Liberal Arts and Sciences (AUC)

This specialization focuses on human mobility in the past and the present. We look at history as the history of a mobile world in which migration, travel, tourism and pilgrimage have always been central to human interactions and identities, and link that history to contemporary political debates on migration, nation, ethnicity and diaspora.

We focus in particular on industrial, colonial and postcolonial mobilities in the modern era and consider movements between Western industrialised countries and the post/colonial periphery – including Africa, East and Southeast Asia -- as well as movements between Asia and Africa. 
In addition to history, we draw on concepts and approaches from anthropology to understand how individual choices about migration and their consequences are shaped by and reflect broader social processes and cultural frameworks. In addition to archival sources, students will acquire a basic notion of field research and draw on online sources such as diasporic social media.

Admission and application

Admission is based on a strict selection procedure. The Faculty’s Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application. If you have read the admission criteria below and feel you are eligible for admission, please take the following steps to submit your application. Note that the initial application procedure is fully online and that scans of your relevant documents are required. 
 

Step 1: Meet admission criteria 
Step 2: Prepare documents and apply online 
Step 3: Await decision on admission 
Step 4: Finalize registration and move to Amsterdam! 

Step 1: Meet admission criteria

In order to gain admission to one of our Master’s programmes, you will need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited research university including at least three full years of academic study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS or equivalent. 

Specific admission requirements for the Master’s programme History, specialization in Cultures of Knowledge, specialization in Global Social History (15 – 21 century), specialization in Migration and Mobility (History and Anthropology, 19 – 21 century) and specialization in Religion and Society from Antiquity up to Today

The Master’s History is designed for students with an academic Bachelor’s in history. You may also be accepted if you have an academic Bachelor’s in other disciplines of the Humanities (including theology or philosophy) or in anthropology or sociology, with a significant historical interest, apparent from a major or specialization equal to a minimum of 30 ECTS. 

For international students the level of studied academic theory needs to be based on the course description, literature list and sample of academic writing, due to a lack of distinction between applied and academic universities abroad. 

You must always present official test results proving your proficiency in English. Only students who have completed a  full high school/International Baccalaureate in English or bachelor’s degree in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, or Australia may be exempted. You can already apply online without having the test results. In case you haven’t taken a test yet we advise you to plan a test date as soon as possible. Below you will find the minimum English test scores for the English taught programmes at the Faculty of Humanities: 

TOEFL score (score 600 paper based with a minimum of 55 in each of the subtests plus 4.0 in TWE, score 250 computer based or score 100 internet based with a minimum of 20-23 in each of the subtests).  IELTS score of 7.0 overall band score (with none of the separate section scores dropping below a minimum score of 6.5). 
Cambridge English: Cambridge Proficiency Exam A, B, C, or Cambridge Advanced Exam A, B, C. 

Please refer to the language requirement page for the general requirements regarding the English language test. 

Step 2: Prepare documents and apply online 

Please prepare the following documents. You can find an explanation of each document on the application page. All documents should be provided in English. 

• Copy of your valid passport or ID (ID only for EU residents) 
• Curriculum Vitae
• Motivation Letter
• Two Letters of Recommendation
• Transcript of records 
• Thesis (or another sample of academic writing, at least 5 pages plus a list of used literature)
• A description of the relevant courses you have taken during your previous higher education 
• A list of all the main literature used during your previous higher education  

After having prepared the required documents, please follow the online application procedure. After you have completed the application, our international student advisors will contact you via email.

Step 3: Await decision on admission
The admission board will review your application as soon as it is complete. Normally this takes about four weeks, but it might take longer in busy periods so be sure to apply as soon as possible. If you gain admission, you will receive a letter of conditional admission by email. You can start planning your move to Amsterdam! 

Step 4: Finalize your registration and move to Amsterdam!
Make sure to finalize your registration as a student before the start of the programme. Here you will find an explanation what to do after admission. When all conditions are met you will be ready to start your programme at VU University Amsterdam! 1