COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master’s in Film and Photographic Studies at Leiden University is a one-year program that provides students with an in-depth and interdisciplinary understanding of lens-based media, including photography, film and video. The program emphasizes the importance of situating visual media within broader cultural, theoretical and historical contexts, while also exploring their role in contemporary artistic and academic debates. It encourages students to critically engage with media practices ranging from the avant-garde to the mainstream and to consider how these practices shape and are shaped by society, technology and cultural institutions. The structure of the program is divided into two semesters. In the first semester, students take two core courses, Contemporary Theories of Film and Contemporary Theories of Photography, which provide a solid grounding in key concepts and theoretical frameworks within the field. Alongside these, students choose an elective in curating that focuses on how film and photography are exhibited, discussed and disseminated in both professional and academic settings, offering practical insights into curatorial and programming practices. In the second semester, students follow the course Media, Art, Theory, which connects visual media to wider debates in media and cultural studies, including media archaeology and the implications of digital developments. The program culminates in the master’s thesis, which can be either a traditional written study or a visual project, allowing students to develop their research and creative skills under the guidance of expert supervisors. Areas of study include theories and histories of film, photography and video; curating and programming practices; digital developments and their influence on visual media; and the use of film and photography as research tools. This combination of theoretical and practical approaches prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in academia, curatorial work, cultural institutions and media-related professions.