Leiden University · Netherlands
African Studies
Africa's history, languages, literature and societies studied across the humanities; you learn Swahili and spend a semester of year two studying in an African country.
- Where
- LeidenNetherlands
- Degree
- BA
- Length
- 3 years
- Taught in
- English
- Starts
- Autumn 2027
- Apply by
- 1 May 2027
- Admission
- Open to all who qualify
- EU/EEA fee
- €2,7712027/28 statutory fee
More facts
- Degree
- BA
- Length
- 3 years
- Taught in
- English
- Starts
- Autumn 2027
Deadlines
-
1 December 2026*
Create your Studielink accountYour own planDetails
Not an official deadline. With a Dutch address you log in with DigiD, which the government says takes about five days. Without one you upload a scan or photo of your passport or EU identity card and Studielink verifies it automatically. Either way, do it well before 15 January.
Source -
1 May 2027
Programmes without numerus fixus (with matching): apply byHard deadlineDetails
Source -
6 July 2027*
IB results releasedDetails
Both Dutch deadlines fall well before this. How a conditional place pending results is handled is set by each institution; ask yours.
Source
* Last year’s date, not yet confirmed.
What it is
You study Africa from an Africa-centred perspective, combining history, linguistics with Swahili language learning, anthropology, literature and cultural studies, area studies and sociology, with attention to ethnicity, gender and socio-economic background. In your second year you spend a semester in an African country for language immersion and courses at a local university. You learn to build and use databases and visual research tools, and to produce documentaries, podcasts and blogs. You can shape the degree around a discipline, a theme, the continent or a particular region, and draw on the African Studies Centre Leiden and its specialist library.
What you need
- Full IB Diploma required (not certificates); send grade 11, November grade 12 and predicted grades. English-taught IB or English A HL waives the English test. Science programmes set HL subjects.
Requirements in full
Check it on universiteitleiden.nl
How places are decided
- Not selective: meet the requirements and you are admitted. Apply by 1 May 2027; online matching is compulsory, its advice not binding.
Sources (2)
- African Studies at Leiden — checked 2026-09-30
- IB applicants at Leiden
Other degrees at Leiden
