COURSE CURRICULUM

The program structure of the Research Master in Ancient History at Leiden University is carefully designed to prepare students for advanced academic research and potential PhD study. It begins with the Literature Seminar, an intensive eight-week course in which students engage with recent scholarship and major debates in Ancient History. This provides a strong foundation for the rest of the program. Students then take two Research Seminars, one in the first semester and another either in the second semester or abroad in the third. These seminars focus on independent research using primary sources and scholarly literature, training students in critical analysis and original inquiry.A compulsory component for all Research MA students is the Historical Theory course, which introduces major debates in historiography and philosophy of history. Through readings and discussions, students explore central themes such as explanations, narratives, paradigms, comparisons, and objectivity. The tutorial is another essential element of the program, offering individual guidance from a faculty specialist to refine research interests and develop a thesis topic. Students also complete courses within a Research School, amounting to at least 10 EC, allowing them to gain methodological expertise and area-specific knowledge while connecting with wider academic networks.Another compulsory course is Developing Research Proposals, which helps students learn how to structure academic research, from formulating questions to preparing proposals for publication or future PhD projects. Senior researchers support students by sharing their ongoing research as examples. Alongside these compulsory components, students may take up to 20 EC of optional courses, with the possibility of studying abroad to broaden their perspective.The program concludes with a master’s thesis, written under close supervision, and defended during a final ceremony. By the end of the program, graduates are equipped to work independently and creatively as junior researchers, prepared for careers in academia, cultural institutions, or other research-driven fields.