Egyptology (research) (MA)

About the programme

Classics and Ancient Civilizations (Research) covers two years and can be studied in four programmes, one of them is Egyptology. When you choose to study this programme, you will both be guided through the broadness of Egyptological sub-disciplines, as well as gradually led to develop your own specific research skills.

Core courses

About our Common Courses
With all other Classics and Ancient Civilisations specialisations, the ResMA specialisation Egyptology shares two compulsory Common Courses. These courses are geared towards connecting the various disciplines and cross-fertilising work in your own specialisation. Students of all specialisations examine cultural phenomena that transcend their own discipline and engage in discussions with fellows from neighbouring fields. Since classes in the research master level always follow recent trends in research, specific topics presented in the Common Courses may change every year.

Thesis and Research CareerSeminar
In the fourth semester, you are expected to start writing your thesis. In addition to individual guidance by your supervisor, the Research Career seminar will bolster up your work on the thesis by training you in specific writing and presentation skills. You will also learn, based on your thesis preparation, how to write a research proposal on the basis of academic requirements used by the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

Detailed programme

First year
Course	EC
Common Course: Fragments	10
Egyptian Temple Inscriptions of the Greco-Roman Period	10
Demotic Papyrology 1	10
Documentary Texts from Deir el-Medina and their social and cultural setting	10
Introduction to Middle Egyptian and the Hieroglyphic Script	10
Concepts & Methods in the Ancient Near East: Social Worlds of Ancient Art Producers	10
Methods and Theory in Egyptian Archaeology	5
Egyptology in the Field: Research and Facilities in Egypt	15
Demotic Papyrology 2	10
Coptic Papyrology	10
Tell el-Dab’a Seminar	5
Research School Elective: Egyptian Epigraphy	10

Second year
Course	EC
Research Career Seminar	10
MA Thesis Classics and Ancient Civilizations (Research)	30
Common Course: Fragments	10
Egyptian Temple Inscriptions of the Greco-Roman Period	10
Demotic Papyrology 1	10
Demotic Papyrology III	5
Documentary Texts from Deir el-Medina and their social and cultural setting	10
Introduction to Middle Egyptian and the Hieroglyphic Script	10
Late Cursive (Abnormal) Hieratic Papyrology I	10
Concepts & Methods in the Ancient Near East: Social Worlds of Ancient Art Producers	10
Demotic Papyrology 2	10
Coptic Papyrology	10
Tell el-Dab’a Seminar	5
Research School Elective: Egyptian Epigraphy	10

For a more detailed programme, see the Prospectus.

Please note that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may slightly differ.

Olaf Kaper

Professor of Egyptology

“Interesting finds are constantly being made on the many sites under excavation. This is what makes Egyptology so exciting. With their own research and their master’s thesis, master’s students can make a real contribution to this field. We offer our master’s students a broad range of opportunities to conduct archaeological research in Egypt.”

Archaeological research in Egypt

"As early as the second block our students go to Cairo to learn about archaeological research, to visit particular institutions and to meet colleagues. There is the opportunity for two students – if they are successful in their application – to work in Saqqara on the excavations organised by Leiden’s Egyptology department in co-operation with the National Museum of Antiquities. Leiden has a long history in the field of Egyptology because of this museum which, since the start of the nineteenth century, has housed a famous collection of Egyptian antiquities."

Admission and Application

Do you want to find out if you are eligible for this Master's Programme?

Check the entry requirements