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How and why do we creatively make use of the past to forge new identities in the present? What is at stake in the "musealization" of religion?
Religion and Cultural Heritage is a unique one-year interdisciplinary MA-programme focusing on a major trend at the interface of religion, identity, politics, and heritage studies. It also addresses a gap in critical heritage studies, studying the shifting place of religion in heritage debates.
Heritage and religion are in the news and on the political
agenda both nationally and internationally. In the coming years,
30-80% of religious buildings will lose their original function in
the Netherlands. National and European budgets are dedicating
millions of euros to the development of plans to address vacant
religious heritage buildings. Tourism and pilgrimage to religious
objects, sites, and festivals are booming, which raises questions
about sustainability and impact.
At the same time, heritage has become a significant subject in
contemporary cultural debate. Large-scale migration and
secularization are changing the religious identities of communities
and the way they perceive the past. Urgent new questions are
arising, like how migrant communities can maintain their religious
identities while grappling with the material and intangible
heritage of their new homes? And how does the new diversity affect
the sense of identity and heritage of dominant cultures?
The demands of preservation of at risk material and intangible heritage in the face of war, displacement, population shifts, and climate change are great. How are preservation concerns balanced with local resources?
This programme challenges you to analyse and contribute your own voice to these debates.
You are encouraged to pursue your own interests in your placement. You can choose to do your internship in the Netherlands or abroad. Examples are:
Curious about what you can do during your placement? Check out the blog student Jelle van Binsbergen wrote while he was doing his placement in Kiev.
The MA Religion and Cultural Heritage comprises a total of 60 ECTS. The programme is structured in such a way as to provide a balance between practical learning with community-based professionals, and academic research.
No matter what your goals may be, the degree gives you both a strong grounding in heritage theory and practice. It enables you to pursue your own interests in two overlapping approaches to heritage studies:
Periods | ||||
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CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Compulsory: Heritage, Identity, Religion: Theoretical Approaches (5 EC) This introductory seminar course provides an introduction to the growing field of critical heritage studies as applied to religious sites, practices, and objects. | ||||
Compulsory: Regional Heritage: Old Churches - New Meanings (5 EC) Finding new uses for historic church buildings is one of the most pressing tasks facing the Netherlands today. But with new uses comes new meanings. In this class students start with basic theories of religious meaning-making and the postsecular. They then meet with stakeholders, such as heritage professionals, provincial officials and church leaders, and finally undertake studies of meaning-making in local communities around Groningen. | ||||
Elective: Material Religion (5 EC, optional) What can things and their uses teach us about religion? This course focuses on material culture as a way of approaching religious heritage. We learn from material culture theory, and apply what we learn in a community-based material heritage project. | ||||
Elective: Religion and Nature: Genealogies of the Anthropocene (5 EC, optional) How do ideas of nature reflect cultural decisions about the more-than-human world? This course looks at major trends in science, spirituality, and philosophy of nature. | ||||
Elective: Theological Heritages in a (Post) Modern Context (5 EC, optional) Not only is theology a heritage, it deals with heritage itself as well. How do theological perspectives treat their past? Having rejected papal authority in the 16th century, protestant theology faced the problem of how to maintain truth. We will study two different answers to this challenge: Liberal and confessional. | ||||
Compulsory: Research Methods in Heritage and Historical Studies (5 EC) You will focus on practical and research skills to prepare you on individual projects in the second semester, such as your thesis and internship. | ||||
Elective: Gender, Diversity and Religious Heritage (5 EC, optional) Who decides what counts as heritage? How can marginalized groups make sure that their heritage survives and is taken into account? Moreover: how does heritage work for these groups? Especially religious heritage is often invoked to keep them in their places. How to counter this? The course has both a theoretical and a practical angle. | ||||
Elective: Heritage of Death (5 EC, optional) Many, perhaps most, of the items and phenomena we study as 'heritage' are death-related. This course offers the much-needed tools to analyse this important category of heritage. At the same time, the course offers students the opportunity to learn new skills, such as producing a documentary film or curating a 3D virtual exhibition. | ||||
Elective: Museums and Religion (5 EC, optional) How is religion addressed (or avoided) in museums? What is at stake in the “musealization” of religious sites, objects, and practices? Who has control over what is displayed, where? This course gives the skills to analyse the history of the relationship between museums and religion, museum theory, and contemporary practice. | ||||
Elective: National Socialism and Religion: Conflict and Heritage (5 EC, optional) This class examines heritage as memory of historical trauma. It begins with a study of the religious conflicts and violence of the National Socialist regime, and then turns to the role played by the memory of these conflicts in politics and culture. Finally, the class investigates how religious heritage can help us understand memorials to the Holocaust built in Germany since 1945. | ||||
