Historical Studies

Are you interested in history? Are you willing to make a choice from a wide range of historical periods and fields and do you have affinity with an interdisciplinary perspective? Then the research master Historical Studies at the Nijmegen Faculty of Arts is the right programme for you!

The research master Historical Studies is tailored to students with a passion for history and a clear ambition for historical research. Historical Studies allows you to follow paths in the full range of periods, including Ancient history, Medieval history and Modern history. At the same time a wide variety of specialisations is offered, such as demographic and family history, cultural history and political history. The two-year research master programme Historical Studies at the Radboud University Nijmegen will offer you the opportunity to realise a study based on your own particular interests and ambitions within a sound educational framework. You will be coached by an experienced researcher who will serve as your individual tutor.

All our research is performed in collaboration with scientists from other fields within the Institute for Historical, Literary and Cultural Studies  (HLCS). You will work in small groups on your own field of interest under the guidance of prominent scholars. Students work together closely with other research master's students in other specialisations of Historical Studies and Literary Studies. In this way, your own specialisation stands in a robust framework of theoretical and methodological training with disciplinary and interdisciplinary levels. 

• Theory of Scientific Research in Humanities
• Academic writing
• International Literature and Historical Research
• Methods and Approaches in Humanities
• Contemporary Debates in Humanities
• Sources of Historical Research
• Key Research in Historical Studies
• Electives, study abroad or internship
• Article, proposal, and thesis

Instruction modes

literature study, internship, research, research project, research proposal, tutorial, lecture, individual assignment, self study

A completed Bachelor's degree

A Bachelor's degree in History or related area. Your average grade during the second and third years of your BA studies has to have been at least a 7.5 and your Bachelor’s thesis had to have received a grade of at least 8.0.

Proficiency in English

In order to take part in this specialisation, you need to have fluency in both written and spoken English. Non-native speakers of English* need one of the following:

• A TOEFL score of ≥600 (paper based) or ≥100 (internet based)
• A IELTS score of ≥7.0
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with a mark of C or higher

Strong motivation

You have to be able to demonstrate your motivation for and affinity with international academic research. A selection committee will review evaluate the motivation of each applicant separately.

Letter of recommendation

We also ask that your BA thesis supervisor (or other relevant teacher) sends us a letter of recommendation by mail: hlcsmaster@ru.nl

* Applicants are considered to be a native speaker of English if they are from Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, USA or South Africa.

There are various scholarships available for studying at Radboud University. Some of the opportunities are described below. A full list, including detailed information, can be found on our scholarships and grants page at our website. 

Radboud Scholarship Programme

Open to a select number of excellent international students. Instead of the institutional tuition fees, non-EEA students pay the legal tuition fees (€2,083 in 2019/2020). Visa and residence permit costs, liability insurance and health insurance are also covered.

Orange Tulip Scholarship

Open to students from Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Indonesia, South-Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and China. Instead of the institutional tuition fees, non-EEA students pay the legal tuition fees (€2,083 in 2019/2020). Visa and residence permit costs, liability insurance and health insurance are also covered.

Radboud Faculty of Arts Study Funds

Students who receive either the Radboud Scholarship or the Orange Tulip Scholarship are eligible for an additional grant to assist with study costs. The grant consists of 2,500 euros paid in 10 instalments throughout the year.

Fulbright-Radboud Scholarships

Open to excellent American students. The grant will be paid in 12 monthly instalments of 1,050 euros. International travel and the cost of the residence permit will be covered, and an extra allowance of €1150 will be paid on arrival.

Sino-Dutch Bilateral Exchange Scholarship

Open to excellent students from China. Consists of a contribution of € 16,113 towards the total costs of one year of study or research in the Netherlands.

DIKTI-Neso Scholarships

Aimed at lecturers at higher education institutions in Indonesia who wish to pursue a PhD or Master's at a university in the Netherlands. A DIKTI scholarship includes allowances for living expenses, insurance, travel costs, tuition fees and more.

Indonesian Education Scholarship (LPDP)

Open to excellent Indonesian students under the age of 35. Involves a full scholarship.

Holland Scholarship Programme

Open to excellent students from Canada, America, India and Turkey. Scholarship consists of 5,000 euros payed at the start of study.

Dutch Student Finance

EU/EEA students and Swiss students under 30 years of age are eligible if they are working at least 56 hours per month in the Netherlands, or have been living in the Netherlands for five years or more. Dutch student finance consists of four components: a basic grant, a supplementary grant (depending on the parental income), a student travel product, and a loan.

The Master's in Historical Studies is a specialisation of the Research Master's in Historical, Literary and Cultural Studies