North, Middle and South America together constitute the single largest area in World Archaeology that is taught as a single focus. It is also the only major world area that saw societies develop from hunter-gatherers to early empires entirely independent from developments in Eurasia & Africa. It is,…

Blood, Sweat and Tears: The Changing Concepts of Physiology from Antiquity into Early Modern Europe

The Museums, Collections & Society research programme is led by the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Archaeology and aims to promote collection-based research, stimulate Leiden education in this field, and raise ethical questions regarding the collections’ origins.

This subproject of 'From Homo Economicus to Political Animal' will be on ancient analogues for modern-day “ersatz economics”, the economics of the “man in the street”.

During your stay at Leiden University it's a great idea to join a student or sports association. It's the perfect way to get to know people quickly and build a network, whilst also being a whole lot of fun.

For both Dutch and international students, a Humanities degree provides a strong foundation for a career that crosses borders.

Global History has become a much-debated field. Is it about globalisation, is it a method, a subject matter, all of the above? Over the last two decades global historians have outlined topics and approaches that set the foundations for a transforming field.

Through language and culture, history, anthropology, and sociology, we delve into the countries, populations, and societies of South and Southeast Asia. From this perspective, we address global issues such as migration, heritage, and colonialism.

Does the sitter have agency in the making of a photographic portrait? And if so how?

Rembrandt painted this Flora, the Roman goddess of spring, in 1635. She is on display above the archway leading from the Academy Building to the lush flora of the University’s Hortus Botanicus. Rembrandt, who had his own cabinet of curiosities, almost certainly knew this botanical garden, the oldest…

This is an Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility project of Leiden University with the American University in Cairo.

In early modern Europe, as today, men and women with expertise in languages were indispensable to the functioning of societies and economies. The LangPro project will shed new light on these early modern language professionals and on the field that employed them: the language sector.

Most degree programmes at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences are based in the Pieter de la Court building on the Wassenaarseweg in Leiden. Besides this location, some degree programmes are based in The Hague, at Campus The Hague’s Wijnhaven building.

Explore the MSc in International Politics at Leiden University: a one‑year programme focused on international conflict, crisis management, diplomacy and global cooperation.

Explore the MSc Democracy and Representation at Leiden University: examine challenges facing modern democracies—populism, representation, media influence—and enhance your analytical skills.

Study the MSc in Political Science: International Organisation at Leiden University in The Hague. Learn about international institutions, governance, and global policy.

How can the LEGO® Serious Play® method contribute to improved interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of joint research proposals?

What can we learn from the diverse institutional logics of smart government in East Asia to inform cross-institutional AI governance?

Team Dutch and Colonial History

Graduates of the master's specialisation in Sociology of Policy in Practice are proficient in analysing and reporting global vulnerabilities and local forms of resilience.

If you are going to study in the Netherlands as a foreign student, you may need an entry visa (MVV) and/or a residence permit (VVR). Whether you need a visa and/or a residence permit depends on your purpose of stay, the length of your stay and your nationality.

Researchers using remote sensing technologies have characterized pre-Columbian regularly-shaped earthworks in forests in Central America and the Amazon. In tropical forested mountains in South America, two challenges arise when identifying archaeological sites through remote sensing. Firstly, sites…

Research Schools aim at collaboration between researchers from different faculties (interfaculty schools) and universities (interuniversity schools).

This research cluster aims to analyse and interpret the formation and transmission of Graeco-Roman culture by exploring the relationships between cultural products (texts, objects, practices) and their societal and historical contexts.

Open up a world of opportunities with your master's degree in Archaeology from Leiden University!

In my research I am concerned with the possibility of a politics of sexuality without reverting to identitarian conceptions of sexuality. In a reading of the work of the American author James Purdy, I propose to move towards a politicizing of the concept of narrative identity as developed by the French…

A platform to research memory and culture in the Muslim world. This programme explores the ways modern memory studies methodologies can be applied to pre-modern Muslim societies to reveal the uses of the past and senses of tradition in diverse contexts of Muslim thought.

The Biomedical Sciences Health specialisation aims to provide you with a theoretical background and academic competences in multidisciplinary research in Biomedical Sciences and in clinical practice in Medicine. Since the programme is partly taught in English and partly in Dutch, fluency in Dutch is…

Now that you are aware of the admission requirements, it's time to check the application deadlines.

The NET-ROL project builds on the EU's definition of the rule of law to investigate the role of networks in law-making, executive decision-making, and the judiciary. It examines how these networks influence the weakening of the rule of law. Through an interdisciplinary perspective, the project explores…

In an age before GoogleDocs and LinkedIn, 19th-century scholars relied on letter-writing for collaboration, peer-feedback and the building and sustaining of academic networks. Letters were a quick, efficient way to share insights, data and discoveries. Scholarly correspondence thus allows a vital behind-the-scenes…

Launched at Leiden University Libraries in 2025, the Leiden Chinese Queer Collection aims to collect, preserve, and make accessible primary source material and scholarship on the Chinese queer experience. The LCQC steering committee is delighted to announce the annual LCQC Engagement Award (EUR 250).…

Leiden University Library holds two drawings and in the region of a hundred prints by Rembrandt, as well as works by his pupils and the staff of his studio. That explains why this self-portrait etching dating from 1631, his Leiden period, can be seen on the façade of the University Library.

The master's specialisation in Visual Ethnography enables you to combine technical mastery of audiovisual production with ethnographic research skills. Your experience ranges from project design to field studies, to scholarly output.

You’ve completed your degree – you’re now a graduate in African Studies. What’s next? The possibilities are wide open! Many graduates go on to roles that focus on research, analysis or communication. What do you enjoy doing? Your options may be broader than you expect.

The MA South Asian Studies at Leiden University is designed for students with an interest in studying South Asia from a range of perspectives including its history, literature, art, media, culture, religions, philosophy and philology.

The master's specialisation Applied Cognitive Psychology consists of three main parts: the mandatory and elective courses, a thesis and an internship.

With your bachelor’s degree you’re more than a specialist in South and Southeast Asia. Alongside your subject expertise, you’ve developed a broad set of academic skills that give you a strong start to your career. Graduates often find roles where communication, advising, organising and teaching play…

What is it like to study International Studies in The Hague? Read how Vincent, student of International Studies, spends his day on average.

The LAK offers a wide range of short and longer music courses. The music category includes various singing courses, as well as courses like private guitar lessons and introductory music software. The basic singing course is suitable for beginners and those passionate and curious about learning more…

How can we use data to better understand climate change? Can smart algorithms help drive medical breakthroughs? And how do you design technology that contributes to a more sustainable world? If you are curious about how the world works and how to solve complex problems using science, data, and technology,…

What if you could understand the world in the places where it truly begins – in language, in stories and in culture? In a time when countries clash, technology shapes what we see, and societies are changing fast, one thing is clear: you only really understand the news when you know what lies behind…