Elective: Popular Culture, Politics, and Heritage (5 EC, optional) This class focuses on the re-use of the past today, specifically how medieval and early modern phenomena are appropriated as markers of identity, as (immaterial) heritage. Its subjects range from the medieval in contemporary computer games, films and TV-series, to its political use in the debate about national character or confessional identity. | ||||
Elective: Reception and Re-Use of Authoritative Texts (5 EC, optional) This course explores the reception history of the Bible and other authoritative texts. You will develop skills in setting up research projects to examine the ways in which certain Jewish and Christian traditions deal with biblical data. | ||||
Internship (10 EC) Instead of an internship, you have the option to do a research project. | ||||
Thesis (20 EC) You will write a thesis on a subject of your choice. | ||||
Thesis seminar
During these seminar meetings you will learn about specific methodologies and will discuss and practice the planning, researching, and writing of a Master thesis. |
1 ECTS = 28 hrs. of study. One year contains of 60 ECTS. You will have on average 6 hrs. of lessons per week at the Faculty, the rest of the hours is reserved for preparation of the classes and studying.
There are three core modules (15 ECTS), a thesis (20 ECTS) and a practical placement (10 ECTS). You can choose three out of eight electives (5 ECTS each).
You can also follow this track within the two-year Research Master's programme in Theology and Religious Studies. See: http://www.rug.nl/masters/theology-religious-studies-research/
Programme options |
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Master's Honours Programme (honours program) The Master's Honours Programme was developed especially for students who want to get more from their studies. The programme of 15 ECTS is followed in addition to your regular Master's programme. It is a one-year interdisciplinary programme that is designed to introduce students to various aspects of leadership.The theme of leadership is explored from various angles in the Masterclasses. Leadership skills are the focus in the Leadership Labs and Workshops. The Master's Honours Programme concludes with a Master Work – a project of your choosing that you design and implement. |
We have various exchange contracts with universities both inside and outside Europe, enabling students to follow part of their degree programme at a foreign university. Another option is to take an internship or to do part of the research work abroad. For an overview of our exchange partners, see: http://www.rug.nl/ggw/education/prosstud/exchangeprogrammes/partneruniversities
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Cultural Heritage | All Universities of applied sciences |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
European Studies | All Universities of applied sciences |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Toerisme en Recreatie | All Universities of applied sciences |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Archaeology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature |
Arts, Culture and Media | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature |
Arts, Culture and Media | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature |
Art History | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature |
European Languages and Cultures | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature |
Theology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. |
Religious Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. |
Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
History | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Philosophy | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Human Geography and Planning | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Middle Eastern Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Dutch Language and Culture | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Sociology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Religiewetenschappen | University of Amsterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. |
Arts and Culture Studies | University of Amsterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Liberal Arts and Sciences (joint degree) | University of Amsterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Kunstgeschiedenis | University of Amsterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Human Geography and Urban and Regional Planning | University of Amsterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
European Studies | University of Amsterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Media and Culture | University of Amsterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Arts and Culture Studies | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Interdisciplinary Social Science | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Arts and Culture | All Research universities |
No additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
European Studies | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
European Languages and Cultures | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
History (part-time) | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Godgeleerdheid | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. |
Art History | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Religious Studies | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. |
Human Geography and Urban and Regional Planning | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper.Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Taal- en Cultuurstudies | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Theology (part-time) | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. |
Tourism (joint degree) | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Philosophy | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Religie en Levensbeschouwing | VU University Amsterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. |
