The Research Master's Programme in History lasts for two years and has a 120 EC study load. As a supplement to the student website and a guide during your first weeks of the academic year, you may wish to consult our programme book. 

Please refer to the course planner for a full overview of the courses in your study programme. 

As a student of this programme, you may also take the supplementary course Academic Writing in English.

Phase 1: Basic Training (Year 1):

  • Fundamentals of Historical Research (5 EC)
  • Research Seminar (15 EC)
  • Research Competencies (5 EC)
  • Methods of Historical Research (10 EC)
  • Research Design (5 EC)

​Phase 2: Exploring Topics of Your Interest (Year 1)

In this phase you can follow your own interests and develop expertise in specific topics:

  • Research tutorials (5 EC)
  • Electives (5 EC)
  • Electives of the National Research Schools (minimum of 10 EC)

Phase 3: Across the Border (Year 2)

The History programme stimulates you to spend a semester at a research university abroad. Here you can enroll in MA courses or take individual tutorials with specialists in their chosen field of historical enquiry. Alternatively, you can opt for an internship at a governmental or non-governmental research institution.

  • Staying abroad (30 EC) 
    or
  • Research internship (15-30 EC)

Phase 4: Writing the thesis (Year 2)

  • RMA Thesis (30 EC)
  • Thesis Lab (mandatory, no credits)
    Professional scholars will always seek the advice and support of their colleagues, asking them to read drafts, suggest further readings, or simply to bounce off ideas. We want you to experience this crucial interaction in the Thesis lab, a series of seminar-style meetings with a small group of 4 to 6 fellow students, directed by one or two of our department’s graduate students. You read each other’s work, discuss your progress, and share your excitement or concerns.

Electives from other programmes

Your programme offers room for six electives (30 EC) from a broad range of specialised courses and research tutorials within or outside our department. 

Electives include courses offered by one of the National Research Schools (at least 10 EC, compulsory), and in addition courses by other Master's programmes and research tutorials. You can find an overview of electives offered by other programme's here. Please note that some electives require approval for participation by the course- or programmecoordinator. 

The research tutorials offer insight in a specific area of history. You will discuss texts together with a lecturer and up to six other students. Students value the personal attention in these tutorials. Topics for example are: The history of neoliberalism, Modernity and history, The Black Atlantic, The German question, Understanding moral revolutions, History of the body and Hazards and Disasters. You can enroll serveral times, using different course codes: GKRMV16041, GKRMV16042, GKRMV16043, GKRMV16044. These course codes do not correspond to particular tutorials, they are general codes used to register your grades. More information is available in the Programme Book.

We made the following selection of interesting courses that are part of the academic history master programmes and are also open for RMA-students:

  • MA History of Politics and Society
    For applying to participate in courses of the MA programme History of Politics and Society, please contact the programme coordinator
    • GKMVD16016: Growth and Inequality, 1000-2000 (block 1)
    • GKMVD16020: Democracy and Democratization (block 2)*
  • MA Cultural history
    For applying to participate in courses of the MA programme Cultural History, please contact the programme coordinator
    • GKMVD16008: Understanding Culture in the Modern World: theoretical perspectives (block 1)
    • GKMVD16003: Public History, Memory and Global Heritage (block 1)
    • GKMVD16004: European Civilisation: Global and Transnational Methodologies I and II (block 1 and 2)
    • GKMVD16011: Visual Culture (block 2)
    • GKMVD16012: Colonial Memory and Postcolonial Heritage (block 2)
  • MA International Relations in Historical Perspective
    For applying to participate in courses of the MA programme International Relations in Historical Perspective, please contact the programme coordinator
    • ​GKMV16010: The Modern World and States System: Comparing Historical and IR Theories (block 1)
    • GKMV16011: International Relations in Practice (block 1)

Exam requirements

When you start this programme, you will be registered for its exam programme. This is a 'translation' of the exam requirements described in the Education and Examination Regulations.In order to complete your Master's programme you will need to meet the exam requirements.

Study Progress Report (SPR)

Your study progress report lists all of your current results, and tells you how far along you are in meeting your exam requirements. View your study progress report in OSIRIS > tab Progress. See the example (pdf, in Ducth) for an explanation of the Study Progress Report.

If you wish to deviate from the curriculum, you must first ask your programme’s Board of Examiners for approval or exemption. In case your request is granted, the changes will be processed in OSIRIS and integrated into your exam programme and Study Progress Review.

In order to graduate, you will need to meet your programme's exam requirements as described in the Education and Examination Regulations. Based on these criteria and your Study Progress Review, the Board of Examiners determines whether you have graduated. The courses that are listed on your Study Progress Review will appear on the International Diploma Supplement (IDS), the attachment that you receive with your diploma. Note that courses listed under the heading ‘Results-Other’ are not part of the examination syllabus and do not appear on the IDS.

If you have questions about your Study Progress Review or find errors in it, contact the Student Desk Humanities.