The History Master consists of the following specialisations:
Cities, Migration and Global Interdependence (with subtrack Governance of Migration and Diversity)
Politics, Culture and National Identities, 1789 to the Present
Literature Seminar (10 EC)
Students commence their programme with a Literature Seminar, whether starting in September or February.
Research Seminar (10 EC)
Students take a Research Seminar within their specialisation in the first semester of their programme.
Research Workshop (5 EC)
Students take a Research Workshop within their specialisation in the first semester of their programme.
Academic Skills and Thesis Seminar (5 EC)
Students are required to take a thesis seminar. This seminar consists of a number of meetings in which students are given the opportunity to present their work and to comment on the work of others. The seminar aims at providing students with some additional support in the writing process as well as achieving further uniformity where practical matters are concerned.
Optional Courses (10 EC)
Students follow one or two optional courses. All MA courses offered at level 400 or higher can be followed as optional course. These may comprise MA courses offered by Leiden University and those offered by other (foreign) universities. Alternatively, students can also opt for an internship. For more information about the different possibilities, see the specific MA Optional Courses page.
Thesis and exam (20 EC)
The Master’s Programme will be concluded by a MA-thesis. Students are guided in writing their thesis by thesis supervisors. Halfway through the first semester, the student commences with the thesis and has to ask a member of staff active in the field of their specialisation to act as their thesis supervisor. See the Overview of Staff for a possible supervisors. The thesis is written in the second semester.
Before graduation students sit for a final exam in which they defend their thesis and answer questions on additional literature.
The programme has the following objectives:
The Master programme in History (60 EC) offers you the chance to determine a study based on your own particular interests and ambitions. With several specializations on offer – each containing a number of specific subjects – you will pay specific attention to the development of theories on historical processes, historiography and methodology of historical research.
Literature Seminar within specialization | 10 EC |
Research Seminar within specialization | 10 EC |
Research Workshop within specialization | 5 EC |
Optional Courses | 10 EC |
Thesis and Exam | 20 EC |
The History Master consists of the following specialisations:
Cities, Migration and Global Interdependence (with subtrack Governance of Migration and Diversity)
Colonial and Global History (with subtracks Maritime History and Postcolonial and Heritage Studies)
Politics, Culture and National Identities, 1789 to the Present
Send an e-mail to mahistory@hum.leidenuniv.nl.
In addition to offering you a solid university education, Leiden University aims to prepare you for today’s labour market. Your studies will contribute to the development of your employability. After finishing the programme, it will become easier for you to make the transition to the labour market, to remain employable in a dynamic labour market in a (career) job that suits your own personal values, preferences and development.
'Employability' consists of the following aspects that you will develop within your study programme, among others:
1. Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Knowledge and skills specific to your study programme.
2. Transferable skills
These are skills that are relevant to every student and that you can use in all kinds of jobs irrespective of your study programme, for example: research, conducting analyses, project-based working, generating solutions, acquiring and developing digital skills, collaborating, oral communication, written communication, presenting, raising societal awareness, independent learning, and resilience.
3. Self-reflection
This concerns self-reflection in the context of your (study) career, including reflecting on the choices you make as a student during your studies, esp. with respect to what you can do with your knowledge and skills on the labour market.
In addition, reflecting on your own profile and your personal and professional development. Who are you, what can you do well, what do you find interesting, what suits you, what do you find important, what do you want to do?
4. Practical experience
Gaining practical experience through internships, work placements, projects, practical (social) assignments, which are integrated into an elective, minor or graduation assignment.
5. Labour market orientation
Gaining insight into the labour market, fields of work, jobs and career paths through, for example, guest speakers and alumni experiences from the work field, career events within the study programme, the use of the alumni mentor network, interviewing people from the work field, and shadowing/visiting companies in the context of a particular subject.
You will also find these employability elements in your study programme. Examples of subjects that pay attention to this are:
Information session by the Career Service during the MA History Introduction Programme.
Discussions on professional conduct, ethical dilemmas, the relevance of history for society, digital history, and the job market during the Academic Skills & Thesis Seminar.
Future employers are interested not only in the subject-related knowledge that you acquired during your study programme, but also in ‘transferable skills’. These include cognitive skills, such as critical thinking, reasoning and argumentation and innovation; intrapersonal skills, such as flexibility, initiative, appreciating diversity and metacognition; and interpersonal skills, such as communication, accountability and conflict resolution. In short, they are skills that all professionals need in order to perform well.
It is therefore important that during your study programme you not only acquire as much knowledge as possible about your subject, but also are aware of the skills you have gained and the further skills you still want to learn. The course descriptions in the Prospectus of MA History include, in addition to the courses’ learning objectives, a list of the skills that they aim to develop and strenghthen.
The skills you may encounter in the various courses are:
Collaboration
Persuasion
Research
Self-directed learning
Creative thinking
Every year, various activities take place, within, alongside and outside of your study programme, which contribute to your preparation for the labour market, especially where it concerns orientation towards the work field/the labour market, (career) skills and self-reflection. These activities could be hosted by your study program to discuss the key decision stages within your program. Furthermore, you may want to attend career workshops and events organised by the Humanities Career service or your study association.
For example:
Workshops and (faculty) career events, organised by Humanities Career Service
Minor’s Information Market
Information about the different choices within your study program; (optional) subjects, minors, honours education, study abroad, internships, career prospects
Study Abroad Festival
Workshops and career events of study association HSVL.
Humanities Career Service
The Humanities Career Service offers information and advice on internships, study (re)orientation and master's choice, orientation on the labour market and careers.
Leiden University Career Zone
The Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career. You can find advice, information, (career) tests and tools in the area of (study) career planning, career possibilities with your study, job market orientation, job applications, the Alumni Mentor network, job portal, workshops and events and career services.
Workshops and events
On the Workshops calendar you will find an overview of career and application workshops, organised by the Humanities Career Service.
If you have any questions about career choices, whether in your studies or on the job market, you are welcome to make an appointment with the career adviser of the the Humanities Career Service 071-5272235, or with your Study Advisor.