Theology (joint degree) | VU University Amsterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Liberal Arts and Sciences (joint degree) | VU University Amsterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Philosophy, Politics and Economics | VU University Amsterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Kunstgeschiedenis | Leiden University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Religiewetenschappen | Leiden University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. |
Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges | Leiden University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Arts and Culture | Maastricht University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
European Studies | Maastricht University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Liberal Arts and Sciences | Maastricht University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Liberal Arts and Sciences | Maastricht University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Arts and Culture Studies | Radboud University Nijmegen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Arts and Culture Studies | Radboud University Nijmegen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Religiewetenschappen | Radboud University Nijmegen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. |
Theology | Radboud University Nijmegen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. |
Geography, Spatial Planning and Environment | Radboud University Nijmegen |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Arts and Culture Studies | Erasmus University Rotterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Arts and Culture Studies | Erasmus University Rotterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Liberal Arts and Sciences | Erasmus University Rotterdam |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Theology | Tilburg University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. |
Liberal Arts and Sciences | Tilburg University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Arts and Culture Studies | Tilburg University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Kunstgeschiedenis | Utrecht University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Religiewetenschappen | Utrecht University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Liberal Arts and Sciences | Utrecht University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Liberal Arts and Sciences | Utrecht University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Liberal Arts and Sciences | Utrecht University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Human Geography and Urban and Regional Planning | Utrecht University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Tourism (joint degree) | Wageningen University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Arts & Culture | Open University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Arts and Culture Studies | Open University |
Additional requirements More information:Required: letter of motivation, overview of results of your bachelor program, CV, writing sample of academic paper. Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
grade list |
A grade list of the marks of your bachelor's degree programme with an explanation of the followed courses. |
language test |
A (English) language test is only important if you do not have a VWO-diploma.TOEFL: 580 paper/237 computer/92 internet; IELTS: 6.5 (6.0 on each part) (not for native speakers) |
previous education |
Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Arts, Philosophy, Social Sciences (e.g. Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology) or Spatial Sciences (specialization Cultural Geography). Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. Students with another bachelor's degree can be permitted via a bridging programme. |
Curriculum Vitae (CV) | |
written request |
A letter of motivation to the admissions board, outlining your interest in the programme, including your motivation and expectations (max. 1 page), accompanied with a writing sample of an academic paper, preferably your Bachelor's (or Master's) Thesis. |
other admission requirements |
If you are a bachelor's student and if you are planning to enroll in the master's track in Religion and Cultural Heritage in the academic year 2020-2021, then you are allowed to have 15 ECTS of your bachelor's degree programme left for a conditional admission. |
Students with a Dutch bachelor's degree send all the documentation by mail to onderwijs.ggw rug.nl, even if a direct access is applicable.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 | |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
grade list |
A grade list of the marks of your bachelor's degree programme with an explanation of the followed courses. |
language test |
TOEFL: 580 paper/237 computer/92 internet; IELTS: 6.5 (6.0 on each part) (not for English native speakers) |
previous education |
Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Arts, Philosophy, Social Sciences (e.g. Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology) or Spatial Sciences (specialization Cultural Geography). Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. Students with another bachelor's degree may be admitted via a bridging programme. |
written request |
A letter of motivation to the admissions board, outlining your interest in the programme, including your motivation and expectations (max. 1 page), accompanied with a writing sample of an academic paper, preferably your Bachelor's (or Master's) Thesis. |
other admission requirements |
If you are a bachelor's student and if you are planning to enroll in the master's track in Religion and Cultural Heritage in the academic year 2020-2021, then you are allowed to have 15 ECTS of your bachelor's degree programme left for a conditional admission. |
Exam | Minimum score |
---|---|
IELTS overall band | 6.5 |
IELTS listening | 6 |
IELTS reading | 6 |
IELTS writing | 6 |
TOEFL paper based | 580 |
TOEFL computer based | 237 |
TOEFL internet based | 92 |
International students and Dutch students with non-Dutch qualifications are not automatically admitted to a Master's degree programme at the University of Groningen. The full registration procedure will take longer than for Dutch students with regular Dutch qualifications and consists of three steps: application, admission and registration.
