Arts and Culture (MA)

Why study Arts and Culture at Leiden University?

A unique programme in terms of its diverse and interdisciplinary range of subjects, the Arts and Culture master's programme offers you the choice of two specialisations: Art History and Museum Studies. Each explores different themes from a comparative and global perspective and offers a broad range of electives, allowing you to further customise your degree. We encourage every student to pursue the academic areas they are passionate about.

What will you study?

This programme will give you a comprehensive grounding in the history, methods and theories of art history and museology, while also engaging with contemporary museum practice. The two specialisations in our programme, Art History and Museum Studies, will cut across disciplinary boundaries, while making it possible for you to steer towards one of the fields according to your own interests. There is an emphasis on the study of the object and its agency; critical theory and world art studies; and museum and collection studies. Possible paths lead through the late medieval and early modern period, to contemporary art and the digital age, as well as cultures of collecting and the museum in past and present times.

Learn from the leading minds in the field

At Leiden University, you are joining one of the world's leading universities. In the MA in Arts and Culture, you learn from internationally-respected researchers at the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS) as well as eminent scholars and practitioners from our network of academic and cultural institutions. You benefit from this network both in what you learn, and in how, with opportunities for internships, exchange programmes and regular visiting speakers.

Academic challenge combined with social relevance

The master's in Arts and Culture is an academically-challenging programme, with an emphasis on training students to be excellent researchers and stand-out critical thinkers. Relevance is of key importance, with current issues integrated into everything you learn. Because of this, our programme attracts motivated students from all around the world, all of whom are seeking an academic programme that promises the best in knowledge, skills, and career prospects.

Small classes and an individual approach

Our approach to learning at Leiden University is focused on the individual and their unique profile. Teaching takes the form of small-scale lectures, where every student is involved in class discussions and receives a high level of focused attention from lecturers.

Arts and Culture specialisations

For more information about our study programmes, please check the MA Arts and Culture specialisations:

• Art History
• Museum Studies

Master's student Laura develops own exhibition: 'A very enriching experience'

Many students dread writing a thesis. Master’s student Laura Robustella's practice-based thesis shows that it is well worth the effort. She developed an art exhibition based on her master’s thesis. Read more.