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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes History - Research
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History

Are you a talented student of History? Is a career in research something you aspire to? Then this programme is exactly what you are looking for.

The Research Master's degree programme in History offers the two-year Master's track Classical, Medieval and Early Modern Studies .

Classical, Medieval and Early Modern Studies explores Classical Antiquity, the Middle Ages and Early Modernity in Europe and the Middle East. You will study the similarities and differences between these periods. In addition, you will gain fundamental insights into the cultural changes that preceded the modern period.


Facts & Figures
Degree
MA in History (research)
Course type
Research master
Duration
24 months (120 ECTS)
Croho code
60139
Language of instruction
English
Start
February, September
Faculty
Arts
Why study this programme in Groningen?

Classical, Medieval and Early Modern Studies:

  • Intensive supervision by high-quality researchers in small groups
  • Unique approach that allows you to embed your chosen discipline in wider diachronic or synchronic fields
Programme
Programme options
Classical Medieval and Early Modern Studies (track)

Are you interested in the history, literature and culture of classical and ancient civilizations? Is a career in research something you aspire to? Then this track is just what you are looking for.

This two-year Research Master's track is a track of the three different Research Master's degrees programmes, namely in History, Literary Studies, and Classics and Ancient Civilizations. As such, Classical, Medieval and Early Modern Studies offers a multidisciplinary environment. Depending on your background and research interests, you will decide on your main subject. You can focus on history and choose between Ancient, Medieval or Early Modern History. You can also focus on literature. Then your options are Latin, Greek, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch or German Literature.

The track studies Classical Antiquity, the Middle Ages and Early Modernity in Europe and the Middle East. You will explore the similarities and differences between these periods. In addition, you will gain fundamental insights into the cultural changes that preceded the modern period.

You can design your own programme to fit your interests. You will take specialist tutorials and courses on theory and method, and finish the programme by writing a thesis.

More information about this option

Entry requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Please see the entry requirements for the ReMa Classical, Medieval and Early Modern Studies for more information: https://www.rug.nl/masters/classical-medieval-and-early-modern-studies-research/#!requirements

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.

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

Please note: whether it is possible to start this Master's degree programme as of 1 February 2023 depends on several different factors. Please contact the study advisor (under the "Contact" button) for more information.

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Please see the entry requirements for the ReMa Classical, Medieval and Early Modern Studies for more information: https://www.rug.nl/masters/classical-medieval-and-early-modern-studies-research/#!requirements

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

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

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

Please note: whether it is possible to start this Master's degree programme as of 1 February 2023 depends on several different factors. Please contact the study advisor (under the "Contact" button) for more information.

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

The research master history offers many opportunities for developing academic and professional skills and knowledge. Among others, the module Careers in Research and Society will help students to identify and sharpen their skills set acquired during their studies. After graduation, many of our students will endeavour to obtain a place as a PhD researcher.

Students are informed about the possibilities and pitfalls involved in applying for PhD positions inside and outside the University of Groningen. Each student will have to include a PhD proposal in his or her Master's thesis. Approximately 50% of our alumni have successfully obtained a PhD position.

Students also have the opportunity to build up experience in the form of internships in a cultural institution with a research component, such as Tresoar in Leeuwarden or the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) in Amsterdam.

Finally, we want to cater for students who wish to pursue a career in teaching. To this end we have created a fast track that allows students to integrate part of the Master of Arts in Teaching programme into their own programme.

Job examples

  • Historic researcher
  • Journalist
  • Teacher
  • Employee of a Library
  • Employee of a Museum
  • Employee of a Cultural Organization
Research

Research in the Centre for Historical Studies

The Centre is devoted to research on a wide range of aspects of historical investigation spanning from Classical Antiquity to our own time. Research interests are mainly focused on the cultural, social, political and economic diversity of Western societies, but also expand to the non-western world (notably South East Asia, Africa) and cover issues such as post-colonialism and transnationalism.

Three research groups facilitate interdisciplinary research on themes which are at the heart of current debates in historical disciplines and the wider society. Researchers operate interdisciplinary and international.

