Cultural History and Heritage

The Master’s programme in Cultural History and Heritage is a cross-fertilisation of theory and practice. In this Master's you will engage with pioneering research in cultural history and innovative public history projects. You will learn to deepen your academic knowledge and apply it to today’s societal challenges. We provide you with insights in current debates within critical heritage studies, always with a solid grounding in cultural history.   

Study the culture of the past

In this Master's you will study cultures of the past and the uses of history in the present. We approach heritage issues from the perspective of cultural history and cultural theory. At the same time, you learn how to translate cultural-historical knowledge and heritage expertise into public history products.

During the programme, you may engage with debates on museums in a postcolonial society, the history of digital culture, the role of memory after conflict, or the hip-hop archive.

Hear what the students and alumni of Cultural History and Heritage have to say about the programme!

Why this programme in Utrecht?

A combination of theory and practice

Central to our courses is the combination of academic theory and societal practice. A unique feature of our programme is the graduation project: you complete your degree through a project designed and carried out in collaboration with a societal partner (a leading national or international cultural-historical institution, such as a museum, heritage organisation, or research institute) and an experienced academic supervisor. Together, you work on a problem or assignment provided by the host institution. The graduation project can take various forms, including an exhibition proposal, a podcast, an advisory report, or an article for an academic journal. This way, you immediately put the academic knowledge and skills acquired in the programme into professional practice.

A vibrant community

Students and lecturers of the MA programme in Cultural History and Heritage form a vibrant community, that connects both inside and outside the classroom, for example at the Cultural Career Seminar, social gatherings and the annual multi-day field-trip. In recent years, we have visited Brussels and Leuven, Antwerp, Berlin, the Ruhr region, Ghent, and Ypres. We also value staying in touch after graduation: our alumni form an important link between the programme and the professional field.

Areas of expertise

You will be taught by internationally renowned cultural historians and experts with practical experience in heritage management and public history. Our research expertise spans global cultural history from the early modern period to the present day. Specific areas of expertise include popular culture, digital history, media history, (post-)colonial history, memory studies, gender history, the history of science, the history of the body, museum studies, and material and intangible heritage studies.

After graduation

Our students find positions in museums and heritage organisations, in education, the media, policy-making, tourism, research and academia, as well as in journalism and the business sector.

I particularly liked the fact that an internship was part of the Master's degree.