I am currently a student in the Arts, Literature and Media (research) programme, where I follow the medieval and early modern line. The program involves students with varying backgrounds and research interests, which leads to lively classroom discussions and new perspectives and research topics, and encourages an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approach. The program provides me with new skills, like theoretical knowledge on theories and methodologies, whilst allowing me to specialise in my own field of interest: medieval English literature. Thanks to the program’s approach, I can apply new skills and perspectives in my own research. I am especially looking forward to the “Case Based Research” course next year, since working one-on-one with a scholar will teach me more about academia itself.

I mostly follow the contemporary line and I am fascinated by the wide range of art forms and cultural contexts studied in the courses. The program offers a lot of room for me to pursue my own research interests, and I feel very encouraged to take initiative and actively put forward my own objects of study. The case-based research, during which I got to collaborate with a Leiden University researcher on an ongoing research project on more-than-human relationality, was for me the highlight of the program so far.

The Arts, Literature and Media programme is a great way to explore the state-of-the-art in interdisciplinary humanities research. Its flexible structure makes it easy for students from any background - be it literary studies, media studies, art history, or more - to hone their critical thinking skills and expand their research interests. While meeting leading scholars in my field and diving into rigorous theoretical approaches have been some of the highlights of this programme, my favourite aspect has been encountering ideas, people, and perspectives I would have never dreamed of!