The Master’s in Eternal Rome is officially called Eternal Rome: Transformations from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. The programme offers an in-depth examination both of the city of Rome and its role as the capital of the Roman Empire, and of the representation of the ‘idea' of Rome throughout the centuries. Eternal Rome presents a unique programme that focuses as much on the transition between ancient and medieval history as on those periods themselves. A group of specialists from the fields of ancient and medieval history teach this specialisation. Their expertise also includes the status of Rome beyond the Middle Ages into the Renaissance and modern times as well.

Why choose History in Rotterdam?

The Master History is an interdisciplinary programme: we combine knowledge and theories from both the humanities and the social sciences to analyse complex historical issues. An international and comparative approach teaches us to identify similarities and differences in historical case studies.

The international track of the Master History is titled ‘Global History and International Relations’. In this programme, two otherwise independent fields of study are combined to analyse international relations from a historical and global perspective. We focus for example on the rise and fall of great powers such as the British Empire and the United States. We discuss the historical backgrounds of contemporary geopolitical issues and show how the past itself is mobilized by groups and individuals to legitimize policies and to construct identities.... [-]

Archaeology in Leiden encompasses the study of societies and cultures from the past, aiming to reconstruct and revive them. Make a meaningful contribution to resolving present-day societal issues such as migration, globalisation and climate change, using your interest in the past.

Leiden's Faculty of Archaeology

Leiden’s Archaeology master’s degree has the most diverse programme in the Netherlands. Leiden also boasts the only independent Faculty of Archaeology in the Netherlands. The study programme offers various regional and thematic specialisations and the teaching programme is closely linked to ongoing research.

Our academic staff are involved in research all over the world, with a strong focus on field research. In addition, the programme emphasises ecology and geology, combined with both iconology and historical studies, as well as ethnoarchaeological, anthropological and experimental approaches. A combination of modern museum practices and developments in archaeological heritage management broadens your scope even more.... [-]

Research Master Modern History and International Relations

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

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

What is freedom and why is it valuable? What makes an argument convincing? How do body and mind interact?

Philosophy is the systematic study of fundamental questions. Students are trained to think and write in a clear manner about topics such as the relations between mind, body and cognition, the nature and basis of moral judgments, the limits of knowledge, or the principles of social justice.

The Research Master Philosophy offers you the opportunity to work with leading scholars in the history of philosophy, practical philosophy and theoretical philosophy. It prepares you for an academic career but also teaches useful skills for other jobs.

The programme offers a core curriculum on philosophical problems related to ongoing research in the faculty, as well as many opportunities to pursue your own interests.... [-]

Research Master Literary and Cultural Studies

The two-year Master's programme in Literary and Cultural Studies is a specialization within the two Research Master's degrees in Literary Studies and in Arts and Culture.

The programme in Literary and Cultural Studies provides you with an advanced investigation of the arts. You will focus specifically on the role the arts play in processes of cultural change. Also, you will study arts and culture in general and specialize in one of these art forms: literature, film, theatre, music, and multimedia forms.

The programme has a multi-disciplinary approach. You will study the arts from perspectives such as history, philosophy and sociology. In addition, the programme is closely related to the multidisciplinary research carried out at the Groningen Research Institute for the Study of Culture (ICOG).... [-]

Explore language from a (socio)linguistic and pragmatic perspective while gaining proficiency in one of seven European languages. In the one-year Master’s programme Language and Society, you will develop the knowledge and skills to analyse your target language within its unique social context.

In the Master’s programme Language and Society, you will examine the role of language within a society and how a society can, in turn, shape a language. Providing real-world examples of core linguistics concepts and theory, the programme focusses on the analysis of language use and variation. You will explore how and why languages vary within particular communities, differences in language use and policy, and the influence of issues such as multilingualism and computer-mediated communication.... [-]

Master in Classics

Classics as a discipline is alive and kicking. The study of the texts, literature, and material culture of ancient Greece and Rome offers a treasure trove of information. This information is of the highest interest in itself but is also highly relevant to our present-day culture. Do you consider it a challenge to nuance the image of Greco-Roman antiquity, as well as make new links between the present and the past? In that case the Master's in Classics is the programme for you. This Master's programme combines linguistics, literature, and cultural history. Its special profiles are narratology and discourse linguistics, intertextuality and reception, and ancient thought.The world of Greco-Roman antiquity has many facets and hence Classics embraces many disciplines. You will be analysing representative primary sources much more in-depth than was the case during the Bachelor’s phase. Choosing your own areas of interest you will be introduced into scholarly debates and learn to handle the academic instruments to contribute yourself to those discussions. In addition, you will be shown how to relate your specialist, critical knowledge of antiquity to texts and other cultural phenomena from later periods.... [-]

