Egyptology (research) (MA)

Why Leiden University

A top-ranked programme

Leiden University is a world leader in the study of Ancient Egyptian languages, literatures and cultures from the earliest periods to the Greco-Roman world and beyond. At Leiden University research and teaching are directly linked to each other and form an inspiring and intense study environment. Therefore, Leiden University's Faculty of Humanities consistently ranks in the top 30 Humanities faculties in the THE World University Rankings, and the Res(MA) Classics and Ancient Civilizations has been awarded the label Top Programme by the Dutch National Student Survey.

Learn from active researchers

You will learn from academics who are pre-eminent scholars in the field and whose wide-ranging research activities include Egyptian mortuary inscriptions, archaeological and epigraphic field work in Egypt, and Coptic magical texts. In particular, Leiden University’s Egyptology programme gained international recognition with the success of projects such as the Deir el-Medina Database and MastaBase / the Leiden Mastaba Project. Your teachers will be academics who cooperate with fellow researchers from universities and research institutes in Germany, Egypt, France, Italy, Poland and the United States, on project topics covering: Egyptian art history, Egyptian archaeology, Egyptian religion, Coptic Egypt and the social and economic history of Ancient Egypt. 

Study abroad

You will spend eight weeks in Egypt in the study programme organised by the Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo, which is an essential introduction to archaeological fieldwork and the work of research institutes in Egypt.

Access world-class resources

During your studies you will have access to the resources of one of the world’s most reputable Egyptological libraries, the library of the Netherlands Institute for the Near East (NINO), giving you ready access to the library’s extensive materials for your study and research. The university also works closely together with the neighbouring Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, which houses one of Europe’s top collections of Egyptian antiquities.

Benefit from our extensive network

In the Egyptology programme you will study with Leiden's top scholars in the field, as well as benefit from experts in our extensive international network. You have the possibility of studying at institutions and universities in Cairo. We also have links with organisations including the Netherlands Institute for the Near East (NINO), the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities and you will be able to participate in excavation projects in Saqqara.

Diversity and inclusion

We are convinced that our education can only flourish if everyone within the programme feels supported, respected and empowered to do their best work. We find it important to offer a learning environment that allows for different perspectives and points of view that students bring with them, depending on their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, health, religion, age or socio-economic background. Every new generation sees the world from a new perspective – and our students are the newest generation. We look forward to hearing more about your perspective. Leiden University has been pursuing diversity policy since 2014, with the aim of creating a diverse and inclusive learning and working environment for all staff and students.