Masters Degrees in History & Archaeology, Netherlands

In this programme, you will learn to find the answer to these and other puzzles of Classical and Mediterranean Archaeology. The programme is part of the Archaeology Master programme and builds on the knowledge and skills obtained in a BA programme of Archaeology.

Within the programme three different tracks are available. These tracks have their specific core modules, but also share courses with the other tracks within our MA programme.

The tracks are:

* Classical and Mediterranean Archaeology, with core modules The Rise of Cities and States, Mediterranean Landscape Archaeology and the Archaeology of Death.

* Bioarchaeology, with a core module of the same name.

* Maritime Archaeology with a core module of the same name.

The first semester comprises one compulsory module, Archaeology Today, and two optional modules (The Rise of Cities and States, and Mediterranean Landscape Archaeology). In the second semester you can follow two optional modules (Archaeology of Death, Advanced GIS course), or do an internship. The final stage of the MA programme is a thesis.

Why in Groningen?

- flexible structure
- all courses are taught in English
- attention to both theory and practice
- large international research projects in Italy, Greece, Egypt, Turkey, Iraq
- unique archaeobotanical and archaeozoological reference collections
- GIS and Material Culture laboratories
- close connections with Ancient History, Classics and Religious Studies
- close connections with Centre for Isotopes Research and Biology
- very low tuition fees
- a student friendly city

Job perspectives

The job opportunities for archaeologists in Europe are good. Because of the Valleta Treaty, all spatial planning projects have to take archaeological heritage into account. This has increased the work possibilities at consultancy and governmental agencies. It is also possible to find a position in the museum world or become an academic researcher.

The BA and MA programmes are strongly tied to the Groningen Institute of Archaeology (GIA), which comprises the archaeological research of the University of Groningen.

GIA research is focused on:
- Prehistoric, protohistoric and historical archaeology in the Netherlands, the Mediterranean and the Arctics.
- Bioarchaeology: archaeobotany and archaeozoology
- Material culture studies, including conservation
- Landscape archaeology, including GIS-based studies

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You’ll learn to make connections between the past and the present. You’ll research the ways in which current traditions came to be, and how current views on the past emerged, as well as their role in the present.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/history

Engaging in debate

During the Master’s in History, you’ll develop a set of academic skills such being able to collect different sources and critically analyse them, to interpret data and to form constructive arguments. You’ll also learn how to clearly present research results and how to enter into a debate with historians and other interested parties.

As an academic historian, you’ll have lots of options. You could work for museums, heritage institutions, libraries, archives, political parties, think-tanks or as a policy maker, journalist, teacher or information officer.

Specialisations

The History Master’s has three specialisations: one is English-taught and the other two are Dutch-taught.

- Eternal Rome
In this specialisation, you’ll analyse Rome and its impressive legacy to become acquainted with its ancient history, medieval history, art history, classical philology, archaeology, and literary theory.

- Actuele geschiedenis (i.e. Current History)
You’ll study the tension between current events and history in this specialisation; how it affects the current interpretation of the past and how history is used and abused to give direction to the future.

- Politiek en parlement (i.e. Politics and Parlement)
In this multidisciplinary specialisation history, political science and constitutional law meet. You’ll learn to put political phenomena in a historical context.

Career prospects

As an historian, you’ll be able to identify developments and historical events. You’ll be able to ask different questions and approach issues from a variety of perspectives. Each Master’s specialisation focuses on different professional perspectives. Thus, Politics and Parliament (Dutch) will give you the foundation you need to work in politics in The Hague, whilst the specialisation Eternal Rome will make you an expert in Rome and its many influences on Western society. Read more about your career prospects as a historian with each specialisation:
- Eternal Rome
- Actuele geschiedenis
- Politiek en parlement

Teacher of History in the Netherlands

Want to become a History teacher in secondary education? After completing your Master's in History you can get your ‘eerstegraads bevoegdheid’ to become a teacher in the Netherlands (leraar geschiedenis of maatschappijleer). With this degree, you can teach the higher grades of secondary school in the Netherlands (HAVO and VWO). This one-year postgraduate programme is offered in Dutch by the Radboud Docenten Academie.

