"I chose the MA in Middle Eastern Studies at Leiden University because I wanted to specialise further in the Turco-Persian world and its Islamic traditions, modern political ideologies and cultural production. In similar studies, these areas tend to receive little attention, but the lecturers in this programme have precisely these areas of expertise."

"After completing my MA, I immediately started as a PhD candidate in the Beyond Sharia: The Role of Sufism in Shaping Islam project at Utrecht University. Here I investigate antinomian (qalandariyyāt) motifs, metaphors, images and narratives that aimed to challenge the religious hierarchy and orthodox Islam, in Persian poetry from the 12th century onwards. More specifically, I analyse how themes in these poems influenced social, political, and religious developments in the subsequent centuries."

"The MA in Middle Eastern Studies prepared me for this by stressing the need for independent analysis of primary sources. I was also able to improve my command of the Persian language and I learned a lot about the relationship between politics and Persian literature. This made it possible for me to independently analyse Persian-language primary sources for my thesis. In addition, I was able to count on the advice and encouragement of several of my lecturers during the application process."

The Institution of Area Studies (LIAS) of Leiden University has a high reputation all over the world because of its well-organized curriculums, vibrant research works, knowledgeable teachers, and senior scholar standard. It was a massive challenge for a Chinese student like me who neither was familiar with European education system nor did I have any historical or political training before to keep pace with the program. With the courage of my teachers and my hardworking, I’ve finished all my required 75EC of courses and master thesis within one year and graduated in 2019, with which I could say I have a much more comprehensive understanding and constructive analysis of Turkey than one year ago.

Make a more logical course curriculum  

I am now continuing my career as a university teacher in the Turkish Language Major, where I am able to make a more logical course curriculum, give clearer related courses, and also try to do some academic researches with the readings I read, the lectures I’ve listened, and the research skill I’ve acquired during my MA in Turkish Studies.