Culture and heritage are the sinews of a society. In an era marked by rapid change, ambitious and critical cultural leaders are required to foster the cultural core of a sustainable society.
Culture defines humanity.
Managing the valuation and transmission of culture through policy,
entrepreneurship, and education across generations is therefore a
key responsibility for a sustainable society. In our modern
society, culture has to be negotiated as it is shaped by
digitisation and new media, ethnic and cultural diversity, changing
audiences and economic circumstances, dwindling public funds, and a
loss of shared historical awareness. The mission of the Research
Master's track Cultural Leadership is to train its students to
conduct academic research into processes of cultural leadership. We
equip them with essential scholarly expertise as well as analytical
and strategic skills, so that they may carry culture forward in a
critical, sustainable, and creative manner, and ultimately become
cultural leaders themselves.Culture defines humanity. Managing the
valuation and transmission of culture through policy,
entrepreneurship, and education across generations is therefore a
key responsibility for a sustainable society and a resilient
democracy.
Our research programme identifies cultural leadership as any
cultural practice creating or strengthening interactions between
the arts and societal debates in a local, national, or
transnational context.
It addresses topics such as digitisation and new media, ethnic and
cultural diversity, changing audiences and economic circumstances,
dwindling historical awareness and political support, democratic
empowerment.
The mission of the Research Master's track Cultural Leadership is
to train its students to conduct academic research into processes
of cultural leadership, both in organisations and in the
international political context. The curriculum will equip you with
essential scholarly expertise as well as analytical and strategic
skills, so that you may carry culture forward in a critical,
sustainable, and creative manner, and ultimately become a cultural
leader yourself.
The programme's broad definition of cultural leadership and its multidisciplinary set-up are vital characteristics of the programme. It looks beyond management forms of leadership and it is accessible from BA's in practically any humanities field. We offer small-scale intensive education in which discussion, forming and voicing your own informed opinion play a significant role.
The first year consists of course work.
The first semester is taught in Groningen. You will follow one
or two disciplinary electives (10 ECTS in total) depending on their
BA-degree and further interests. A general introduction in to the
field is offered in the Cultural Leadership course plus Theories of
Culture and Research and Public Cultural Policy in Global
Context.
The second semester is taught in Groningen, or you can decide to
select courses from research institutes elsewhere in the
Netherlands. You will also follow the courses Arts and Media in
Society and Leadership and Personal Leadership if they stay in
Groningen.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Theories of Culture and Research (5 EC) | ||||
| Cultural Leadership (10 EC) | ||||
| Disciplinary Elective I (10 EC) | ||||
| Public Cultural Policy in Global Context (5 EC) | ||||
| Leadership and Personal Leadership (5 EC) | ||||
| Arts and Media in Society (10 EC) | ||||
| Disciplinary Elective II (15 EC) | ||||
| Media in Culture (5 EC) | ||||
| Sustainability and Cultural Awareness (5 EC) | ||||
| Urban Heritage (5 EC) | ||||
| Urban Heritage (5 EC) | ||||
In their second year students do a research traineeship and write their thesis.
In the third semester students design their thesis research and start their six-month research traineeship with a cultural institution (in the Netherlands or abroad). In January they will participate in a two-day Winter School in Groningen related to the research project carried out at their host institution.
In the fourth semester they finish their traineeship and write their thesis.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Cultural Leadership Research Traineeship (30 EC) | ||||
| Research MA Thesis Cultural Leadership (30 EC) | ||||
Please note that individual courses may possibly still change in the event of a programme change.
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Prospective students are required to have knowledge at Bachelor's level of any humanities discipline or discipline relevant to leadership in the cultural domain. 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. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Culture and Media | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| Archaeology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| History | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| Art History | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| Media Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| 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. |
| Minorities & Multilingualism | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| Religious Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Archaeology | 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. |
| European Languages and Cultures | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| History (part-time) | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| Arts, Culture and Media | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| Art History | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| Media Studies | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure |
| Minorities & Multilingualism | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| Religious Studies | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:This programme has a selection procedure. |
NB. We strongly advice you to start the programme in September. For more information, please contact the study advisor.
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Prospective students are required to have knowledge at Bachelor's level of any humanities discipline or discipline relevant to leadership in the cultural domain. 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 requirements English: 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. |
NB. We strongly advice you to start the programme in September. For more information, please contact the study advisor.
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
The research master Cultural Leadership supports your choice for a PhD trajectory and possible further academic career. However, it also prepares you for jobs in the professional field, such as:
The research master offers the possibility to contribute to an international research agenda on the topic of cultural leadership. We encourage transdisciplinary research on cultural leadership, exploring and including perspectives from all disciplines in the humanities. We employ analytical, critical, and cognitive perspectives.
The master Cultural Leadership is a cooperative endeavour of several departments within the Faculty of Arts of the University of Groningen. Its teaching staff includes Katherine Watson, our Cultural Leader in Residence.