PhD programme

If, upon completing your Master’s, you want to become a researcher in this field, you could choose to start a PhD. You’ll need to apply for a temporary position at a university, where you can carry out research and write you PhD paper. Many PhD candidates also teach in their field. A small number of graduates become PhD candidates.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/history

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The Master's programme in Art History and Archaeology is part of the Research Master's Degrees in Archaeology and in Arts and Culture. One of the aims of the programme is to develop an awareness of the academic responsibilities towards our cultural heritage; the programme gives you the tools to deal with these responsibilities in a proper way and translate them into research and exhibitions.

This Master's degree offers a two-year programme in the theory and methodology of material culture and landscape studies. All subjects are approached from multiple perspectives. Part of the programme is compulsory for all students. Of course, you will also choose a specialization: Archaeology, Art, Architecture or Landscape.

In the first year, you will attend two seminars that focus on the historical background of the interaction between archaeology and art. In these seminars, you will also look into perspectives on the nature and representation of cultural landscapes. Your focus for the rest of the year will be on your specialization.

In the second year, you will spend time researching a subject in the area of your field of interest. You will finish the programme by writing a thesis.

Why in Groningen?

- Intensive supervision by high-quality researchers in small groups
- Challenging multidisciplinary approach
- Research Assistantships and Talent Grants for excellent students

Job perspectives

The degree is an excellent preparation for a career in the areas of archaeology, art, architecture and landscape. After this programme a research position, within or outside the university, is a logical step.

Job examples

- (research-oriented) career in the areas of Archaeology and Art History

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Master's specialisation Eternal Rome

This course entails analysing Rome in terms of its impressive legacy to become well versed in its ancient history, medieval history, art history, classical philology, archaeology, and literary theory.

Surpassed by no other city in the Western world, Rome is renowned for its overwhelmingly rich history. The city embodies an architecturally magnificent metropolis, the impressive capital of the once mighty Roman Empire. Notions of change, continuity and eternity, have played a prominent role in the historic city. What is it that makes the image of Rome so pervasive in the past, as well as the present?

Eternal Rome's Master's programme offers an in-depth examination of the city of Rome as the capital of the Roman Empire, and of the representation of the ‘idea' of Rome throughout the centuries. Eternal Rome presents a unique programme that focuses as much on the transition between ancient and medieval history as on those periods themselves. A group of specialists from the fields of ancient and medieval history teach this specialisation. Their expertise also includes study of the status of Rome beyond the Middle Ages into the Renaissance and modern times as well.

Expanding your knowledge and ideas of Rome will deepen your insight into many questions relevant for the functioning of our modern society. An in-depth specialisation like this helps our students gain critical and thorough analytical skills that broaden the future options of our history graduates. Our graduates have found employment in public relations, industrial and public service management, librarianship, archive and museum work, teaching and lecturing and journalism.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/er

Why study Eternal Rome at Radboud University?

- Our focus on Rome is unique as the specialisation captures both the Byzantine history as well Western European developments.
- In addition to critical knowledge of Rome, you’ll also gain important skills such as being able to select, analyse and interpret pertinent historical information.
- Our staff has a wide network that includes contacts at the Royal Dutch Institute in Rome and the Netherlands Institute in Turkey. They can point you in the right direction if you want do have an internship or other opportunities in the field during your studies.
- Students may also write their Master's thesis in French, Italian, or German if that is their native tongue.
- International students looking for a semester abroad could opt for half a year in this Master’s programme, namely by following the courses in the first semester at Radboud University.

