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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes Modern History and International Relations - Research
Header image Modern History and International Relations

Modern History and International Relations

Are you a talented student and interested in modern history and international relations? Is a career in research something you aspire to? Then this track is exactly what you are looking for.

You can take the Master's track in Modern History and International Relations as a track within the Research Master's degree programme in International Relations.

The two-year Master's track in Modern History and International Relations teaches you to carry out independent academic research in the fields of modern history and international relations. You will explore recent developments in these fields and study relevant theoretical and methodological backgrounds. You will learn about subjects such as international political economy, the history of cultural identity and European cooperation and integration.

As a student of this programme you work in small groups and are supervised by highly qualified researchers. The programme is closely related to the research carried out at the Groningen Research Institute for the Study of Culture (ICOG) and the N.W. Posthumus Institute.

Facts & Figures
Degree
MA in International Relations (research)
Course type
Research master
Duration
24 months (120 ECTS)
Croho code
60820
Language of instruction
English
Start
February, September
Faculty
Arts
Why study this programme in Groningen?
  • Intensive supervision by high-quality researchers in small groups
  • A challenging multidisciplinary approach
  • Research Assistantships
Programme
Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Methodology Modern History and International Relations (5 EC)
Research Seminar I (10 EC)
Theory of Modern History and International Relations (10 EC)
Advanced Methodology International Relations (5 EC, optional)
Advanced Methodology IR (5 EC, optional)
Research Seminar II (10 EC)
Research Seminar III (10 EC)
Themes, Trends & Topics (10 EC)
Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
MHIR: Specialization 1 (10 EC)
MHIR: Specialization 2 (10 EC)
Bridging Horizons Class (5 EC)
Thesis Preparation Class (5 EC)
Research Master's Thesis MHIR (30 EC)

Curriculum

Research Seminars I-IV can be chosen from the range of research seminars offered by the master programmes in History, International Relations, American Studies en Media Studies (in consultation with the Director of Studies). MHIR Specialization 1-3 can be fulfilled by choosing research seminars (at the RUG or at another (Dutch or foreign) university), by following individual tutorials and/or by doing a research placement.

Programme options
Modern History (specialization)
  • History of Politics and Governance
  • Urban and Regional Social and Economic History
  • History of Cultural Identity
International Relations (specialization)
  • International Security and Theory of International Organizations
  • International Political Economy
  • European Co-operation and Integration
  • International Order and Global Governance
Master's placement (specialization)

During this Master's track, you can follow a placement for ECTS credit points.

It is your responsibility to find a placement yourself, but the Office for Student Affairs can offer help with this where necessary.

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is optional
  • Maximum of 30 EC
Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
American StudiesUniversity of Groningen

No additional requirements

More information:

This programme has a selection procedure.

International Relations and International OrganizationUniversity of Groningen

No additional requirements

More information:

This programme has a selection procedure.

History (part-time)University of Groningen

No additional requirements

More information:

This programme has a selection procedure.

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
American StudiesAll Research universities

No additional requirements

More information:

This programme has a selection procedure.

History (part-time)All Research universities

No additional requirements

More information:

This programme has a selection procedure.

International Relations and International OrganizationAll Research universities

No additional requirements

More information:

This programme has a selection procedure.

Politics, Psychology, Law and EconomicsAll Research universities

No additional requirements

More information:

This programme has a selection procedure.

Political ScienceAll Research universities

No additional requirements

More information:

This programme has a selection procedure.

International StudiesAll Research universities

No additional requirements

More information:

This programme has a selection procedure.

International Development StudiesAll Research universities

No additional requirements

More information:

This programme has a selection procedure.

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

BA degree in:

  • History
  • International Relations
  • American Studies
  • Political Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • an other related field
grade list

An excellent academic record: An overview of the results achieved so far within the Bachelor's degree programme and/or other university degree programmes is required

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A Curriculum Vitae (CV)

language test

Additional English language requirement: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 100 (with a minimum score for speaking and writing of 25 (each)), or an IELTS score of 7 (with a minimum of 6.5 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 185.

reference letter

Two personal letters of recommendation from staff members who can comment on the students' affinity with and capacities for research.

(motivation-) letter

A letter outlining the prospective student's motivation for selecting the programme and Research Master's track, including their expectations and interests.

other admission requirements

Furthermore, the selection procedure is also based on an evaluation of degree certificates, individual results and the thesis or paper.