Check the admissions guide for more information about the admissions procedure.
Students with a Dutch bachelor's degree send all the documentation by mail to onderwijs.ggw@rug.nl, even if a direct access is applicable.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 | |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2021 | 01 September 2021 |
01 May 2022 | 01 September 2022 |
Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
---|---|---|---|
EU/EEA | 2020-2021 | € 2143 | full-time |
EU/EEA | 2021-2022 | € 2168 | full-time |
Talent Grant available for Non-EU students, check this and other funding options here: https://www.rug.nl/ggw/education/prosstud/talent-grants-and-scholarships-theors
Practical information for:
You can advise or write policy documents on heritage subjects, such as the preservation of old churches or the distribution of funding for cultural activities. You could work for cultural organisations, the government, in the tourist business or at an NGO. You may also work in the media or as a teacher of religion in secondary education after completing your Educational Master's programme. If you wish to pursue an academic career, you can follow this track as a specialization within the Research
Check where our alumni end up after graduating on our alumni page.
You can work within organizations that consult upon the content and organization within the field of arts and cultural education. Or you could work at an educational department within institutions such as a cultural centers or museums.
Your knowledge about religious heritage will enable you to advise upon or write policy documents on the conservation of religious heritage. You could find a job with central government but also at organizations and foundations in the cultural sector. This could, for example, be the Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht or the Stichting Oude Groninger Kerken.
Once you have completed this Master's track, you will have sufficient knowledge of the subject to be able to teach Religious Studies or Social Studies in secondary education. Alternatively, you could opt for a position in higher vocational education. As you also need didactic skills as a teacher or lecturer, it is advisable to do a Master's in Education after you have completed your regular Master's programme.
A number of publishers have shown renewed interest in religion and society. With your knowledge and skills, you can make an expert contribution to publications in this field. You could also use your expertise as an editor at a broadcasting company, newspaper or current affairs magazine.
Our MA track Religion and Cultural Heritage directly benefits from cutting-edge research carried out mainly within the Department of Christianity and the History of Ideas, and is thus an excellent example of research-based education.
The course units are taught by internationally recognized historians, philosophers and political scientists from all over the world who all specialize in the role of religion in culture. They will provide you with cutting-edge insights into religion and heritage which are directly inspired by their own research.
Much of the research by the teaching staff connects with the activities of the Research Centres in our Faculty:
These centres regularly invite speakers and organise events on the role of religion in contemporary societies, where MA students, PhD students and staff engage in lively discussions.
Read moreBy visiting museums and conferences, we as students were encouraged to engage with professionals from both academic and non-academic disciplines.
After I finished a placement at a museum, I was certain of my choice to follow the Master's degree programme track in Religion and Cultural Heritage. I greatly valued the emphasis on forming a strong theoretical foundation on the one hand, while simultaneously putting acquired knowledge into practice during excursions and seminars on the other. By visiting museums and conferences, we as students were encouraged to engage with professionals from both academic and non-academic disciplines.
This, along with various relevant guest lectures, significantly contributed to the broadening of my career prospects.
