Master of Science in Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Discover the History and Culture of the Great Pre-Modern Civilisations

Our Research Master’s program in Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies focuses on interdisciplinary study of the material, social, and intellectual developments in Europe (including the Mediterranean region) from Antiquity through the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Within this long period, you can focus on your academic interests by choosing one of the following tracks:

• Ancient Studies
• Medieval Studies
• Early Medieval Insular Languages and Cultures
• Renaissance Studies

Within each track, you will work with source materials in their original languages, including in manuscript form. The Ancient Studies track has a keen interest in cultural interactions within and between ancient civilizations and includes a variety of research methods, such as archaeology and epigraphy, to the study of the ancient world. The Medieval Studies and Renaissance Studies tracks go beyond a solely historical approach by including courses in literature, linguistics, art history, musicology, and history. In the Medieval Studies track, you may specialize in either Medieval History, Medieval Art History, Medieval Literature, or Medieval Musicology. Medieval Celtic Studies combines literary studies with historical linguistics.

The program is enhanced with research conducted by lecturers who are internationally renowned in their fields of expertise. You are encouraged to work alongside these lecturers on research projects, and you can spend a semester abroad at one of the many universities with which we have research links. After graduation, approximately 50% of graduates go on to undertake a Ph.D., either in the Netherlands or abroad.

For those with ambitions outside research, courses are being developed on ‘Heritage and Cultural Transfer’ (including an internship in material culture, e.g. on written texts as objects), and on the uses of the ancient and medieval languages.

International Community

The program attracts students from the Netherlands and abroad. International students find an internationally unique interdisciplinary approach to the study of pre-modern civilizations. They quickly feel welcome in the community of teachers and students and fully participate in the program’s scholarly life.

After Graduation

This research Master’s program will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to gain admission to Ph.D. programs in your chosen specialization; you can also conduct independent research and complete your doctoral dissertation. The program will give you the skills needed for your future career, including pursuing scholarly research to be published in peer-reviewed journals.

Our program also prepares you for careers outside academia in management, politics, or the arts. The program is both academically and socially relevant; by developing your professional skills and your ability to work independently, you will be well prepared for the challenges of the modern employment market.

Tracks

This program offers several tracks:

• Ancient Studies
• Medieval Studies
• Early Medieval Insular Languages and Cultures
• Renaissance Studies

Ancient Studies

The Ancient Studies track focuses on classical civilization from c. 1000 BCE to c. 500 CE and offers courses on Classical Greece, Hellenism, Classical Rome, and Late Antiquity. Particular focus is placed on the cultural interactions that shaped the world of the Greek polis, Hellenistic courts, Roman Empire and Early Christianity. This track is highly multidisciplinary: you will acquire in-depth skills to study ancient sources, including literary and epigraphical texts as well as material remains (archaeology). You will also follow courses offered by the Netherlands Research School in Classical Studies (OIKOS).

Medieval Studies

The Medieval Studies track focuses on European civilization between c. 500 and c. 1500. In addition to the core courses, you will specialize in either Medieval History, Medieval Art History, Literature, or Musicology. Depending on your specialization, you may need to learn to read Latin or another medieval language. Students also take courses offered by the Netherlands Research School in Medieval Studies.

Early Medieval Insular Languages and Cultures

This track focuses on languages and literatures of the Early Medieval Insular region: Latin, Old English, and Old Irish (beside Middle Welsh). Having learned one of these languages is a precondition for admission to the program, as we concentrate on reading texts in the original in all our courses. You will also be expected to learn an additional Insular language while enrolled in the program. In our seminars, we especially look at the themes of history and pseudo-history, religion, and law. In this track, you will also take courses offered by the Netherlands Research School in Medieval Studies.

Renaissance Studies

The Renaissance Studies track focuses on the Renaissance from its development in Italy during the 13th century to its subsequent status as a Europe-wide phenomenon. Particular attention is given to the history, art history, and literatures of the period from c. 1300 to c. 1700. You may specialize in either a discipline or a geographical area. According to your specialization, you can take courses by a relevant national research school, such as the Research Institute and Graduate School for Cultural History (Huizinga Instituut).

The Research Master’s program is designed for students with the ability and ambition to pursue an academic career. As of June 2014, 50% of graduates had started a Ph.D. program in the Netherlands or abroad. Others remained in the academic sphere with careers in secondary and higher education, museums, archives, publishing, translation, etc. Still, others have found jobs in management, politics, and the arts. Almost all graduates found a job within two years of graduating.

Cultural Transfer

To assist you in preparing for life after university as a scholar of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, or the Renaissance, we offer three courses on ‘cultural transfer’ in the second year. In these courses, you become acquainted with "Premodern sources in modern contexts", "tangible and intangible heritage", and "theory and practice in archaeology and monument preservation". You are also eligible for a work placement in ancient, medieval, and renaissance studies.

Academic Careers

Graduates of this program have received Ph.D. offers from (amongst others):

• University of Wales

• University of Princeton

• Ghent University

• University of Antwerp

• University of Cambridge

• University of Glasgow

• University of Leeds

• Ruhr-Universität Bochum

• University of Vienna

• Aberystwyth University

Non-Academic Careers

You can also pursue a professional career in the field.