Master in Philosophy, Bioethics, and Health (Specialization of Philosophy, 2 years)

The Master’s specialization in Philosophy, Bioethics and Health will provide you with the theoretical and practical tools to deal with ethical issues in health care and health-care policy.You will learn how to reflect on practical problems from a medical, moral, legal, political and economic perspective.The need for interdisciplinary reflection is growing as developments within society lead to new challenges in health care. Take the shifts in responsibility for example patients are expected to take greater responsibility for their own health and to ‘manage themselves’ and insurers are becoming responsible for both the cost and the quality of health-care provisions. In addition, there are many rapid scientific and technological developments to take into account: from knowledge of the genetic basis of diseases, pre-implantation diagnosis and IVF, to the use of plastic surgery for aesthetic enhancement. Then there are the problems of just allocation caused by the growing number of treatment options for all kinds of diseases and the growing number of people living well into old age. Such developments cause a change in the medical ethical agenda.... [-]

Master in Literary Studies (research)

The focal point of this programme is the interrelation between literature and social change. Fiction matters because it shapes the way we view the world, other people, and ourselves. It is through fantasy that we can begin to change reality. In this programme, you will learn to analyse the form, language and material aspects of texts as carriers of cultural, ethical, religious, scientific and political systems of meaning. You will learn to design research that combines perspectives from literature studies and literary history with other disciplines, such as cultural and (post)colonial history, environmental and digital humanities, global history and visual culture.... [-]

Master in Theology & Religious Studies

The one-year Master's program Theology and Religious Studies focuses on specific professional fields. In this master's you will be prepared for a professional career within or outside religious institutions. You can choose from various specializations that each focus on their own field. You will not only follow courses in which you reflect on a specific field or professional context; an internship is an obligatory part of this master's as well. Of course, you will write a thesis to finish your master's program. Throughout the program, you will be actively coached in your study progress and personal development.The five specializations to choose from are:... [-]

Master in Linguistics (Research)

The Research Master’s in Linguistics is a two-year program which will enable you to develop into a professional researcher. The program deals with linguistics in its broadest sense. All students take a general course in the field of linguistic research in the first year. The course, appropriately called Linguistic Research, is taught by three or four lecturers, each of whom lectures on the history of research in the field of linguistics from the perspective of their own specialization and on the methods and techniques used in their individual fields. In addition, you will select an area in which you wish to specialize. During the program, you will choose four courses from a list of available Master’s courses. You will base your choice on your own interests and the specialization that you wish to pursue. Our areas of expertise include not only phonology and syntax but also subjects such as textual and/or genre analysis, anthropological linguistics, applied linguistics, and sociolinguistics. The program is taught in English.... [-]

Master in Literatures in English

The Master’s in Literary Studies, program Literatures in English at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam focuses on the relation between literature and visual culture. Rooted in VU Amsterdam tradition of studying the relations between word and image, this specialized interdisciplinary program will teach you to analyze the various ways in which textual and visual culture interact. The topics studied from this perspective range from the Renaissance stage to screenwriting, from the relation between poetry and photography to film adaptations of gothic novels.The courses in this program are closely linked to the current research of staff members so that students are involved in cutting-edge developments. You are encouraged to explore your own interests in depth using the tools and theories we provide you with, culminating in your own research project when you write your MA-thesis in the second semester.... [-]

Master in Ancient History

The Master's program Ancient History provides two specializations. Each specialization comprises two core modules that introduce you to a number of important debates in the field in question("Great Debates in Ancient Historical Studies"). There is also considerable emphasis on interdisciplinary research.

History matters. The master’s degree program in history at the VU trains you to become a professional historian. The course is broad-based and also allows you to specialize in a particular area of history. Each specialization is based on one of the chairs of the History Department. The progress of your study is personally mentored by a professor. According to a student, “History at the VU distinguishes itself by its small community of students and the support of its staff.”

All students follow a number of basic courses. In addition, you choose the broad master’s curriculum or one of the five specializations. If you decide to follow the broad master’s curriculum then you make your own choice from the other subjects offered. Each specialization is connected to one or more of the chairs of the History Department. The progress of your study is personally mentored by a member of the academic staff. Some specializations are in English; others are in Dutch, but with some courses in English.... [-]