BA African Studies

Africa is fascinating! In today’s globalised world, the continent plays an increasingly important role in international social and cultural developments. Would you like to explore the many sides of Africa and its impact on the rest of the world, while also learning one of its languages? Our African Studies BA programme will give you a truly multidisciplinary perspective on the continent.

Why African Studies?

Africa is home to around 1.5 billion inhabitants in 54 countries, with a wide range of cultures and languages. As a continent, it is a key player in issues such as climate change and the global economy, while its art and literature gain increasingly international appreciation. In the African Studies bachelor’s programme, you will acquire in-depth knowledge about Africa, from an internal perspective and with a critical eye for the external, often euro-centric approaches of ‘Africa’.

African history from zero to the very recent past takes a central place within the curriculum. This will allow you to gain an understanding of issues such as the role of gender within African society, social inequality and slavery in the past and the present, and the relation between the African diaspora and the Black Lives Matter movement. In our programme, you will have the choice to study Africa as a continent, its regions or individual countries. In the second year of the programme, you can tailor the programme according to your interests by focusing on one or several of our themes: Sociolinguistics, Literature & Art or History & Anthropology.

Learning African languages

Language plays an important role in the programme, as studying Africa through a linguistic lens will give you an insight into past and present social developments, such as migration movements. Apart from studying sociolinguistics, you will learn either Swahili or Berber. Swahili is one of the main languages of East Africa, spoken by millions of people. Berber, spoken in Northern Africa, is a minority language that is linked with many African diaspora communities across the world. Knowledge of Berber will be particularly helpful when studying the diaspora, its international impact and its relation with African home countries.

Leiden University is known for the many languages that are studied here. For students interested in learning extra African languages in addition to Swahili or Berber, there is ample opportunity to do so. Learning a second African language, however, will be done outside of the BA in African Studies.

Why African Studies at Leiden University?

• Leiden is the only place in Europe where you can follow an English-taught BA programme on African Studies.
• In this programme, you will learn Berber or Swahili. As part of the language acquisition courses, in your second year, you will stay an entire semester in an African country of your choice.
• The programme’s themes, Sociolinguistics, Literature and art, and History and anthropology allow you to study Africa in-depth.
• You will gain not only expert knowledge about Africa but will also develop valuable skills, including digital academic skills and professional skills.
• You will be able to tailor the programme according to your interests, focusing on your disciplinary choice, a particular theme, Africa as a continent or a particular region or country.
• We have a close connection with the renowned African Studies Centre, which has the largest collection of Africa-related topics in Europe.

Academic fields

Leiden has faculties in the fields of:

• Archaeology
• Governance and Global Affairs
• Humanities
• Medicine
• Law
• Science
• Social and Behavioural Sciences

Student support

International student advisers

The international student advisers are a good place to go when you need assistance during your stay in the Netherlands. Students in both locations of Leiden University have access to these specialised advisers. In many cases they will be able to provide the information you need, or will refer you to the relevant services. You can consult the advisers on a variety of matters, ranging from financial concerns, settling down issues, academic issues and health insurance to dealing with external housing agents or finding a family doctor.

Student counsellors

We have a number of specialised student counsellors available. They can help in legal and financial matters, but can also assist you in developing study-related skills. The skills package that is offered involves individual counselling and workshops designed to support you in your academic performance. Topics covered include thesis writing, time management, stress management and planning. Additionally, our counsellors are available to help resolve study and personal problems, should this be needed.

Departmental study advisers and coordinators

Each department has its own study advisers/coordinators who can answer questions about matters that are related to the study programme of your choice. You can consult the study adviser/coordinator on issues such as timetables, exam grades, choice of subjects and application for graduation.