"Leiden is a world renowned university and its ranking during the past decade has been remarkable."

Egypt
2016:  PhD Institute for Area Studies, Department of Egyptology

Why I chose Leiden University

Leiden is widely known as a great place for oriental studies, especially the languages of the ancient Middle East. Every specialist knows that its library is over four centuries and still growing. The University has many facilities which are geared towards meeting the needs of international students. It's a world renowned university and its ranking during the past decade is remarkable. These are the reasons why I chose Leiden to study, in addition to the fact that Prof. Jacques van der Vliet, who is one of the best professors of Coptic studies in the world, is a professor here and accepted me as a student. 

I studies at the Institute for Area Studies, Department of Egyptology and am specialist in Coptic literature. I came to Leiden in 2010. I began improving my Coptic language skills and learning how to make a critical edition of Coptic manuscripts. Later on, with the help of my supervisors, I chose a collection of four Coptic Sahidic manuscripts to edit for my PhD project which I defended in 2016. 

What I'm doing now

Due to the  international reputation of Leiden University, especially in oriental studies, I have my permanent job now, just a few months after graduation, as a Lecturer of Coptic Studies at Sohag University. Leiden University allowed me to travel a lot and to contribute to international congresses. I want to encourage other Egyptian students to study in Leiden for the sake of their own future and for the future of my country.

My Leiden experiences

Leiden is a very international, but small city where you can hear to dozens of languages, eat hundreds kinds of food and make friends from all over the world. I lived about six years in Leiden and never felt like a "foreigner". Leiden is close to Amsterdam and its airport and so allows for easy travel to and from the city. In Leiden there are hundreds of people who belong to my Egyptian culture, others who are excited to learn about Egypt and to share their culture as well. It's also an ancient town and rich in traditions. Leiden is like a small cosmos.

Both the city and the university of Leiden are well organized. There is always somebody up to help those who choose to study and live in the Netherlands.