Are you interested in the history, literature or culture of classical, medieval or early modern civilizations? Do you aspire to a career in research? This Research Master's track is just what you are looking for.
This two-year Research Master's track focuses on Classical Antiquity, the Middle Ages and Early Modernity in Europe and the Middle East. The programme gives you the opportunity to specialize in your chosen area of research, as well as to explore the similarities and differences between the range of periods studied within the programme. You receive a thorough training in today’s relevant research tools for studying the premodern world, including digital humanities.
Classical, Medieval and Early Modern Studies offers a multidisciplinary and international environment. Depending on your background and research interests, you can choose to concentrate on one or more of the areas (History, Literature or Classics) within this interdisciplinary programme.
You can design your own research profile to fit your interests. The programme provides specialist, tailor-made tutorials and courses on theory and method. You collaborate with our top researchers on their academic projects and can spend a study period abroad at one of our partner universities. To complete your studies you write an MA thesis on a subject of your own choice and specialisation, which will give you a firm basis for further studies at PhD level.
Students take three core modules in the first year. Approaches to Antiquity, the Middle Ages and Early Modern Times offers a theoretical and methodological overview of interdisciplinary analysis and includes an excursion. Digital Approaches to the Premodern World familiarizes students with the field of digital humanities and their uses in premodern studies. In the CMEMS Seminar students will organize a small-scale academic conference.
Semesters | ||||
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CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
Digital Appr. to the Premodern World (5 EC) | ||||
Approaches: Antiquity, Middle Ages, EMT (10 EC) | ||||
Research seminar I (15 EC) | ||||
CMEMS Seminar (10 EC) | ||||
Research Seminar II (10 EC) | ||||
Research Seminar III (10 EC) |
Semesters | ||||
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CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
CMEMS: Specialization 1 (10 EC, optional) | ||||
CMEMS: Specialization 2 (10 EC, optional) | ||||
CMEMS: Specialization 3 (5 EC, optional) | ||||
Careers in Research and Society (5 EC) | ||||
ReMa Thesis CMEMS incl. Preparation (30 EC) |
Students shape 60 ECTS of their programme individually in consultation with the Director of Studies: 20 ECTS should be chosen from the seminars offered by the Master's programmes in History, Classics and Literary Studies. 10 ECTS of the programme consists of seminars taken at the Dutch National Research Schools. For the remaining 30 ECTS students may take research seminars offered by other Dutch or foreign universities, arrange individual or group tutorials, or take up a research placement.
Specific requirements | More information |
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previous education |
BA degree in:
|
grade list |
An excellent academic record: An overview of the results achieved so far within the Bachelor's degree programme and/or other university degree programmes is required. |
Curriculum Vitae (CV) |
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) |
language test |
Additional English language requirement: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 100 (with a minimum score on speaking and writing of 25 (each)), or an IELTS score of 7 (with a minimum of 6.5 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 185. |
reference letter |
Two personal letters of recommendation from staff members who can comment on the students' affinity with and capacities for research. |
(motivation-) letter |
A letter outlining the prospective student's motivation for selecting the programme and Research Master's track, including their expectations and interests. |
other admission requirements |
Furthermore, the selection procedure is also based on an evaluation of degree certificates, individual results and the thesis or paper. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
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History (part-time) | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
Classics (part-time) | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
English Language and Culture | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
Dutch Language and Culture | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
European Languages and Cultures | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
English Language and Culture | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
European Languages and Cultures | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
History (part-time) | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
Classics (part-time) | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
Dutch Language and Culture | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 | |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
previous education |
Prospective students are required to have demonstrable knowledge at Bachelor's level oflanguages, cultures or history of Classical Antiquity, the Middle Ages, or the Early Modern period. Examples of these types of Bachelor's programmes are:
|
grade list |
An excellent academic record: An overview of the results achieved so far within the Bachelor's degree programme and/or other university degree programmes is required. |
Curriculum Vitae (CV) |
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) |
language test |
Additional English language requirement: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 100 (with a minimum score for speaking and writing of 25 (each)), or an IELTS score of 7 (with a minimum of 6.5 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 185. |
reference letter |
Two personal letters of recommendation from staff members who can comment on the students' affinity with and capacities for research. |
(motivation-) letter |
A letter outlining the prospective student's motivation for selecting the programme and Research Master's track, including their expectations and interests. |
other admission requirements |
Furthermore, the selection procedure is also based on an evaluation of degree certificates, individual results and the thesis or paper. |
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 | |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
15 October 2026 | 01 February 2027 |
Classical, Medieval and Early Modern Studies offers many opportunities for developing academic and professional skills and knowledge. Among others, the module Careers in Research and Society will help students to identify and sharpen their skills set acquired during their studies. After graduation, many of our students will endeavour to obtain a place as a PhD researcher.
Students are informed about the possibilities and pitfalls
involved in applying for PhD positions inside and outside the
University of Groningen. Approximately 50% of our alumni have
successfully obtained a PhD position.
Students also have the opportunity to build up experience in the
form of internships in a cultural institution with a research
component, such as the Groningen University Library, the Tresoar in
Leeuwarden or the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
(KNAW) in Amsterdam.
Finally, we want to cater for students who wish to pursue a career
in teaching. To this end we have created a fast track that allows
students to integrate part of the Master of Arts in Teaching
programme into their own programme.
The Master's track, which is offered by the Graduate School for the Humanities, is linked to excellent, multidisciplinary research which is carried out at the Groningen Research Institute for the Study of Culture (ICOG) and the national research schools.
Research MA students are required to participate in seminars, courses and summer schools organized by the Dutch national research schools. These 'schools' are organized for the training of PhD students, but some activities are open to or specially set up for you. These events give you, as a Research MA student, the opportunity to deepen your disciplinary profile and to become acquainted with top researchers in your field. You can participate in the following research schools:
Students may also be given the opportunity to do excellent research in a master placement which will be awarded with ECTS.
Classical, Medieval and Early Modern Studies takes part in the International Summer School Things That Matter, a collaborative U4 Project with the University of Uppsala and Durham University. Things That Matter focuses on digital humanities and addresses the tension between the materiality of sources and their digitization.
Students of Classical, Medieval and Early Modern Studies participate in many research projects that also reach a wider public. They regularly curate virtual exhibitions based on the treasures of their academic libraries, an example of which can bne found on the Special Collection site of the University of Groningen. You may also like to browse through the other virtual exhibitions on the site.
Every year, CMEMS students organize a conference as part of the course. In 2023 the topic was ‘Facets of Feelings’.
The Faculty of Arts also offers one year master’s degree programmes in Classics, Literary Studies and History.