Admission requirements for international students

1. A completed Bachelor's degree in History or BA/MA degrees in related fields like Greek and Latin or Archaeology
2. proficiency in English
In order to take part in this programme, you need to have fluency in both written and spoken English. Non-native speakers of English without a Dutch Bachelor's degree or VWO diploma need one of the following:
- A TOEFL score of >550 (paper based) or >213 (computer based) or >80 (internet based)
- An IELTS score of >6.0
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with a mark of C or higher

Career prospects

Graduates of the Master’s specialisation in Eternal Rome are able to identify and contextualise the enduring impact of Rome, and the multiple roles of Rome as a political, religious and cultural centre. Our graduates are able to recognise how and why different users throughout the centuries have appropriated images and symbols of Rome. They are also able to analyse a historical debate and tackle a current problem related to historical developments.

The students in the programme concentrate on a very specific historical phenomenon and acquire skills that open a broad number of career options to them. Our specialisation has produced graduates that are appreciated by employers for their insight and analytical skills. They are able to delve into historical documents and extract the most useful parts. Our graduates have found employment in the following fields: public relations, industrial and public service management, librarianship, archive and museum work, teaching and lecturing and journalism.

Our research in this field

Education and research go hand in hand at Radboud University. All of the lecturers of Eternal Rome are members of the research institute Historical, Literary and Cultural Studies (HLCS) where there is a long tradition of research on the subject of European history in a variety of fields. The focus is on 'Europe and its Worlds' and researchers are brought together in 13 thematic research groups. Research groups that are interesting and particularly relevant for Eternal Rome students are the groups The Ancient World and Radboud Medieval and Early Modern Studies that study the ‘beginnings of Europe’.


See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/er

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Overview

Whether it is the history of Europe, the development of modern European literature or the art of Rome that fascinates you, the Research Master's specialization are an excellent choice for talented students who want to prepare themselves for an international academic career. Indeed, the diversity of interests of our teaching and research staff will allow you to specialize in almost any subject, and the space we offer within the Master's specialization for research and studies at home and abroad allows you to put together a training programme that perfectly meets your wishes.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/hlcs

Specialisations

Within the Master's programme in Historical, Literary and Cultural Studies, you can choose between three English-taught Master's specializations:

1. Historical Studies
Students can specialize in any historical theme from antiquity to the present day. Many students specialize in Ancient History, Medieval History, Cultural History from 1500 to the present, the History of Dutch Catholicism, Gender studies, Modern Political History, Globalisation and Presented History. Students, working in small numbers, will pursue their own specialty and discuss developments in contemporary historiography, debate research ideas and critique other's writings and research.

2. Literary Studies
If you have completed your Bachelor's degree in one of the classical or modern languages and have strong ambitions to conduct international research, this programme is your springboard to an academic career in literary studies. The specialization admits students of various languages and literatures, including German, French, Spanish, English (both American and British), Dutch, Ancient Greek and Latin as well as other languages and literary studies. Central to this programme is the attention paid to methods of textual interpretation and New Philology. Students select courses to fit the needs of their specialism and discuss contemporary developments and research ideas. Whether you prefer ancient Greek tragedy, contemporary American literature or Dutch poetry, the new Literary Studies Research Master's is very well suited for talented students wishing to contribute to (inter)national research in this field.

3. Art and Visual Culture
If you are interested in visual and material culture from Antiquity to the present and aspire a career in international scientific research in the fields of art, visual culture or classical archaeology, Radboud University Nijmegen is pleased to offer a two-year research Master's specialisation which offers exactly that. This programme is based on the unique cooperation of the departments of Classical Archaeology, Cultural Studies and Art History, allowing a broad perspective on the visual heritage of western culture from classical antiquity to the present as well as specialist training.

The Research Master's in Art and Visual Culture is designed for highly motivated students who are interested in the art and visual culture of Europe from classical antiquity to the present, and have ambitions for an international career in these fields.

HLCS institute

The HLCS institute greatly values the close interaction between students and top researchers, which is why our courses are open only to small numbers of students working under the supervision of experienced professors. At the start of the first year, you will choose a tutor (always an excellent researcher with relevant expertise) who will personally guide your development as a specialist in your field. Regular meetings with your tutor will ensure the steady increase of your academic skills. They will also offer the opportunity to exchange research ideas at an advanced level. Your tutor will help you apply for international funding to support research trips and the attendance of conferences, as well as guide the preparation of your PhD proposal, which is an integral part of the course programme.

