Career prospects

The research Master's programme prepares you for PhD studies in the Netherlands or abroad. After graduation you will also be qualified for positions in academic or research institutes or cultural organisations requiring specific academic skills in media, art and performance studies at Master's level. The programme can also be an excellent starting point for a career in cultural policy and consultancy in the media sector or art world. 

Academic careers

Alumni of the Media, Art and Performance Studies research Master’s have been successful in obtaining PhD positions in various prestigious international programmes at, for example, the University of Rochester, the University of Hong Kong, London School of Economics, and the University of Leeds, as well as at Maastricht University, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Utrecht University.

Professional careers

Graduates also find their way to other job markets. For example, an alumnus of the programme now works as a researcher on issues in media history in the Dutch television industry. Another one has been recruited by the Dutch Ministry of Culture and Education and a third is cross-media researcher at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam. Others work successfully in the domain of media consultancy.

Students that graduated from this programme have soon found jobs as, for example:

  • Policy advisor at the Legal and Policy Department of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
  • European Affairs Advisor for the Italian public service broadcaster RAI
  • Commissioned writer of a biography on Jan de Vaal, for the Joris Ivens Stichting
  • Communications Officer at Cost Office
  • Dramaturge in Dutch theatre
  • IT Business Analyst bij Glencore Grain BV
  • Coördinator, Circuit X, production Moving Meetings Theatre at Vti, Belgium
  • Programme Researcher with Andere Tijden (NTR); image researcher with Grote Geschiedenis Quiz (NTR)
  • Relations Manager at http://Mediawijzer.net (in Dutch)

Career development

Career Services

Career Services offers events, tests, coaching and training in and outside your Master's programme, related to professional self-analysis, career orientation and job application skills. You can find more information about career services on Career Services for Dutch students or Career Services for international students.

Other career events

  • Your Perspective is a monthly career orientation meeting for students and alumni of the Faculty of Humanities at Utrecht University. Each month we explore a different workfield or theme that is relevant for students of various disciplines within the humanities. 
  • The Faculty of Humanities organises a Career Night Humanities with interesting partners who will illustrate the diversity in career opportunities for humanities graduates and give you possibilities to develop yourself by joining their projects or attending their services. 
  • Once a year Utrecht University organises a Careers Day. This Careers Day offers the opportunity to sign up for workshops and trainings, and to meet recruiters at the careers fair. It’s also possible to participate in a job application training or have your résumé checked.