Humanities Research - Critical Studies in Art and Culture, Master Degree, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

1.  Academic requirements

Your previous education needs to be deemed equivalent to at least a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) obtained at a research university (nominal duration 3 years). 

2. Programme specific requirements

The Humanities (Research) Master programme is aimed at talented students who are exceptionally motivated to be trained in academic methods in their specific field of humanities. The two-year (Research) Master's is a good option for students who are interested in pursuing a PhD after their MA, but also more in general for students who cherish critical attitude, arrive at original lines of questioning based on a profound knowledge of their research subject, and wish to develop their research skills.

To be eligible to the Humanities (Research) Master programme, students should have a Bachelor’s degree in one of the Humanities disciplines History, Philosophy, Linguistics, Literature or Art, or an interdisciplinary Bachelor’s programme (such as Liberal Arts & Sciences, Arts and Culture Studies, PPE, PPLE, Political Sciences, Anthropology, European Studies, American Studies, Global Studies, Digital Society, Computer Sciences, Digital Humanities, or Environmental Humanities or Environmental Studies. 

For the track Critical Studies in Art and Culture students must also meet the following requirements:

• knowledge: a solid background with a minimum of 30 EC in either art history, architectural history, design studies or media studies; 
• understanding: an understanding of methodologies in one or more of the relevant disciplines (art history, architectural history, design studies and media studies); awareness of the history and the potential of interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration between these fields; 
• skills: an ability to analyse works of art and visual or material culture; the capacity to discuss developments in the arts and media in a wider societal context, and to use theoretical writings to shed new light on arts and media practices.

Admission is also based on additional strict selection criteria:

• proof of excellent study results: outstanding grade for your bachelor’s thesis or similar final work (7.5 or higher), and an average of no less than 7.5 for a relevant selection of your bachelor’s programme (to be decided by the Admission Board). 
• clear motivation for doing academic research: showing evidence of enthusiasm, commitment, intellectual curiosity, genuine interest, perseverance, and capacity for sustained study.

The Faculty’s Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application. 

3. English-language proficiency requirements

You will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency. You can find an overview of relevant information to demonstrate your English language proficiency on the language requirement page.