For my Master’s thesis, I conducted field research on exhibitions of human remains in museums. More specifically, this was a comparative study of the ethical aspects surrounding such exhibitions in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. What does the law say about displaying human remains in the Netherlands? And how does that differ compared to regulations in the United Kingdom? As well as holding in-depth interviews with museum curators, I observed how human remains were displayed. What I found was that the United Kingdom has a more strict and extensive policy regarding these type of exhibitions, whereas the Dutch law seems significantly less comprehensive on this topic. In my conclusion, I wrote a piece of advice on how the Netherlands could implement a more expansive policy. My supervisors were very enthusiastic and at the moment, we are looking for ways to bring my thesis to the attention of policymakers.
Finally, what I loved during both my Bachelor’s and my Master’s degree was the atmosphere at our beautiful faculty. The fact that it’s a small faculty contributes to a positive study experience as a whole, as both staff and students are very dedicated to their course units and to one another!
Read moreDiscover new ways of approaching religious built heritage
I am a master's student of Art History at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). I have just started the third semester of this programme. During the previous one, I had the opportunity to do an academic exchange at the University of Groningen (UG), in the Netherlands. At the UG, I enrolled myself in the Faculty of Theology and Religious studies, where I attended six courses of the first semester of the Religion and Cultural Heritage master programme.
The main goal of the exchange was to improve my formation on cultural heritage topics. Now that I have concluded my exchange, I must say that the goal was achieved and that the overall experience was enriching, not only on an academic level, but also in the personal domain.
I got the chance to discover new ways of approaching religious built heritage, specifically historical churches. Due to a constant decrease of attendance, these buildings find themselves in a crossroads: Finding a new purpose and meaning in the context of a secularized society, or become obsolete.
In order to save a church in its material and historical authenticity, the buildings can sometimes be devoid of their religious function. In consequence, churches become bookshops, bakeries, hotels, or cultural centers, providing a space for meetings and coexistence for specific communities.
I feel grateful for the support that I have received during this process from the people of both UNAM and the UG. I am especially thankful to my tutors: Professor Elsa Arroyo Lemus and Clara Bargellini Cioni (UNAM), who suggested and encouraged me to do this exchange; and Professor Todd Weir (UG), who allowed me the freedom to look for what was best for me, in order to make the most of my academic stay, and who showed concern for my well being from the first day.
I hope the collaboration UNAM-UG will continue growing, not only through the exchange of master and PhD students, but also with the establishment of new and multidisciplinary research projects concerning cultural heritage.
Read moreResearching the changing relationship between the Coca Cola Company and religion
At Theology and Religious Studies, you feel like you're part of a family. Everyone knows everyone, and it's very inclusive. This is why I decided to stay on after my Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies to pursue a Master's degree here as well. I also work as a student assistant and mentor. After completing my Master's degree, I'd love to find a job in the cultural heritage sector. This could be at a school, to teach children about cultural heritage, or at a media corporation.
During my Master’s track, I did a placement at the monastery museum in Ter Apel, where I co-organized an exhibition on how the lives of monks changed during the Reformation in the Netherlands. Some monks changed religious denomination and became Protestant, some resisted until they died, some fled and some were killed. The exhibition ran from August until December 2017. For my Master’s thesis, I am researching the changing relationship between the Coca Cola Company and religion. The Coca Cola Company has always been connected with religion and religious expression, but this relationship appears to be changing. I am doing research into these changes and what the implications are.
I love living in Groningen! There is so much to do and see. In my spare time, I take long walks in the Noorderplantsoen, or at a recreational area called Hoornse Plas, in the south of the city. My evenings are filled with activities in the small bars or cafés in the city centre. I agree with the slogan: Nothing tops Groningen!
Read moreStudying material religious cultures helps us to think outside the box about the nature of lived religious belief itself
According to current estimates, over 300 million tourists visit religious sites every year. The vast cultural, political, religious, economic, and environmental impact of these visits - whatever their motivations may be - is attracting the attention of governmental bodies on all levels, of private foundations and museums , and of industry specialists in tourism and infrastructure.
