The Research MA History programme is concluded by a 30 EC Research MA-thesis. The thesis is based on original research in primary sources and will be at minimum 20.000 and at maximum 25.000 words in size (excluding front page, table of content, footnotes and bibliography). The Thesis has to meet a high scholarly standard; it should be possible to rework the results of the Thesis in to an article for an academic journal. Students are guided by thesis supervisors in writing their thesis.
Thesis Supervisor
Students are expected to approach themselves a member of staff with a request to act as supervisor of their MA Thesis. In order to do so, the student draws up a concise research proposal for the thesis during the second half of the first semester. All students are strongly advised to approach a member of staff sooner rather than later. An overview of all members of staff and their fields of expertise is found in the list of staff and research themes.
In some instances the approached member of staff will refer the student to a colleague with more expertise in the particular proposed subject. In exceptional cases a scholar from outside the History Department will be invited to (co-)supervise the thesis. If the member of staff agrees on supervision, the student will start writing the thesis.
Administration
Six weeks before the planned date of graduation students have to apply for entry to the final examination. This can be done by following the several stages of the Graduation Procedure.
The Research MA History is rounded off with an oral examination of approximately 45 minutes, during a public ceremony, in which students have to defend their MA thesis and be able to discuss additional scholarly literature.