will require additional documents to allow us to decide about your application. The online application portal (uSis) will tell you this and explain how to do so. See also Part 2: Admission to Leiden University.
Part 2. Admission to Leiden University
If you cannot be directly admitted, you must apply for admission via Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis). Please follow all steps below.
In our online application portal (uSis) you can finalise your application by uploading the necessary documents and answering a few questions. This portal provides an overview of what you need to do to complete your admission application. Please follow the instructions carefully and make sure to include all the items that are asked for. We strongly recommend that you complete your application well in advance of the application deadline.
All applicants with an international degree must pay a non-refundable €100 application fee, which entitles you to apply for up to three programmes/specialisations in the same academic year. We cannot start processing your application until we receive this application fee, so please pay it as soon as possible. The online application system explains how you can pay it.
Can I be exempted from paying the application fee? You do not have to pay the application fee if:
You are following, or have completed, a bachelor’s degree at a Dutch university (of applied sciences).
You have previously registered as an exchange, bachelor’s, master’s or pre-master’s student at Leiden University.
You have previously been admitted to the same degree programme at Leiden University, but you decided to postpone your studies. This does not apply if you are applying for a different study programme or specialisation.
You have refugee status in the Netherlands (with a residence permit for asylum).
Exemptions cannot be granted for any other reasons.
After you have submitted your application, the online application portal (uSis) will, if applicable, ask you if you want to apply for student housing, a visa/residence permit or a scholarship. Be sure to make a careful note of the relevant deadlines for these options.
After receiving your application fee payment (if applicable), the Admissions Office will check whether all the necessary documents have been uploaded and they will inform you by email whether any further items are required. The Board of Admissions of the faculty will then:
decide whether you meet the admission requirements for the programme;
strive to issue a decision on your completed application within four to six weeks of the University receiving it.
Once a decision has been reached you will be informed by email. You can view your admission status in the online application portal (uSis).
There are three possible outcomes:
You are admitted
You have met all conditions for admission.
You are conditionally admitted
You will be admitted, provided that you meet certain conditions. These conditions will be specified in the online application portal (uSis).
You are not admitted
The reason(s) for non-admission will be clearly stated in the online application portal (uSis). If you are informed that you have been (conditionally) admitted, you will have to take a number of additional steps.
If you are (conditionally) admitted, the Admissions Office will ask you to confirm whether you will join the study programme. You can do so in the online application portal (uSis).
1. Go to ‘Application study programme’ in the online application portal (uSis).
2. Open the ‘Confirm’ screen. Here you will see three options:
Yes, I want to study at Leiden University.
No, I no longer wish to study at Leiden University and hereby withdraw my application.
Maybe later; I do not wish to start this semester/academic year. I would like to receive further instructions by email.
The sooner the better
Confirm attendance as soon as possible, to avoid missing other important deadlines and information about your study programme.
Changing your mind
You can still change your mind if necessary, either in uSis or by contacting the Admissions Office master team.
Deadline final decision
Do you need a student visa or residence permit? You can only request one after confirming attendance. So make sure to confirm attendance before the visa/residence permit deadline.
If you don’t need a visa or residence permit, the latest deadline for confirming attendance is before the start date of your study programme.
Part 3. Student registration
If you’ve been (conditionally) admitted, follow these steps to register as a student at Leiden University:
Check in the online application portal (uSis) whether you need to submit any documents to meet the conditions of your admission. Instructions on how to do so will be provided in uSis.
Arrange the payment of your tuition fee before the official start date of your programme. You will receive instructions and information on the available payment methods by email.
If you are an international student, go to the Prepare your stay page of our website for information about the practical matters you should take care of before and upon arrival. These include, for example, arranging housing, scholarships, applying for a visa/residence permit and insurances.
The pre-master's is a bridging programme for students who have applied for the MA Media Studies, but who, according to the Board of Admissions, still have deficiencies in their educational background. Once you have completed the pre-master’s programme, you will be admitted to the relevant specialization of the Master’s programme.
Diploma requirements
students with a Bachelor’s degree in a related field from a university of applied sciences, equivalent to the level of a Dutch HBO bachelor’s degree
students with a related bachelor’s degree from a research university, equivalent to the level of a Dutch academic bachelor’s degree, who do not fulfil the entry requirements as specified for the master programme.
