MA in Literary Studies - German Literature and Culture

Leiden University

The master’s programme in German Literature and Culture at Leiden University offers the largest number of German-language master’s courses in the Netherlands and covers the fields of literary and cultural studies from the Middle Ages to the present.

Why study German literature and culture at Leiden University?

This German-language master offers an excellent qualification in German literature and culture. As all classes are taught in German, you will greatly improve your fluency in oral and written German. The programme explores topics including prose and poetry, film, politics, cultural memory and identity, gender and intertextuality, migration, religion, and the differences between East and West Germany.

Customise your curriculum

You have the opportunity to design your curriculum according to your career goals or interests. You can choose to concentrate on German literature from the 20th and 21st centuries, or on courses related to medieval and early modern studies. By combining German literature or culture courses with a Masterlanguage course or German linguistics courses, you are also able to tailor your degree to match your interests.

Study at our German partner universities

The programme has been developed in close connection with our German partner universities including the Freie Universität Berlin, the Universität Bremen, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düssseldorf, Universität Leipzig, and Westfälische Wilhelmsuniversität Münster. You may choose to study some courses at these universities.

German literature and culture degree

German literature and culture at Leiden University is an accredited degree programme. After successful completion of this programme, you will receive a master’s degree in Literary Studies and the title Master of Arts (MA).

Career prospects

Create a world of opportunities with a master's degree from Leiden University.

With a master’s degree in German Literature and Culture you will have a broad-range of career options open to you. Our alumni have found employment in the fields of trade and export, in communication departments in (international) companies, as policy advisors and translators. For those who want to pursue a research-based or academic career you can choose to apply for a PhD position after your studies.

Some of the positions of our alumni include:

• PhD candidate at Leiden University
• PhD candidate at Freiburg University (Germany)
• Consumer marketing manager at a multinational electronics company
• Editorial secretary & editor at a publishing house
• Publishing assistant at a publishing house
• Policy advisor at a Dutch university
• Foreign rights manager at a publishing house
• Journalist at a press company
• Translator in the marketing field
• Policy officer at a public health organization