Modern and Contemporary History

The Modern and Contemporary History research Master’s programme offers you research-based training in history as an academic discipline. We teach you how to do research, and we challenge you to develop your own ideas on topics of your choice.

Developing historical expertise

The broad range of expertise of our History Department pertains to the following areas of (early) modern history:

• political history
• cultural history
• history of international relations and conflict studies
• economic and social history

The programme’s courses are taught in small groups by first-rate instructors. You will learn advanced research skills whilst developing historical expertise in your specific areas of interest. We will also challenge you to connect your work to ongoing scholarly debates and to reflect on current affairs.  

Why this programme in Utrecht?

An active student community

In Utrecht, you will become part of a dynamic and diverse student community. Class discussions and extracurricular activities will allow you to develop and test your ideas about history as an academic discipline. You will have the chance to assist in organising the programme’s annual student conference and participate in one of our Department’s regular academic seminars. 

Societal relevance

Our instructors use the historical landscape to contribute to scholarly debates with high social impact, including global inequality, cultural diversity, democratisation processes, and terrorist threats, to name a few. They also often engage directly in public debates about these issues. Likewise, most of our students aspire to become professional researchers, tackling important academic debates and societal issues. Many go on to pursue PhDs and work in academia, while others work as researchers in the numerous non-academic public and private organisations that demand advanced research skills, such as governmental agencies and NGOs.

International network

Our Department participates in various national and international networks for historical research, and our staff is well connected with leading research universities and institutions abroad. This extensive network will help you find exciting internship opportunities suited to your particular interests, either in the Netherlands or abroad, if you prefer to gain international experience.

Teaching staff

You will work under the supervision of leading experts in cultural history, political history, social and economic history, and the history of international relations, who will teach you advanced research skills and help you develop your historical expertise. Our staff will also share their commitment to in-depth and collaborative work with you, as well as their enthusiasm for the interdisciplinary course content.

After graduation

Throughout the programme, we introduce our students to a vast range of research-oriented career opportunities, and we help them craft individualized plans to achieve their goals. After successful completion of the programme, our students are fully qualified to work as professional researchers. Our rigorous training programme prepares students to take advantage of the high demand for research expertise within and outside of academia, and our research internship programme provides a first leap into the world of professional research.

The key feature of this Master’s programme is the high degree of individual freedom students are afforded with in following their own interests.