Applicants with a Dutch university of applied sciences bachelor’s degree (HBO) or those with a comparable degree, can expect, if considered eligible, to be assigned the full 60 EC pre-master programme.
English language requirements
The English language requirements for a pre-master's programme are identical to the language requirements for the master's programme for which admission has been requested. These requirements must be met before the start of the pre-master.
Application procedure pre-master programme
In order to apply for the pre-master programme, you must first apply for the master’s programme.
After submitting your application for the master programme in Studielink, the Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be directly admitted to the master’s programme, whether you will first need to complete a pre-master’s programme, or if you’re not eligible for either programme because the deficiencies are too extensive.
Students who have been offered a pre-master programme, will find the procedure for the registration into the pre-master programme stated on their admission statement.
Start date
This pre-master offers 1 intake: September.
More information
For more information on the content of the pre-master programme, see the Prospectus. Search for “Cultural Analysis: Literature and Theory pre-master”. The programme prospectus of the pre-master has a yearly update for the upcoming academic year in June.
The tuition fee for this programme is €2,530 for the academic year 2024-2025 (statutory fee) and €2,601 for the academic year 2025-2026 (statutory fee).
This tuition fee applies if this is your first master’s programme and you are a national of one of the following countries:
Austria
Latvia
Belgium
Liechtenstein
Bulgaria
Lithuania
Croatia
Luxembourg
Cyprus
Malta
Czech Republic
Norway
Denmark
Poland
Estonia
Portugal
Finland
Romania
France
Slovakia
Germany
Slovenia
Greece
Spain
Hungary
Suriname
Iceland
Sweden
Ireland
Switzerland
Italy
The fee applies for both full-time and part-time study.
The tuition fee for this programme is €20,900 for the academic year 2024-2025 (institutional tuition fee) and €21,600 for the academic year 2025-2026 (institutional tuition fee).
If you are not a national of an EEA country, Suriname or Switzerland, generally speaking you will have to pay an institutional tuition fee. This fee applies for both full-time and part-time study.
However, if, on the basis of your Dutch residence permit, you are eligible for student finance from the Dutch education agency (DUO) you are entitled to pay the statutory tuition fee. Information on qualifying residence permits can be found at the DUO website.
Only applicable to EU/EEA, Swiss and Surinamese nationals.
The tuition fee for this programme is €16,300 for the academic year 2024-2025 (institutional tuition fee) and €16,600 for the academic year 2025-2026 (institutional tuition fee).
If you are following a second Dutch master’s programme you will generally have to pay an institutional tuition fee that is higher than the statutory tuition fee.
Exceptions
In some cases, nationals of EEA countries, Suriname or Switzerland may be permitted to pay tuition fees set at the same amount as the statutory tuition fee for their second degree programme.
Legal transitional arrangement for second bachelor's or master's degree: student pays the statutory tuition fee when:
Student has already obtained a bachelor's or master's degree but is starting a programme in the field of education or healthcare for the first time.
The student has already started a second bachelor's or master's programme before the first programme was completed and remains registered for it uninterruptedly.
Institutional transitional arrangement for a second bachelor's or master's degree: student pays the institutional tuition fee equal to the statutory rate) when:
Student has already obtained a bachelor's or master's degree, but is starting a teacher training programme.
After completing a bachelor's or master's degree at Leiden University, a student will subsequently start a second programme (in academic years).
Are you unsure which tuition fee applies to you? Consult our Tuition Fee Calculator.
Tuition fee if the pre-master's or conversion programme has less than 60 study credits (EC)
2024-2025
2025-2026
€42,17 per EC
€43,35 per EC
If the pre-master's or conversion programme has 60 study credits or more, you pay the statutory tuition fee of that college year.
Scholarships, grants and loans
Leiden University offers a wide range of scholarships for students from specific regions of the world, or for specific programmes. Leiden University also offers the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS), a programme specifically designed for non-EU/EEA students enrolling in a master’s programme. Find out more about scholarships, grants, loans and deadlines
If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss national and under 30, you may be eligible for a loan from the Dutch government to cover your tuition fees.
You’ve been accepted! Leiden University looks forward to welcoming you as a new student. Your next step is to prepare for your studies. Below you can find some tips to help you get a head start as you embark on your studies at Leiden University.
