Turkish Studies

Specialisation of: Arabic, Persian and Turkish Languages and Cultures
Degree: Master of Arts in Arabic, Persian and Turkish Languages and Cultures
Mode of Study: Full-time
Duration: 1 year
Start date: September, February
Language of instruction: English
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Run in co-operation with several universities in Turkey, this specialisation will allow you to spend time studying in both the Netherlands and Turkey by studying one semester at Leiden University and one at a university in Istanbul or Ankara. Emphasis is placed on the study of the later Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey or Central Asia —looking at long-term political, social, economic and cultural developments— as well as at current affairs in Turkey.

The information about this programme is available in the following languages:

In addition to gaining research experience in Turkey or Azerbaijan, you can choose to take courses in a number of specialist fields, including:

  • Ottoman and Turkish history
  • Central Asian (modern) history
  • Turkish linguistics
  • Turkish literature

As one of the largest research and teaching units in its field in Europe, the Turkish Studies Department regularly hosts academics from various institutions with whom it maintains contacts.

Prof. Zürcher

“It is only possible to gain a better under-standing of present-day developments in the Middle East if you understand the historical background.”

“Leiden University enjoys a rich research tradition, and has a great
many publications about Turkey to her name. The Turkish Languages
and Cultures department is also well-known, particularly as text
books written in Leiden are used throughout the world.

This master’s programme focuses on the one hand on the origin of
the modern Turkish nation state, and, on the other, on Turkey and
the Ottoman Empire and their relationship to Europe. I myself am
fascinated by the Middle East and by modern history, in particular
the period around World War I. This makes Turkey a rewarding subject
for study. Until the First World War, the greater part of the Middle
East belonged to the Ottoman Empire. Around 1918, the great empires
came to an end: not only the Ottoman Empire, but also the German
Empire, the Hapsburg Empire and the Romanov Dynasty in Russia.
The centuries-old multicultural Ottoman Empire was transformed
into the modern mono-cultural republic of Turkey.

As a result of the start of accession talks between Turkey and the EU,
the number of students with an interest in political science has been
growing of late, but teaching in the MA specialisation Turkish Studies
focuses primarily on the language, history and cultural heritage
of Turkey. I firmly believe that it is only possible to gain a better
understanding of present-day developments in the Middle East if
you understand the historical background. Turkey is two things at
the same time: a young state which has been created by a political
elite, but also an ancient state, heir to the Ottoman Empire, which
existed for six hundred years. This has left its mark on the country.”

Student's blog about her stay in Istanbul

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