Bachelor programme

Africa is a fascinating and very large and varied continent. Yet African history and the many languages and cultures of Africa are studied and taught in relatively few places in the world. The Leiden African Studies programme is the only African programme in the Netherlands. A unique opportunity to get acquainted with this fascinating continent.

In this programme, you will learn to understand African societies by studying language and culture. The students learn to ask critical questions and independently investigate the story that Africa tells through language acquisition, linguistic research, history and literature.

In the first year, you will be introduced to Africa through learning Swahili and an introduction to the literature, history and linguistics of Africa. In addition, attention is also paid to general skills, such as writing papers and setting up and giving presentations. After the first year, you choose one of the three accents within the African Studies programme: linguistics, history & anthropology or literature. After the first year, you will also delve into the methodological knowledge needed to conduct empirical research and write a BA thesis.

More information about the Bachelor's programme in African Studies can be found in the Prospectus.

Master programme

• African Studies (see also Prospectus)

Study a second language in Africa

In the second semester of the second year students go to Africa to study a second language. Students can choose from the list in the E-Prospectus. The trip to Africa is subsidised.