BACHELOR'S PROGRAMMES
The first year of the Bachelor's degree programmes consists of a broad introduction to the subject, supported by an 'exploration module' in which students are encouraged to reflect on their academic learning from the very start of their studies. After this 'foundation' year, the programmes offer a wide range of options.
The minor in the third year offers room for further specialisation, but also for internships or studying abroad. For ambitious and talented Bachelor's students, the faculty offers an Honours programme in which students can participate in current research projects.
Arts and Cultural Studies
Art and Cultural Studies offers the broad bachelor Media, Art, Design and Architecture (MKDA), which as of 2021 is also available as a programme taught entirely in English. After the joint first year, and in addition to further interdisciplinary courses, students choose to specialise in one of these four areas.
History
History offers two Bachelor's degree programmes: History taught in Dutch (Geschiedenis) and the English-language Bachelor of History: History and International Studies.
- The Bachelor of History offers a joint first year that takes a chronological as well as thematic approach to European and world history. In the second year, students can choose either Political History & Cultural History or Global History as their specialisation. There is also the possibility of specialising in the field of Heritage & Memory or Ancient History.
- Students in History and International Studies study globalisation and the international relations between states, people and cultures as seen from a historical perspective. The programme offers a unique combination of courses on History, International Relations and modern languages.
Antiquity
Antiquity provides education in the areas of Greek and Latin Language and Culture, Archaeology and Ancient Studies. Ancient Studies integrates history with languages, culture and archaeology, with a focus on the Greco-Roman world and the ancient Middle East. The English-taught specialisations Archaeology and Ancient Studies have been offered since 2020 as well. All these programmes are offered in cooperation with the UvA as part of the Amsterdam Centre of Ancient Studies and Archaeology (ACASA).
MASTER'S AND RESEARCH MASTER'S PROGRAMMES
The department offers a wide range of Master's programmes. A vital part of the Master's education is the Graduate School of Humanities, in which Master's students and Research Master's students gain first-hand experience with ongoing research. The Graduate School organises Graduate Lectures, subject-matter presentations by students and seminars for Research Master's and PhD students, as well as career events.
Some Master's programmes are taught entirely in English; others have a Dutch-taught graduation track in addition to English-language modules.
Arts and Cultural Sciences
Art and Cultural Sciences offers the following specialisations (also known as track or graduate programmes):
- Comparative Arts and Media Studies (English)
- Contemporary Art History (English)
- Design Cultures (English)
- Art, Market, and Connaisseurship (Dutch)
There is also the Architecture, Cities, Landscapes: History and Heritage programme taught in English and the dual Master's programme Curating Art & Cultures.
Research Master's students may choose to specialise via the Humanities Research Master: Critical Studies in Art and Culture.
History
History offers both a broad one-year Master's programme in History and a two-year programme, the Humanities Research Master’s: Global History.
In the History Master's, students can choose from the following specialisations:
Or the two-year Research Master's programme:
• Humanities Research Master’s: Global History
Antiquity
Antiquity has bundled its Master's programmes in the Amsterdam Centre of Ancient Studies and Archaeology (ACASA). This includes two Master's programmes:
The VU additionally offers the Research Master's programme Classics & Ancient Civilizations (Research), which also entails cooperation with the UvA.