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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes History and Heritage Consultancy
Header image History and Heritage Consultancy
Master - full-time

History and Heritage Consultancy

How does Ukraine protect its monuments in the current war? What policies should Dutch authorities develop concerning art stolen during the Second World War? What should be done with disputed statues related to Europe's colonial past?

These types of questions are pressing in our changing world, in which conflict and inequality necessitate us to rethink our attitudes towards the past and its cultural and material heritage. The Master’s track History and Heritage Consultancy at the University of Groningen teaches you how to expertly approach questions about the meaning and uses of (contested) heritage. The track is unique in its dual focus on historical analysis of heritage and professional skills — such as effective communication, grant writing and project management — required for working in the heritage and public sector.

History and Heritage Consultancy offers a broad range of methodological and research courses, which allows for a specialization in your personal field of interest and flexibility in your planning. You learn to interrogate the complexities of history and heritage present in buildings, objects, practices, customs and opinions of the past. You also develop relevant professional skills—for example, by completing assignments for public or heritage institutions, such as the Groninger Museum—which prepare you for immediate employment in the field of history and heritage.

You can follow this programme both full-time and part-time. If you wish to enrol to this programme per 1 February, please contact the study advisers.

Sign up now for the Master's Week from 18-22 November!
Facts & Figures
Degree
MA in History
Course type
Master
Duration
12 months (60 ECTS)
Croho code
66034
Language of instruction
Dutch, English
Start
February, September
Faculty
Arts
Apply now
Why study this programme in Groningen?

- Een academische geesteswetenschappengraad in History and Heritage Consultancy met een duidelijke professionele en maatschappelijke relevantie
- Een uitstekend programma dat een integrale aanpak biedt voor historisch erfgoed en consultancy door geschiedenis, theorie en praktijk te combineren
- Een duidelijke focus op hedendaagse ontwikkelingen op het gebied van historisch erfgoed, bijvoorbeeld met betrekking tot digitalisering en fondsenwerving
- Een unieke focus op inzetbaarheid dankzij vakken met betrekking tot methoden en professionele vaardigheden; daarnaast praktische ervaring in de erfgoedsector en de publieke sector via speciale projecten en stages
- Een internationale en aantrekkelijke studie-omgeving met veel middelen om onderzoek te doen

Programme

At the core of this track is the flag course Atelier Living Heritage, in which lecturers and experts from the field focus on theories of heritage, the various aspects of heritage consultancy and the conveyance of historical knowledge to broader audiences and new contexts. As part of this course you complete an assignment for a heritage organization or public institution to gain first-hand working experience.

The course Masterclass is also characteristic of the track, as it trains you in various practical skills, such as pitching projects, project management and grant writing, in preparation of entering the job market.

You will also choose a number of methodological courses to enhance your historical skills, such as Oral History, The Uses of the Past, Archives or Visual and Material Sources. Furthermore, you will develop these skills by taking a research seminar, which offers an in-depth analysis of a specific topic. The list of research seminars to choose from links to the expertise of the lecturers and varies each year. All courses, but specifically Atelier Living History, the research seminar and the methodological courses, prepare you for the final part of the programme. You will either write a Master Thesis on a historical subject or conduct a Master Project, in which you put historical research into practice, for example, by developing an exhibition plan or by writing a documentary script.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Historical Methods: The Uses of the Past (5 EC)
Masterclass I (5 EC)
Research Seminar (5 EC)
Historical Methods: Archives (5 EC, optional)
Historical Methods: Digitial History (5 EC, optional)
Historical Methods: Oral History (5 EC, optional)
Masterclass II (5 EC)
Atelier Living Heritage (10 EC)
Historical Methods: The Uses of the Past (5 EC, optional)
Master's Thesis History (20 EC)
Programme options
Master's placement (specialization)

During this Master's track, you can participate in a placement–as an extra course–for 10 ECTS credit points.

This placement offers students the opportunity gain work experience and work orientation. You can participate in a placement at an institution, organization or company in or outside the Netherlands. It is your responsibility to find a placement yourself, but the placement coordinators can help with this where possible.

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is optional

A study period abroad can be combined with the placement and/or the Master's final assignment. You could also follow a seminar at a university abroad.

Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
History (part-time)All Research universitiesNo additional requirements
Study programmeOrganizationTransition
American StudiesUniversity of Groningen

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More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
Communication and Information StudiesUniversity of Groningen

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Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
English Language and CultureUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
European Languages and CulturesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
HistoryUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Classical StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
Information ScienceUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
ArchaeologyUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
International Relations and International OrganizationUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
Arts, Culture and MediaUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
Art HistoryUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
Media StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
Middle Eastern StudiesUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
Minorities & MultilingualismUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
Dutch Language and CultureUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)
LinguisticsUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Aangevuld met een facultaire minor Geschiedenis van 30 ECTS (aan de RUG)

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Students with the following academic background are admissible to this Master's track:

  • A Bachelor's degree in History
  • A Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen, who have successfully completed the Minor in History (max. 30 ECTS)
language test

Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. Students who gained a Bachelor's degree certificate from an English-taught degree programme, will automatically meet the language requirements.

Registration procedure

Please use this step-by-step guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 January 202501 February 2025
15 August 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026

Please note: whether it is possible to start this Master's degree programme as of 1 February depends on several different factors. Please contact the study advisor (under the "Contact" button) for more information

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Students with the following academic background are admissible to this Master's track:

  • A Bachelor's degree in History
  • A Bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen, who have successfully completed the Minor in History (max. 30 ECTS)
language test

Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. Students who gained a Bachelor's degree certificate from an English-taught degree programme, will automatically meet the language requirements.

Registration procedure

Please use this step-by-step guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students15 January 202501 February 2025
15 August 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202501 September 2025
15 October 202501 February 2026

Please note: whether it is possible to start this Master's degree programme as of 1 February depends on several different factors. Please contact the study advisor (under the "Contact" button) for more information

Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 18700full-time

Practical information for:

Dutch studentsInternational students
After your studies

Job prospects

On completing the Master's track History and Heritage Consultancy, you are equipped with the academic and professional knowledge and skills that are required to work in the public and heritage sectors.

Our graduates are able to interpret and reflect on the meaning of historical heritage, are able to implement their knowledge practically and have excellent analytical writing and reading skills. History and Heritage Consultancy helps you to develop the expertise and tools to find general and specialist positions within administrative bodies, cultural institutions and other (media) organizations involved in the field of public history.

Job examples

  • Curator
  • Historical/ heritage advisor
  • Policy advisor in public administration
  • Coordinator of educational events
  • Head of a cultural institute
  • Researcher
  • Journalist
Research

Research in the Department of History covers the earliest human history to the present, focusing on regions from a global perspective. The international staff are all involved in teaching the Master’s track History and Heritage Consultancy, offering you the possibility to specialize in a wide range of topics, and are often involved in the field of heritage studies as well. You can find more information on the webpages about staff members and their research and about the activities of the Research Centre for Historical Studies.

The wide-ranging expertise of our staff allows students to choose their own thesis subjects, such as changing exhibition and archiving strategies, media and war news, the effects of slavery, the position of religious minorities, and food cultures in the past.

Apply nowBrochureEventsContact
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Contact

  • Ask Your Question Here (please fill in this contact form, we will answer you as soon as possible)
  • Dr. Joop Koopmans (programme coordinator)
    Email: j.w.koopmans rug.nl
  • Drs. Bob van der Borg (studieadviseur / study advisor)
    Email: studieadviesgeschiedenis rug.nl
  • Drs. Hidde de Haas (studieadviseur / study advisor)
    Email: studieadviesgeschiedenis rug.nl
  • Admission Office (Contact form)
    Telephone: +31-(0)50 363 8976

Research Master


Are you interested in a research oriented career? Please also check our Research Master's Programme of History.

Read more

Study associations

Ubbo Emmius

Ubbo Emmius is the study association of the History department at the University of Groningen.
The association organizes a broad set of activities year-round. These can vary from social, study related, career or even activities that focus on all together. Not only this, but you can also get a nice discount on all your study books if you order them through us. The organization of the activities lies, for the main part, with the 17 committees that Ubbo has. There is for example the Career Committee, the Party Committee, the Travel Committee and the list goes on. All in all being a member of Ubbo is a great addition to your time as a student! For a full overview of who we are and what we do, you can take a look on our website or social media.
https://www.ubbo-emmius.nl/home
Read more
Study support

Each degree programme has a study advisor whom you can contact if you have questions or need advice about any study-related matters. Everything you discuss will be treated confidentially. If you have a more complex problem, for example a performance disability or if you are ill for a long time, you should contact a student counsellor. In addition, you can also follow various courses at the Study Support section of the Student Service Centre (SSC).

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