COURSE CURRICULUM

The master’s specialisation in Global Ethnography at Leiden University is a one-year, 60 EC program that trains students in using ethnography as a method to study everyday practices of individuals, groups, and societies within broader processes of social change. Ethnography allows students to analyse and report on how people experience and respond to challenges such as ecological change, economic precariousness, sustainability concerns, and the impact of media culture. At the same time, the program highlights how communities develop local forms of resilience to these pressures, offering students a balanced perspective on vulnerability and adaptability.The structure of the program is carefully designed to guide students step by step through the research process. It begins in the fall semester with a theoretical foundation in the course Contemporary Anthropological Social Theory (10 EC), alongside developing individual research ideas. During the winter, students move into the practical phase by taking Research Design for Global Ethnography (5 EC) and preparing a Research Proposal (5 EC). The spring semester is dedicated to three months of field research (20 EC), where students apply ethnographic methods in real-life contexts, either abroad or locally, depending on their research focus.After returning to Leiden, students shift their attention to analysing their field data and producing their final work. They participate in the Thesis Seminar for Global Ethnography (5 EC), which provides guidance on structuring and presenting their findings, and complete the Master’s Thesis Project (15 EC), an independent research study that demonstrates their ability to conduct advanced ethnographic research.By combining theoretical depth, methodological training, and extensive fieldwork, the Global Ethnography specialisation equips graduates with strong analytical, research, and writing skills. This prepares them for careers in academia, policymaking, NGOs, media, cultural institutions, or any field that requires expertise in understanding social issues in a globalised and interconnected world.