LeidenGlobal course ‘Methodologies in the Social Sciences and Humanities’
This twelve-week course organised by the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies in collaboration with LeidenGlobal allows beginning scholars to develop a critical understanding of methodologies in the social sciences and humanities (SSH).
Methodology refers to the logical and developed coherence between research question, theory and methods. Rather than a fixed set of rules, methodology is based in an ongoing conversation among scholars in the SSH on data collection and analysis. During this course participants engage in this conversation with their peers as well as experienced researchers in the SSH. In this course, based on conversations with each other and with experienced scholars, students learn about epistemological debates and choices available to them in their own research.
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students will be able to reflect on and motivate their individual methodological choices within the broader context of methodologies in SSH. To develop this motivation, participants will critically review the methodologies of their field of research in general, and their respective research projects specifically, in a written report. Guest lectures by established scholars, class discussion and state-of-the-art literature help participants form a critical basis for both current and future research. The course helps students develop their research, collaboration, and writing skills.
Details regarding the course
- EC: 10
- Language: English
- Instructor: Svetlana Kharchenkova
- Time table: Spring 2026
- Location: Herta Mohr building, Witte Singel 27A, 2311 BG Leiden
Admission
All PhD students registered at LeidenGlobal partner institutions can apply online, after consultation with their advisors. Registration for 2025-2026 opens in November 2025 though this website.
Registration
Research Master students are required to register via MyStudyMap
PhD students can register on this webpage for the Spring Course of 2026. Registration is open until January 15th, 2026
For further information and details, please visit studiegids Leiden
For any other questions you can contact LeidenGlobal: info@leidenglobal.nl