For international students
If you are an international student, a wealth of information can be found on the ‘Prepare your stay’ page of our website. This includes information about visas, housing, financial matters, what to arrange upon arrival, and much more.
For Dutch students
The ‘student website’ page on Leiden University’s student website contains information about practical aspects, introduction weeks and student associations. It’s also a handy source of study-related information and advice.
For detailed information about courses, schedules and reading materials, check out the Prospectus.
Sign up for the introduction week in Leiden (OWL) or The Hague (HOP)! It’s the best way to get acquainted with student life and the student cities of Leiden and The Hague.
Your student card is your proof of registration as a student of Leiden University. You can find your digital student card in the Leiden University app three days after your student registration is finalised. Read more about your student card here.
As soon as you receive notification that your student registration has been finalised you should apply for a Leiden University ID card, or LU-Card. It also serves as your library card, print & copy card and access pass. Read more about applying for an LU-card here.
Student life
Your time at Leiden is about more than just studying. Some of your best experiences will stem from being a part of our lively and diverse student community, as well as from life in the beautiful city of Leiden.
The study associations related to Media Studies are:
The Humanities Master’s Buddy Programme has been set up by the Faculty of Humanities to help all students who are new to the university to integrate quickly and easily into university life. You will be matched to a buddy who can help you out with your academic and practical questions. Additionally you will be able to attend fun monthly activities and make friends from all over the world.
Leiden has several student organisations that specifically cater for international students. These associations organise regular social events and activities that help create the strong sense of community that exists within our international student body. The main two organisations are:
Erasmus Student Network Leiden (ESN) ESN Leiden is an international student organisation which hosts a range of activities and programmes. They also have a buddy programme which provides new students with the right support to assimilate into Leiden and the university.
AEGEE Leiden AEGEE is a leading European student association with sister organisations in over 40 countries across Europe. AEGEE organises many activities in Leiden, from dinners and pool nights to boat trips and guest lectures.
In August and February each year, Leiden University hosts the English-language Orientation Week Leiden (OWL), which welcomes both international and Dutch students. The OWL is an excellent way to get to know Leiden University, the city, and other students.
Life in Leiden
Picturesque and the perfect size, Leiden is the ideal place to spend your university days. The Faculty of Humanities is located within the heart of the city, where dozens of cafes, shops and bars line its historic laneways and leafy canals. Small enough to run into familiar faces, but big enough to keep offering surprises – you will treasure your time at Leiden. And for adventures further afield, the major cities of The Hague and Amsterdam are a short train ride away, along with Schiphol Airport, which is just half an hour away by train.
Our study and student associations organise a huge variety of social, cultural, and study events to keep you busy all year round. You can also join the University Sports Centre, which offers scheduled group sports and fitness classes, amongst other activities.
Information activities
Get to know us through our online and in-person events for prospective students!
Two speakers at the open day
Are you thinking about joining this Master's programme, and want to determine if it will be the right fit for you? Below, you can browse the events that we have coming up, and sign up to experience Leiden University and the programme for yourself. Alternatively, take a look at the Master Talks videos to find out more about the programme or check out our virtual campus tours!
Upcoming events
Master's Open Days
During the Master's Open Days you’ll have the opportunity to learn all about Leiden University’s master's programmes. Attend presentations about your chosen programme(s) or practical matters such as admissions and housing. Get real insight into the content of your preferred master's, along with the career opportunities it will bring.
On the Master Talks: programme videos platform you can find videos for each master’s programme. This includes a video which gives a short introduction to the programme. You can also find the recording of the previous Master's Online Open Days and watch the programme presentation on the platform.
Get to know the campus
Check out our virtual campus tours, filmed in 360 degrees – by dragging the video, you can look around at the surroundings yourself. Below is the video recorded at the Humanities faculty, where most of your lectures will take place; you can also view other 360 campus tours of the various university faculties here.
360 Campus tour: the Humanities faculty
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Questions about the application procedure, tuition fees and scholarships
Student Affairs Front Office
Phone: +31 (0)71 527 80 11
Email: Contact form
Or visit their website
Visiting address
Leiden: Plexus Student Centre
Kaiserstraat 25, ground floor
2311 GN Leiden
Monday to Friday between 11.00 and 16.00, Tuesday between 11.00 and 17.30.