Career prospects

During the Master’s programme you will gain a broad perspective on the humanities in general because of the collaboration between the programmes of Historical Studies, Literary Studies, and Art and Visual Culture. Through your personal Master’s research, you will also have concentrated on a very specific phenomenon in your own field. This combination of broad and specific focus will open a lot of doors for you. Our research programme has produced graduates that are appreciated by employees for their research skills as well as their insightfulness and analytical skills, and who have not only learned how to delve into large quantity of data and master it but also how to place their results in a larger context.

In short, at the end of the programme you’ll:
- Have acquired heuristic research skills at an advanced level.
- Have gained general knowledge of leading perspectives, theories, concepts, and paradigm shifts in the humanities and advanced knowledge specifically for own field.
- Be able to engage in the public debates regarding issues in the humanities.
- Have acquired English academic writing skills and have practiced writing a publishable scholarly article and a proposal for a PhD project.
- Have started to build up a professional international network.

Academia and beyond
This programme is initially intended to prepare its students for an academic career, in particular as PhD researchers. About half of our graduates find such a position in the Netherlands or abroad. The other half also obtain academic positions with research orientated duties. Examples include:
- Researcher at a cultural or scientific organisation or research centre
- Assistant of a senior researcher
- Teacher at an institution for higher education
- Policy-making official in the fields of culture and science
- Editor in the field of historical or cultural scholarship
- Staff member of a publishing company or and text agency, usually with regard to scientific, historical or cultural journals
- Curator of a cultural heritage institution or in the museological sector
- Consultant for a political party

See the website http://www.ru.nl/masters/hlcs

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The Research Master's programme in Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Studies focuses on interdisciplinary study of the material, social, and intellectual developments in Europe (including the Mediterranean region) from Antiquity through the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Within this long period you can focus on your academic interests by choosing one of four tracks:

1. Ancient Studies
2. Medieval Studies
3. Medieval Celtic Studies
4. Renaissance Studies.

Within each track, you will work with source materials in their original languages, including in manuscript form. The Ancient Studies track has a keen interest in archaeology. The Medieval Studies and Renaissance Studies tracks go beyond a solely historical approach by including courses in literature, linguistics, art history, musicology, and history. In the Medieval Studies track, you may specialize in either Medieval History, Medieval Art History, Medieval Literature, or Medieval Musicology. Medieval Celtic Studies combines literary studies with historical linguistics.

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The Master’s programme in Classics and Ancient Civilisations at Leiden University provides comprehensive training covering the entire range of present-day research on the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome, Egypt and the Near East.

Visit the website: http://en.mastersinleiden.nl/programmes/classics-and-ancient-civilisations/en/introduction

Course detail

This MA programme is unique in the Netherlands in the breadth of its subject matter, the historical periods covered and the multidisciplinary approach of its study. From the beginning of history in Egypt and Mesopotamia up to the Medieval texts in Neo-Latin, Coptic or Hebrew. Characteristic for the MA is its focus on reading ancient texts in their original languages, and discussing the different interpretations that the texts allow.

The Leiden programme distinguishes itself from other similar master’s programmes by offering expertise in the world of the Hebrew Bible, ancient Judaism, emerging Christianity, ancient Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Egypt (ancient, antique and late-antique) and Greco-Roman Antiquity, all seen from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Format

The programme introduces a wide variety of research methods, all of them well-represented in the research carried out at Leiden University. The combined study of sources of different nature is a particularly exiting research approach, because it may lead to new interpretations of the past. Traditional philology with its intimate knowledge of languages and texts, while still indispensable, is enriched by social history and economic theory, comparative literature, the study of religion in an anthropological perspective and, of course, archaeology and material culture.