At the same time, pressures on religious, governmental, and private organizations concerning changing religious and cultural identities, and relating to the long-term sustainability of religious heritage management have leant urgency to the question: How do we engage, preserve and communicate the remains of our religious past?
For these reasons, it is critical that graduates in religious studies and theology be equipped to facilitate and contribute informed voices to public debate about the future of religious heritage. It is also vital for the academic research and faith communities to learn about the ways in which “lay” and “non-expert” participants actively re-appropriate religious spaces, objects, and practices formerly perhaps too narrowly defined as the domain of adherents to religious beliefs on the one hand and trained experts on the other.
Groningen’s MA in Religion and Cultural Heritage is unique in preparing you for this crucial bridge role. You will bring rigorous and critical training in theology and religion to the table in public and private discourse about religious heritage. At the same time you will learn to contribute to the academic study of religious history and to faith communities by communicating and analyzing the interests, questions and challenges that arise from the broader public’s engagement with its own and other peoples’ religious heritage.
I teach courses that engage with material aspects of religion: visual arts, liturgical rites, books, music, and objects, material culture, architecture and archaeology. The courses will provide you with training and hands-on experience of observing, describing, comparing, and analyzing religious objects, spaces, and practices from the past, and in thinking about and questioning what is at stake in their preservation, use, and adaptation in the present. Studying material religious cultures helps us to think outside the box about the nature of lived religious belief itself.
My research centers on the intersection between book history and the history of Christian worship. In Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, books comprise perhaps the largest group of religious artefacts that survive. I study the design and production of liturgical manuscripts, and, in particular, the material evidence for their intended and actual use. In this way, we can examine a religious book as if it were an archaeological site. By identifying and peeling back layers of evidence of repeated use and adaptation of single book objects sometimes over centuries, we can learn to re-consider what a religious book is for, how it works, and what it might tell us about the communities and individuals that made and used it. It is this careful and patient approach to sustained engagement with all material aspects of religion that I aim to bring to the classroom, fieldwork, and student-lead research.
Read moreReligion lies at the core of every intangible and living culture
Across the globe, the public role of history is expanding. New museums and historical sites are opening, historical tourism is growing, and educational and cultural institutions are increasing their engagement with the past. This requires a new class of heritage experts, who are self-reflective and can contribute to economic and cultural policy formation and to regional planning.
This master’s degree provides students with the theoretical and practical education necessary to take an active role in this exciting sector.
Together with Mathilde van Dijk and Andrew Irving, I teach Religious Heritage at Groningen. Our combined expertise allows us to place Christian heritage in a broad context that includes other religious traditions and even secularism. Through lectures, seminar and field trips, we examine sites, buildings, traditions, rituals, texts and other locations where the past is maintained in the present.
My own research focuses on the configuration of religion in politics and culture. I have written extensively on the interactions of Christianity, Judaism and secularism and their impact on modern intellectual and cultural history, particularly in Germany. I’m currently working on the history of modern worldviews, and planning a future book on the journey of “Weltanschauung/worldview” from 1790 to the present that will take the reader from Germany to the US, Netherlands, UK and the Soviet Union. It will examine Weltanschauung as one of the chief terms through which moderns have experienced and conceived of systems of thought and belief.
The study of cultural heritage in a faculty of theological and religious studies makes Groningen’s master’s degree unique. Theoretically and practically, however, our innovative approach stands squarely within international trends. First, it helps meet the call issued by organizations such as the Unesco for the preservation not just of the physical sites, but also of the “intangible” heritage of world cultures. Religion lies at the core of every intangible and living culture.
Second, the theory of heritage has developed in dialogue with religious studies. Heritage is not just about preserving the past, but giving people places and paths to experience loss. Sites of memory play sacral roles for states, communities and individuals. The study of religion helps us ask important questions of heritage practice: Are heritage sites maintaining religious traditions or repackaging them for touristic consumption? Should they serve as a locations of religious-secular dialogue in a post-secular world?
