In 1910, Poerbatjaraka moved to Batavia to take the Archaeology Service position.[3] His knowledge of Javanese literature proved very useful to the institution, and he was often consulted by its staff.[3] During these years he also learned Sanskrit.[3] He took a new name, Poerbatjaraka (Purbacaraka in modern Indonesian spelling) and was given the titles Raden and Ngabehi.[3] After several years in Batavia, he was recruited by Leiden University in the Netherlands.[3] He became assistant to a scholar of Javanese culture Dr. G. A. J. Hazeu, and taught Javanese language classes.[3] Despite not having the prerequisite academic requirements, he was given special dispensation and allowed to pursue a doctorate, which he did without attending lectures.[3][5] He completed his doctor's degree cum laude[2] in 1926, with his thesis titled "Agastya in den Archipel" ("Agastya in Nusantara").[3]