Selection procedure

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025
01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025
01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025
01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Prospective students are required to have knowledge at Bachelor's level of modern history and/ or international relations. Examples of these types of Bachelor's programmes are:

  • History
  • International Relations
  • American Studies
  • Political Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • another related field
grade list

An excellent academic record: An overview of the results achieved so far within the Bachelor's degree programme and/or other university degree programmes is required.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A Curriculum Vitae (CV)

language test

Additional English language requirement: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 100 (with a minimum score for speaking and writing of 25 (each)), or an IELTS score of 7 (with a minimum of 6.5 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 185.

reference letter

Two personal letters of recommendation from staff members who can comment on the students' affinity with and capacities for research.

(motivation-) letter

A letter outlining the prospective student's motivation for selecting the programme and Research Master's track, including their expectations and interests.

other admission requirements

Furthermore, the selection procedure is also based on an evaluation of degree certificates, individual results and the thesis or paper.

Selection procedure

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025
01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025
01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025
01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2023-2024€ 2314full-time
non-EU/EEA2023-2024€ 16000full-time
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 18700full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

After graduation you are well prepared for a career in research at a university or a private or governmental research institute. You can pursue jobs at international organizations and government institutions as well. You can apply for a PhD-position.

Job examples

  • Research oriented career in International Relations or History
  • International Affairs / Foreign Policy Advisor jobs
  • Investigating Journalism
  • Academic positions
Research

MHIR Journals

About the project

Students in the Research Master Modern History and International Relations (MHIR) have started analysing journals relevant to their disciplines in 2010, and their successors continue to do so each year. This website aims to collect their reviews, and offer interested scholars access to our research, while at the same time showcasing the quality of the work of the students in the Research Master MHIR .

Students have analysed journals both qualitatively and quantitatively, delving into several issues of academic journals dealing with the subjects of History and International Relations. Reviews generally offer an introduction of the journal’s history, followed by an analysis of the themes and topics dealt with by the journal, and also an analysis of the background of the authors.

This project also offers interested parties and prospective students an example of the extent to which the University of Groningen succeeds in making research results easily available, showcasing that the work done by students does not need to gather dust in the archives of our professors.

The overview below lists all the analysed journals alphabetically.

Overview of journals

Clicking on the name of the journal will take you to the individual review. Please take note of the different volumes analysed.

Interested parties are invited to first read two introductory articles.

Apply nowBrochureEventsContact

Contact

  • Ask Your Question Here (please fill in this contact form, we will answer you as soon as possible.)
  • Dr. Benjamin Herborth (Programme Coordinator)
    Email: b.a.herborth rug.nl
  • Caroline Dijkema (Study Advisor)
    Email: mhir.advice rug.nl
  • Mireya Harmsen MA (coordinator: for all questions regarding application)
    Email: rema.arts rug.nl
  • Sophie Schulderbacher (Student Ambassador)
    Email: s.schulderbacher student.rug.nl

Research Fellow at Clingendael Institute

Five years ago I enrolled in the Research Master's programme in Modern History and International Relations at the University of Groningen. It was a small-scale programme that gave you the opportunity to develop further in a specific field of research in a group of 10 students. That appealed to me, as did the interesting modules that were offered alongside the regular programme, such as 'Euroculture' and the summer school 'Democracy and Transitional Justice'.

With the combination of academic depth and the option of doing a placement, the Research Master’s programme was a good preparation for the job market. Before I finished the programme I had already found a job as public relations officer for the Dutch Labour Party’s MEPs in Brussels. The flexibility of the programme and my thesis supervisor’s good supervision made it possible for me to graduate with honours alongside my work.

I currently work as a research fellow for Europe at Clingendael, the Netherlands Institute for International Relations in The Hague. With the European Union facing significant challenges, it is a special time to be working at the Europe cluster at Clingendael. My research is on European administration, European integration and European Neighbourhood Policy. In the future I would like to do a PhD on one of these topics.

Read more

I specialized in African Studies and International Development

After gaining my Bachelor's degree in History I started the Research Master's degree programme in Modern History and International Relations at the University of Groningen. My History programme was rather broad-based and I knew that this Master's programme offered a lot of room for personal preferences and specialization. During my Master's I specialized in African Studies and International Development.

In the first year I followed several research seminars on Africa, and in the second I started a placement at the African Studies Centre in Leiden. In this centre I helped disseminate knowledge and understanding of African communities and developed all kinds of tools, such as a mobile app. I then moved to the UK to complete my specialization. I liked it so much that I decided to stay and write my Master's thesis on school systems in Congo (DRC). My thesis analyses a potential new development in the provision of education by non-state actors such as religious institutions. This is a topic that will lead us to debates and questions such as: 'Can we use religion for development cooperation?'

In the future I would like to work for an international advisory centre, or perhaps as an operational manager for an NGO – preferably a development organization, so that I can use my knowledge and expertise to analyse and help improve local policy.