Read moreClose encounters with the lasting influence of religion
I followed the Master's track in Religion and the Public Domain, but the course units on religious heritage from this track have now been included in the track in Religion and Cultural Heritage. The thing I liked most about the course units was how the present and the past are linked together. They focus in a very concrete way on the position of religion in Western Europe.
You go on a lot of field trips and encounter the lasting influence of religion and the position that it takes in our society from up close, for example by studying the roots of the Devotio Moderna in Deventer or by singing the St Matthew Passion together and thus feeling its impact.
I wrote my Master’s thesis on the phenomenon of ‘Michaeling’: fans following in Michael Jackson’s footsteps through a pilgrimage that brings them closer in spirit to their idol. I studied whether this was a new religious phenomenon, and concluded that the answer to this question is yes. ‘Michaeling’ is a typical example of the various forms that religion can take in our modern, post-secular society. And there is no doubt that this is a genuine pilgrimage, a spiritual experience of the kind that we associate primarily with the Middle Ages. For my research, I studied the experiences of eleven pilgrims and the Michael Jackson shrine in Germany.
According to his fans, Michael Jackson’s core message was to ‘Heal the World’ through love. Some fans feel that Michael Jackson can be seen as a new Messiah, sent by God to show people what is really important, namely love. Michael Jackson is placed by his fans within a very broad spiritual context. The followers I spoke to call themselves spiritual, but they are reluctant to commit to a specific religion. What is remarkable is that most of these fans express very Christian ideas. For his followers, Michael Jackson acts as a kind of mediator, clarifying their prior religious allegiance. It is as if Michael Jackson helps them to transition from theory to religious practice. They integrate Michael Jackson into their belief system, where he comes to play a key role as a spiritual guide, offering his fans concrete guidelines for distinguishing between good and evil and giving shape to their lives. His followers believe that Michael Jackson was severely persecuted and that he suffered tremendously as a result. However, this did not stop him from fighting for his ideals and for his fans, which makes him a true martyr in their eyes.
After I graduated, I went straight to work for the University of Groningen Humanities Support Desk, where I helped organize educational projects for secondary schools. One of the projects I was working on was De Kerk: maak er wat van!, which we set up together with the Historical Groningen Churches Foundation and which focuses on redesignation of church buildings that are no longer used as such. A year after graduating, I started as a PhD-student at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies of the University of Groningen, further researching the fascinating phenomenon of ‘Michaeling’.
If you do not have a bachelor's degree in either the Humanities or Behavioural and Social Sciences, you will first need to complete a pre-master's programme before you can enter this master's programme. There are several electives you can choose from. Below, you will find the complete programme.
1st semester (30 ECTS)
2nd semester (30 ECTS)
If you have followed minor courses in Theology or Religious Studies, it might be possible to follow a shorter premaster's programme. Please contact our student advisors to see what the options are.
For the pre-master's programme, you will pay a so called compensation in stead of regular tuition fees. This compensation is the same for both EU and non-EU students.
If you are interested in a master's degree programme in religion, you might also be interested in:
We are looking for students who are passionate about learning how heritage is being used to forge new identities in the present.
We give you the tools to:
Master's students are expected to show a large degree of independence. If necessary you can make use of various forms of study supervision and study support. For example, you can contact a mentor or your study advisor. While writing your thesis, you will receive personal supervision from one of the lecturers.
Immediately after arrival, students who gained their Bachelor's degree at a different faculty or university as well as international students will be allocated a mentor who will help them get to know the Faculty. You can also go to the study advisor if you have doubts about your abilities or for whatever reason run the risk of study delay. You will receive intensive supervision while writing your thesis. The Master's programme includes a thesis seminar, where attention is paid to how to tackle writing a Master's thesis, and where the progress of the process is monitored closely. You will also receive structural supervision from the lecturer who is the specialist in the field of your thesis.