Career prospects

As a graduate from our programme you are a professional in cultural history. Our alumni have gone on to work in museums and heritage institutions, but also as a researcher at a university, in government, tourism, media and journalism, as well as in the corporate world. Twenty percent of our students find their first job at the institution that offered them an internship.

Professional careers

Graduates of the Cultural History and Heritage programme have mostly found job positions in museums and heritage organisations, as well as in the field of (secondary) education:

The Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands | The Dutch National Museum of Antiquities | Leiden University | Stedelijk Gymnasium Breda | Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Alumni on LinkedIn

Academic careers 

Students who want to continue with a PhD programme after their Master’s degree might consider doing a Research Master (in History) at Utrecht University. However, several graduates of the Master’s programme in Cultural History have found PhD positions.

Career development

Exposure to the labour market

The Cultural History Master offers you the following exposure to the labour market:

  • Study trips and field visits within the framework of tutorials.
  • Guest lectures from cultural historians employed at social institutions.
  • The Cultural History seminar, which effectively prepares you to come into contact with, acquire information about, and introduce yourselve to actual employers.
  • An internship, which puts you in the position to gain experience in the work done by a cultural historian at a social institution.
  • A thesis and presentation of research results that have been collected at (for example) heritage institutions or museums.
  • Your internship experience should be connected to the research you do for your thesis, which is the product of a rigorous and rewarding process.

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.