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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes History History Today
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History Today

In this master you will learn to work with the Groningen model: from a historical perspective, providing insight into current issues, this with emphasis on practical historical applications at an academic level.

The expertise of experienced teachers and experts from the field is used in (guest) lectures, internships and practical assignments that bring historical theory to life.

You will learn how to interpret, evaluate and translate cross-border historical phenomena such as migrations, pandemics and terrorism into policy advice. Learn how to create a responsible exhibition or how you can delve into the application of digital techniques in research and public presentations. Or learn how to place the consequences of change processes in organizations and companies in their historical development

The master offers three specializations:

  • History and Heritage Consultancy
  • Politics, Organizations and Learning Histories
  • Un / sustainable Societies : Past, Present and Future

In each specialization you will follow a flagship course and matching method courses and together with all master students you will participate in the Masterclass. You deepen your content by choosing from the many research lectures . Finally, there is the possibility to graduate with a thesis or in an alternative way, such as an organizational research, policy analyzes, an exhibition plan or the development of teaching materials.

(See Programme for more info on specializations)

Facts & Figures
Degree
MA in History
Course type
Master
Duration
12 months (60 ECTS)
Croho code
66034
Language of instruction
Dutch, English
Start
February, September
Faculty
Arts
Why study this programme in Groningen?
  • The practical application of historical knowledge and methods at an academic level
  • Specialization programs in preparation for a job outside the academic world, including placements.
  • Versatile work forms (hands-on history, internships, special final projects, substantive lectures, tutorials from experts in the field)
  • Extensive and varied master classes for all history master students
  • Tailor-made studies: giving your own direction to your studies
Programme
Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Historical Methods (1 or 2 depending on specialization) (10 EC)
Masterclass (10 EC)
Research seminar: Introduction to Sustainability (10 EC, optional)
Research seminar History (10 EC)
Atelier Living Heritage (10 EC, optional)
Learning History and Organisation (10 EC, optional)
MA placement (10 EC, optional)
MA thesis History (20 EC)
Programme options
History and Heritage Consultancy (specialization)

The specialization History and Heritage Consultancy prepares you for many jobs within the heritage sector, from policy officer / advisor to (public) organizations to historical researcher.

The focus is on applying academic knowledge and skills in practice. How do you interpret the complexity of history and heritage, as visible in historical buildings, objects, practices, customs and opinions. What past do we want to keep or maybe forget? What motivates us (politically) in our heritage choices? This master is unique in its double focus on academic questions related to (controversial) heritage and on practical organizational skills (project and organization management, grant capture, negotiation techniques and pitching) that are necessary for working in heritage organizations and government institutions. In brief:

  • The MA is academic and hands-on: We train you on how to apply academic knowledge and skills in practice.
  • A unique focus on consultancy skills.
  • The job market is an integral part of the program through an excellent internship program and intensive co-teaching with experts from the field.
Politics, Organizations and Learning Histories (specialization)

Are you interested in politics, policy and the implementation of policy in organizations? Then this is the specialization for you.

You not only learn what politics is, but especially how politics has worked. In research seminars you study the practice on the basis of all kinds of institutions and organizations from the administration of the great empires, to monastic orders, the VOC, modern bureaucracies, etc.

A central subject is 'Learning history and organizations'. For this, you will work in an organization or company with a method for collective learning of the history of organizations or partnerships. Based on sources and interviews, you write a story that shows the 'blind spots' in the past of the organizations. In preparation you will receive the necessary theoretical and practical tools that will be practiced one by one. In the meantime, more than 80 learning histories have already been carried out and the course has built up a large network of organizations from which you can benefit. Through the learning history course, students have found their way to municipalities, provinces, banks, consultancies and their own companies.

You can finish the master with theses on subjects from political history, (inter) national parliamentary history, policy history, the history of large organizations from the past (monastic orders, VOC, UN etc.) or a learning history for an organization of your choice.

Un/sustainable Societies: Past, present and future (specialization)

Are you interested in contemporary political debates and do you want to contribute to social issues through solid historical knowledge? Then this is the specialization for you.

The specialization has five spearheads, namely politics, democracy and populism; economic growth and inequality; environmental history and food security; population, urbanization and mobility; geopolitics, conflict and security. You learn to interpret these issues historically, paying attention to both local and international dynamics.

A unique course is 'Introduction to Sustainability', in which you will become acquainted with the most important historical debates on complex sustainability issues. You also profile yourself in terms of content with the choice of your research seminars. This allows you to emphasize a specific time period (Antiquity, Middle Ages or Contemporary History) and / or a region (Central and Eastern Europe, the United States, Asia, Africa or Latin America).

In the second semester you set up the program completely according to your wishes. Follow an internship, do a group assignment or choose an extra research lecture. Students can apply their knowledge locally, nationally and internationally and gain practical experience in government institutions, think tanks, consultancy, media and IOs and NGOs.

As a conclusion, you write a thesis or choose an alternative graduation track. Developing innovative teaching materials or conducting a policy analysis are among the possibilities.

Master's placement (specialization)

During this Master's degree programme, 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

A study period abroad can be combined with the placement and/or the Master's final assignment. You could also follow a seminar at a university abroad.

Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Teacher Education in HistoryAll Universities of applied sciences

Via a pre-master

More information:

Aangevuld met een premaster Geschiedenis van 50 ECTS (aan de RUG)

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Classical StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

International Relations and International OrganizationUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

American StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

European Languages and CulturesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

Arts, Culture and MediaUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

ArchaeologyUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

Art HistoryUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

Middle Eastern StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

TheologyUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

PhilosophyUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

Human Geography and PlanningUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

Media StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

Communication and Information StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

Information ScienceUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

English Language and CultureUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

LinguisticsUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

Dutch Language and CultureUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

Minorities & MultilingualismUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

HistoryUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
History (part-time)All Research universitiesNo additional requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education
  • A Bachelor's degree in History
  • A Bachelor's degree from a Research University in a field adjacent to History and a completed pre-master programme (max. 30 ECTS)
  • A Bachelor's degree from an Applied University in a field adjacent to History and a completed pre-master programme (max. 50 ECTS)
language test

Additional requirements English: Minimum language requirements of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items).Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. Students who gained a bachelor's degree certificate from an English-taught degree programme, will automatically meet the language requirements.

Registration procedure

Please use this step-by-step guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 August 202301 September 2023
15 January 202401 February 2024
15 August 202401 September 2024
EU/EEA students15 October 202301 February 2024
01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025
non-EU/EEA students15 October 202301 February 2024
01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education
  • A Bachelor's Diploma in History
  • A Bachelor's Diploma from a research university in a field related to History plus a pre-master (max. 30 ECTS)
  • A Bachelor's Diploma from a university of applied sciences in a field related to History plus a pre-master (max. 50 ECTS)
language test

Additional requirements English: Minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. Students who gained a bachelor's degree certificate from an English-taught degree programme, will automatically meet the language requirements.

Registration procedure

Please use this step-by-step guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 August 202301 September 2023
15 January 202401 February 2024
15 August 202401 September 2024
EU/EEA students15 October 202301 February 2024
01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025
non-EU/EEA students15 October 202301 February 2024
01 May 202401 September 2024
15 October 202401 February 2025
Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2023-2024€ 2314full-time
non-EU/EEA2023-2024€ 16000full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

On completing the Master's degree programme in History Today, you will be able to think critically and with a problem-resolution approach. You will be able to process large amounts of information and present the results clearly. Historians often find work in journalism and in museums, cultural institutions or publishing houses. They also regularly go into politics, the government or business.

Job examples

  • Editor and journalist in various media
  • Manager in a business
  • Advisor to businesses or government
  • Departmental director in an educational or cultural institution
  • Policy officer
  • Administrative consultant in the government
  • Communications advisor
  • Curator at a cultural institution
  • Coordinator in education, events, and so forth
  • Teacher
  • Party assistant in the European Parliament or a political party
  • Head of educational services at a cultural institution
  • Researcher
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

  • 
						Testimonial of Henk van der Cor Kwast

    Ambassador in Slovakia

    – Henk van der Cor Kwast
    Read more

    I chose to study History (then: Contemporary History) because I was interested in political and social issues, especially international relations. For me, studying History was a subject in which you learn to understand the present better. For example, how did political leaders deal with conflicts in the past? And how was progress achieved?

    Close
  • 
						Testimonial of Alumnus Wouter Schelfhorst

    Junior Research Consultant - Meines Holla & Partners

    – Alumnus Wouter Schelfhorst
    Read more

    In August 2013, I started a practical placement at Meines Holla & Partners in The Hague, a lobbying and public affairs office that provides a range of public and private parties with advice and support in setting agendas and representing interests. Both parties were happy with the placement and so after a traineeship lasting a year, I stayed on as a Junior Research Consultant.

    My job involves assisting consultants in various lobbying and public affairs processes, acting as a junior advisor on several accounts and conducting research (e.g. political feasibility studies and stakeholder analyses) for current and potential clients.

    I started considering my career options while doing my Bachelor's degree in History. I wanted politics to be part of my career, so I chose the specialization Policy, Administration and Politics as part of my History Today Master's track. I decided to stay in Groningen on account of the broad range of subjects and the possibility of gaining practical experience during a placement.

    The research and writing skills I developed during the Master's track now form the basis of my current duties. In addition, the methodology course units in quantitative policy analysis and interviewing now stand me in good stead during my day-to-day work in the political world of The Hague.

    I work on the cutting edge of politics and industry and for the time being I'm in exactly the right place. The lobbying and public affairs sector suits me down to the ground and I'm very ambitious – I hope to realise my ambitions within this company in the years to come.

    Close
  • 
						Testimonial of Alumna Keshia Hederman

    Consultant at ECP Platform for the Information Society

    – Alumna Keshia Hederman
    Read more

    Studying history was a conscious decision. I was drawn to media and culture and keen to study the lesser known subjects and stories, so I chose Media, Culture and Heritage as my specialist subject.

    I was particularly intrigued by the course units in Visual Culture and Documentation Techniques, which examine the power of imagery and explain how you can tell a visual story. The knowledge I acquired was very useful later on in the programme, while I was researching up-and-coming film culture in North Korea.

    At the moment, I am working as an advisor at ECP Platform for the Information Society, where I mainly concentrate on communication tasks and project management. On graduating, I worked as a researcher at the VPRO television company for a while, preparing various programmes and documentaries behind the scenes.

    The Master's track teaches you how to deal with huge volumes of information. You also develop your capacities for analytical thinking and your writing skills to a very high standard. You learn to think critically, as this is an essential aspect of History. The small scale of Groningen and the friendly atmosphere in the city are what particularly appealed to me. But there's a lot more to it if you study History. I really enjoyed student life and had a terrific time in Groningen!

    Close

University of Groningen Orange Tulip Scholarship/Talent Grant 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 Master

Are you interested in a research oriented career? Please also check our Research Master's Programme of History.

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
Read more
Study support

Each degree programme has a study advisor whom you can contact if you have questions or need advice about any study-related matters. Everything you discuss will be treated confidentially. If you have a more complex problem, for example 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).