"In August of 2017, I joined the PhD program in Art History at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, focusing on medieval and early modern northern European collections and collecting theory. Leiden University exposed me to new perspectives and subject matter and, importantly in today’s political climate, the value of being a part of an international community of art historians that knows no borders. As Editorial Research Assistant for my advisor, I was able to work on a forthcoming edited volume of international scholarship, and in July of 2018, I will return to the Netherlands for a summer intensive course on material culture at the Rijksmuseum. Completing my MA in Leiden made me realize that the world can truly be my classroom."

Necessary skills

"I am certain that the critical thinking, organisational and communication skills cultivated during my MA programme were essential to my later success. The practical and social challenges of living abroad also equipped me with necessary skills in diplomacy and adaptability, key strengths for anyone entering the workplace - or academia."

Learning in situ

"The Arts and Culture programme offered the perfect mix of hands-on and theoretical study, and I benefited especially from the programme’s emphasis on independent study. Doctoral programs require a strong work ethic, intrinsic motivation, and the ability to work independently-- skills strengthened by my time in Leiden.

There was nonetheless ample opportunity for collaboration with my peers and professors, and I developed friendships with international colleagues that I am sure will last a lifetime. Learning in situ was extremely important for me: as an American scholar devoted to European art, I owed it to myself to come to the source, and so do you."

"Last summer I graduated in two specializations within the Master of Arts and Culture in Leiden. My choice for these specialisations was based on interest developed in my bachelor Art History. By following these two programs, I was able to delve into Contemporary art and especially World art studies and also into the theory of Museums and Collections. "

Combine theory and practice

"My internship at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen gave me the opportunity to combine theory and practice. As a project manager assistant I experienced first-hand how in 2017 the blockbuster exhibition Mad About Surrealism was established. Both my broad study program and my internship have given me the chance to become the director’s assistant at Stedelijk Museum Schiedam."

Wide range of tasks

"My job as director-assistant involves a wide range of tasks. I manage the director’s agenda and make reports of the meetings of the management team and the Supervisory Board. I am responsible for the archive, set up letters and I am intermediary for questions. After a month, I was given the opportunity to take on additional tasks, namely ICT and Human Resource. The talents I developed during my master program, namely critical thinking, communication skills, work independently and organizational skills in combination with the knowledge I gained from my internship have prepared me well for a job in the cultural field."