  1. 'Sustainable societies: past and present' studies forms and practices, arrangements, cultures and institutions which explain and contribute to the social coherence and sustainability of societies from antiquity to the present. It is unique in its endeavour to lay bare the historical and cultural roots of the present-day relationship between politics, state and society. It addresses explicitly the role of literary, artistic and religious culture in these processes alongside that of the more familiar political institutions.
  2. 'Regions, Networks, Mobility': research in this theme group is based on the idea that money, goods, news, knowledge and beliefs function and become meaningful in networks of exchange within or crossing borders. The complexity of the historical processes involved is addressed interdisciplinary, thereby challenging economic, social, cultural and political historians as well as other researchers in the arts and humanities and beyond to cooperate and develop new and exciting insights and interpretations. The theme is embedded in Groningen's research strength in the history of regions and in the evolving new research area of the circulation of knowledge.
  3. 'Thinking about History and Historical Culture'. The University of Groningen has a long and internationally recognized expertise in the metahistorical reflection of history and culture. The aim of this research group is twofold: to surpass the limits of one single historiographical perspective and to analyze human memory as it manifests itself in (auto-)biographical writing, historical products of individuals or groups that collect, record or write 'their own' history such as game designers, historical novelists and film producers.
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Contact

  • Ask Your Question Here (please fill in this contact form, we will answer you as soon as possible.)
  • Caroline Dijkema (Study Advisor)
    Email: cmems.advice rug.nl
  • Mireya Harmsen BSc (coordinator: for all questions regarding application)
    Email: rema.arts rug.nl
  • Chris Zeeman (Student Ambassador)
    Email: c.l.zeeman student.rug.nl

PhD student at the University of Groningen

After completing my Bachelor's degree programme in English Language and Culture I was on the lookout for more depth and specialization. This Research Master's programme was just what I was looking for. I was also able to broaden my knowledge by following a number of private seminars and tutorials.

One of the most enjoyable and successful parts of my degree was the tutorial that I set up with my fellow students, The Skelton Project. We worked on a website with digital editions of poems by the medieval poet John Skelton. Although we’ve graduated now, we still love working on animations of Skelton’s poems. In the Research Master’s programme we didn’t just conduct research, but developed other skills too. Organizing the CMRS conference in the first year, for instance, was good preparation for the organizational side of the academic world. If I hadn’t made the decision to do the Research Master’s track in Classical, Medieval and Early Modern Studies I wouldn’t be where I am now as a PhD student at the University of Groningen. In my PhD research, I am analysing medieval manuscripts containing agricultural texts that English landowners would have read. I became interested in this topic as I was researching the development of agricultural treatises for my Master's thesis.

Read more

I choose the courses that are fitting to my interests: ancient history

I applied to several universities but chose Groningen because of the interdisciplinary nature of the track and the fact that in contrast to other universities, Groningen offers a two-year track instead of one. More importantly, the lesser amount of tuition fees, comparing to other countries, has been an important motivation for doing my Master's degree here in the Netherlands.

The advantage of this track is that it offers the opportunity to structure your programme as you want. I choose the courses that are fitting my interests: ancient history. Thus, I can set the focus on my own investigation, with efficient supervision: associations of the Greek and Roman cities. A great asset of the track is that some courses include excursions to other countries. For instance, in the first semester we visited Rome and this has been a great and unique experience for me. Not only did we have the opportunity to visit a lot of sites and museums, but also to experience academic work on site, that is presenting certain monuments, in front of the monuments, rather than via a pc.

Furthermore, I find it very convenient that there are not many exams in the track. They do not count my development as a student on a strict basis of reproducing knowledge, but they want to see my interpretation and my research. Although the track has disadvantages sometimes, in general lines this approach is fulfilling for me. For the future I would like to continue with my research since I have plans to do a PhD.

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.

Research Assistants Programme

Talented and motivated students who start in September in one of the five Research Master Programmes offered by the Faculty of Arts, may apply for a paid position of one day a week at the university.

Read more about the Research Assistants Programme positions.

Read more

Study associations

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

Each Master's degree programme has a study advisor whom you can contact if you have questions or need advice about your degree programme and other study-related matters. Everything you discuss will be treated confidentially. If you have a more complex problem, for example study delay, a performance disability or if you are ill for a long time, you should contact a student counsellor.

In addition, you can also follow various courses at the Study Support section of the Student Service Centre (SSC), for example on study stress and holding presentations.