"The MA Asian Studies helped me to further develop and deepen various skills such as written and oral communication and presenting research results. Creativity and an open mind were a necessity when it came to creating a critical and analytical view during the process. I obtained these skills as a recent Humanities graduate, and used them during my activities as a writer for tender applications. Of course they will be of great use for my future career. As a very recent graduate of the Master’s program Asian Studies, I immediately began my search for a job opportunity that formed a connection between my passions and my skills."

Humanities skills

"After graduating the BA International Studies, I started the MA Asian Studies program. My choice was an easy and a logical one, I simply wished to dive in to South Asia more than I did during my Bachelors. It was the best choice I could have made. I grew, developed skills, obtained in-depth knowledge on diverse subjects, joined field trips and I had the opportunity to create my own program through the generous amount of electives and freedom."

Thesis vs. Passions

"My true passion I discovered during my academic career; “misunderstood Asian Art and traditions.” I wrote my thesis by reading numerous ancient Hindu literature books, and connecting various phenomena to contemporary affairs. I praise the University for its large library and collections. Without those collections my education and the process of writing my thesis would not have been the same."

"After graduating, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I did all kinds of jobs to earn money. I hadn’t even considered earning my living in IT as an option until I saw friends getting jobs in the sector without specific training in the field. A friend worked at Sogeti and I decided I would also give it a try. I applied for a young professional position and was hired as a test engineer."

Skills I learned at Leiden University

"Asking critical questions is definitely something. But above all, I learned how to learn. At high school, everything came to me pretty easily, but at university, I really had to buckle down. Now that I’m studying again in addition to my work, I can use these study skills very well. I meet lots of people, mainly because I am always working at different companies. The work is creative and my background knowledge of both writing and graphic aspects is widely deployed. I have a good eye for detail, which means I can sometimes surprise people with the things I notice. That is of course nice as well."