Specialisations

- Assyriology
- Classics
- Egyptology
- Hebrew and Aramaic Studies

Careers

You have a wealth of other options besides teaching. The study programme will enable you to use your knowledge of classical antiquity to examine or explain texts and cultural phenomena from both antiquity and later periods. Graduates use their specialist knowledge within museums, libraries, antiquarian bookshops, publishing houses, or booksellers. Other graduates start their career at cultural or governmental organisations or enter into business.

How to apply: http://en.mastersinleiden.nl/arrange/admission

Funding

For information regarding funding, please visit the website: http://prospectivestudents.leiden.edu/scholarships

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The Research Master’s programme in Classics and Ancient Civilisations at Leiden University provides intensive and comprehensive training covering the entire range of present-day research on the civilisations of Greece and Rome and the Ancient Near East.

Visit the website:http://en.mastersinleiden.nl/programmes/middle-eastern-studies-research/en/contact-info

Course detail

The Leiden programme distinguishes itself from other similar master’s programmes by consistently integrating the world of the Hebrew Bible, ancient Judaism, emerging Christianity, the cuneiform cultures of Ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt (ancient, antique and late-antique) and Greco-Roman Antiquity within their broader context. The amount of specialisations available is also unparalleled.

Specialisations

- Assyriology (research)
- Classics (research)
- Egyptology (research)
- Hebrew and Aramaic Studies (research)

Careers

As a graduate of a two-year research master’s degree you are qualified to work as a junior academic researcher in an academic environment or carry out further research work on a PhD programme.The programme makes creative use of a plethora of methods, all of them well-represented at Leiden University. Traditional philology with its intimate knowledge of languages and texts, while still indispensable, is enriched by social history and political theory, comparative literature, the study of religion in an anthropological perspective and archaeology and material culture.

How to apply: http://en.mastersinleiden.nl/arrange/admission

Funding

For information regarding funding, please visit the website: http://prospectivestudents.leiden.edu/scholarships

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History and Philosophy of Science

The Master's programme in History and Philosophy of Science offers a unique opportunity to study the foundations, practice and culture of science from historical and philosophical perspectives.

This two-year master's programme encompasses the history and philosophy of the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, medicine, and mathematics.
The historical approach focuses on the development of scientific thought and practice in times past, including the relations between science and cultural, social or institutional features at particular times and places. The focus is mostly on the early modern and modern periods (17th-20th century). Philosophy of science studies questions concerning the nature of scientific knowledge, methods and explanations. It also includes conceptual analysis of fundamental theories such as relativity theory, quantum mechanics, evolution and modern genetics.

The programme is both broad and flexible. The main specializations are: History of Science or the Humanities, Philosophy of Science, Foundations of Physics, and Foundations of Mathematics and Logic.

Nearly half of our alumni continue in PhD programmes in Utrecht or elsewhere. Many have also found employment in science communication, science policy, consultancy, or other fields.

This programme is the only English-taught programme in the field on the European continent.

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The Research Master's programme in Art History is devoted to the art and architecture of the Low Countries (Netherlands and Belgium) from the late Middle Ages to the present day.

The two-year Research Master's programme in Art History focuses on the art and architecture of the Low Countries (present-day Netherlands and Belgium), and spans the period from the late Middle Ages to the present day. You will study Netherlandish art and architecture, taking into account their international context. We invite you to critically reflect on the production of art and architecture, and the role of patronage; investigate the reasons why so many artist went abroad, and how they became agents in the international diffusion of art theory, style, and repertoire.

You will also have the opportunity to study other specific subjects that align with your own personal interests. Our close ties with major art museums and other cultural organisations both in the Netherlands and abroad mean that the academic and practical work are closely linked.

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What is the societal and academic significance of 'art', 'heritage' and 'culture'? Why do we value certain works of art, heritage or cultural practices and not others? How do different ways of interpreting and presenting the arts and cultural heritage affect our ideas about the past, present and future? If you are interested in finding the answers to questions like these, and you have a passion for art and cultural heritage, the master’s programme Arts and Heritage: Policy, Management and Education might be the right choice for you.