Read more

The content of the programme is supplemented by the diverse backgrounds of the participating students

I am a second year student in the ReMa Modern History and International Relations. Thus far, the programme has met the expectations I had prior to my arrival in Groningen: academic and intellectual rigor, freedom to pursue personal interests in depth and the acquirement of the methodological tools imperative to conduct high-quality research.

The interdisciplinary nature of my programme appeared as a natural continuation of my growing interests. Having arrived in Groningen with little or no knowledge of IR theory, I was quickly immersed in it and immediately recognized its value to my own interests. The content of the programme is supplemented by the diverse backgrounds of the participating students. We all approach the same topic from divergent perspectives, providing fruitful debates that challenge our preconceived notions of our disciplines and encourages critical thinking.

Read more

Internship at United Nations Women South Asia Regional Office in Delhi

I gathered a lot of new 'intellectual' knowledge during my internship, as the viewpoints and issues you learn about in an UN office in India are very different from what you learn at a Dutch university and in the Western culture. Moreover, I developed my ability to work individually as a researcher, but also as a colleague in a multicultural team.

What I also find very valuable is my personal learning. For example, I learned how to - as an intern and a foreigner - adapt to and behave in a demanding working environment and to live in a country and culture I did not know and sometimes found incomprehensible or even awful. Hence, I think students should do an internship, if possible abroad, because it is one of the biggest boosts you can give to your personal as well intellectual development, which makes it challenging, but also very interesting, valuable and useful.

I really liked that I was moving out of the ‘ivory tower’ into the ‘real world’ for a bit and got an insight into a part of the international political (development) system in practice. This allowed me to further my ideas about what future career I might want to pursue. I also very much liked that I could use this opportunity to investigate a topic which I find really interesting, but that I also got tasks from my boss that dealt with topics I would never have delft into myself. Furthermore, I was really lucky, because I got many opportunities to meet interesting people, to participate in conferences and seminars and to travel in order to better fulfill my tasks. Of course I also enjoyed the periods of travelling prior to and after my internship a lot - India has much to discover!

Read more

Holland Scholarship

Are you an international student from a non EU/EEA member state starting a Research Master's programme or Erasmus Mundus Master's programme at the Faculty of Arts? If so, you could qualify for the Holland Scholarship, a partial scholarship which helps you to finance your studies.

Read more on the Holland Scholarship.

University of Groningen Orange Tulip Scholarship/Talent Grant of Faculty of Arts


Are you a non-EU/EEA student from Russia, India or Indonesia, starting a Master's programme at the Faculty of Arts? If so, you could qualify for the University of Groningen OTS/Talent Grant, Faculty of Arts, a partial scholarship which helps you to finance your studies.

Read more about the OTS/Talent Grant Faculty of Arts.

Master’s degree programmes in History and International Relations

The Faculty of Arts also offers one year master’s degree programmes in History and International Relations.

Read more

Study associations

Clio

Clio is the study association of International Relations and International Organization at the University of Groningen.
It has around 1000 members and is one of the largest study associations in Groningen and the largest study association at a Dutch Faculty of Arts. Clio organises numerous events including parties, workshops, excursions and offers services like high-quality summaries, the internship database and various discounts around Groningen.
https://www.clio.nl/home

Ubbo Emmius

Ubbo Emmius is the study association of the History department at the University of Groningen.
The association organizes a broad set of activities year-round. These can vary from social, study related, career or even activities that focus on all together. Not only this, but you can also get a nice discount on all your study books if you order them through us. The organization of the activities lies, for the main part, with the 17 committees that Ubbo has. There is for example the Career Committee, the Party Committee, the Travel Committee and the list goes on. All in all being a member of Ubbo is a great addition to your time as a student! For a full overview of who we are and what we do, you can take a look on our website or social media.
https://www.ubbo-emmius.nl/home

Synthesis

Synthesis is the new study association for all Research Master students from the Faculty of Arts. Synthesis is both a social network and a platform for the academic development of young scholars. Given our shared interest in academic research, Synthesis organizes a variety of seminars, lectures and workshops about academic skills or career strategy with interesting speakers from different fields.
Synthesis also aims to create and maintain an active Research Master community by organizing social activities such as drinks, dinners and fun trips. Join our Facebook group for more information.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/468316950175210/
Read more
Study support

If you have any questions or doubts about your studies, you can always contact the study advisor. He or she knows all the ins and outs of the programme and personal planning. Study advisors are impartial and everything that is discussed is treated confidentially. They can also help you find the right institutions and student desks for your problems.