North American Studies (MA)

Career prospects

Where do our graduates work?

The master’s programme in North American Studies prepares you for a wide range of careers in which well-developed analytical and other academic skills or specialised knowledge of U.S. history, literature, politics, and culture are valued. Our graduates pursue careers in the international job market in fields including teaching, journalism, IT, business, politics, government policy, publishing and research.

Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:

• History teacher at a high school 
• English teacher at a high school or a university
• PhD candidate in American history, University of Edinburgh
• Project Coordinator Funding & Events at TU Delft
• Junior Policy Officer Ministry of Foreign affairs, Brussels
• Policy Officer/Researcher at Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate
• Trainee Information Manager, Ypublic
• Vice President for Client Services, Early American history and interactive programming, ARtGlass, Richmond, VA
• Collections Manager and Curator, John Ruskin Home Brantwood, Cumbria, UK
• Freelance researcher and writer with De Correspondent

Teacher qualification

If you are interested in a career in teaching, you can apply for the Dutch-taught teacher-training MA at the ICLON Graduate School of Education after graduating from the master’s programme. To be admitted to the teacher training in History after this master’s, you also need to have a bachelor’s degree in History or a closely related programme. For the teacher training in English, the entry requirements include a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Culture or a closely related programme. You have to speak fluent Dutch to follow the course, and there are some additional entry requirements.

Abigail Lister

Graduated in MA North American Studies

"After completing my Bachelor’s degree in English and American Literature in the UK, I knew I wanted to pursue further academic study in the same subject. My plan was to study abroad in the Netherlands, and the MA North American Studies programme appealed to me because of its broad range of courses encompassing American history, literature, and politics, and Leiden’s reputation as a rigorous academic institution."

Pursue my specific interest

"While the programme’s modules were certainly varied, my professors also guided me to pursue my specific interest in literature in module essays and my MA thesis. As the only international student in my cohort, it was important for me to meet other students, so I volunteered as Secretary of the North American Studies student association. Hosting events related to our degree really enhanced my study experience, and allowed me to gain lifelong friends."  

Beneficial skills

"I currently work as a freelance writer, creating marketing materials like blogs and social media copy for a wide range of clients. The independent research skills that I gained on my MA programme have been hugely beneficial to my professional career, as have additional skills in communication, public speaking, and evaluating sources."

Alexcia Cleveland

Graduated in MA North American Studies

"I am currently the office manager of a cultural heritage law firm in Richmond, Virginia, where I am originally from. Beyond being a law firm, the company also runs a museum technology company, a leadership academy, a consulting agency, and a lobbying group so my day-to-day tasks tend to be fairly diverse. Without a doubt, the refinement of foundational skills, such as speaking and researching, were my greatest takeaways from my studies at Leiden."

Skills my program taught me

"I am often tasked with researching subjects and people I know nothing about, so I am glad that my program taught me how to efficiently find and examine reliable sources. As for speaking skills, on any given day I could be running augmented reality demonstrations or speaking to important clients, so I am grateful to feel comfortable in my speaking ability."

Understanding America as a whole

"With its interdisciplinary approach to history, culture, literature, and the modern day, Leiden’s programme in North American Studies does an excellent job of weaving together the many aspects necessary to understand America as a whole. Beyond the academics, because I was studying my own country I figured it would be best to study abroad and hear how others viewed America. Not only is there a diverse faculty in Leiden, but the students themselves come from all over the place with each one possessing unique insights. This has allowed for many spirited discussions both inside and outside of the classroom and I could hardly ask for brighter, kinder, more passionate people to learn with."

In which sector do students find jobs?

• 17 % Culture, sports and recreation
• 17 % Government and semi-government
• 17 % Research
• 8 % IT
• 8 % Media and journalism
• 8 % Education
• 8 % Publishing
• 8 % Financial institutions
• 8 % Wholesale and retail
• 1 % Other

Career preparation

Find out how this programme exactly prepares you for your future career and check our career preparation activities.