In this programme, which you can choose to follow in English or Dutch, you'll develop the academic and professional knowledge and skills you will need to become a policy maker, art manager, museum curator or educator. This internationally-oriented programme approaches art and cultural heritage from different perspectives. You will also have plenty of opportunities to concentrate on your specific areas of interest.

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How can we understand the EU’s response to the financial crisis or to the confrontation between Ukraine and Russia? How do we account for the EU’s reaction to the refugee crisis provoked by conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa? What is Europe’s peacekeeping role and capacity? The master's programme in European Studies trains you to answer these complex questions. Because you cannot study Europe from just one angle, the programme examines global developments and multi-level governance in a broader context, combining political science, history, international relations, economics and cultural studies.

This student-centred, interdisciplinary programme is among the largest, and certainly the most international, in Europe and has an excellent reputation. You will study the internal and external dimensions of European policy, governance and administration. The focus is on the underlying issues of power and influence, governance and culture within the European milieu and between Europe and the wider world.

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The master's programme in European Public Affairs is designed to meet the growing need for professionals who have a solid understanding of the multifaceted dimensions of policy-making in Europe. As policy problems transcend national borders and national problem-solving capacities, there is a need for individuals who are familiar with the complexities of Europe and the European Union, and who can reformulate intricate problems in manageable and achievable terms.

From the perspectives of political science, law, economics, cultural science and public administration, the programme delves into contemporary policy problems. You will be encouraged to become familiar with national and regional differences within the European territory, and to search out commonalities and paths for integration.

The programme is organised in close cooperation with the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA). EIPA is a professional organisation that provides training, research and consultancy within the field of European affairs. The many lectures and workshops by EIPA professionals underline the practice-oriented approach of the programme and allow you to become familiar with the complexities of transnational policy-making. You will be equipped not only with academic skills, but also the tools that you will need in professional practice.

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The master Art, Literature and Society addresses contemporary debates in literature, art, religion, philosophy and culture. The key term here is interdisciplinarity: you learn to approach debates not as a philosopher, student of literature, sociologist or art historian, but rather as a student of culture who can combine different approaches from all of these various disciplines.

You will use interdisciplinary insights to debate issues such as:

- The critique of nationalism in recent German literature
- The humanities in academia
- Architecture and politics
- Fascism and modernism
- Darwinian aesthetics
- Are we our brain?
- The role of art in the future of democracy

The debates and discussions you will have during the programme, as well as the lectures and skills trainings, will help you:

- Develop broad insights into current issues in art and literature that are of national and international importance
- Gain experience engaging in impassioned debates and tackling a range of contemporary controversies
- Learn to infuse your academic practice with an element of personality, just as an artist would with a painting

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The research-intensive master’s in European Studies is an interdisciplinary programme that combines political science and international relations with history and sociology. Research plays a primary role from the outset, with research projects integrated into each core module. You will gain in-depth training in methods such as quantitative and qualitative techniques, comparative methods and discourse analysis. You will also develop skills in designing research, writing research proposals, publishing your work and applying for funding and research positions. For the elective component, you can choose to take specialised courses, complete a research internship or do an exchange abroad. The master’s programme culminates with a thesis and the development of a PhD research proposal.

In this programme, you will:
- Learn to critically analyse and discuss challenges facing the EU
- Gain experience working in a multidisciplinary, international academic environment
- Receive in-depth training in conducting high-quality research
- Focus on designing, implementing and publishing your own research

A future in research

The overall objective of this programme is to equip graduates for high-level research careers in and outside academia. Thanks to the networks and activities of the research staff at Maastricht University, you will enjoy unique access to researchers at other universities, policymakers at EU institutions and member state administrations, Brussels-based interest groups, think tanks and other actors. Students in this programme also take active part in the Politics and Culture in Europe research programme, which is one of the largest research groups in European Studies.

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