Heritage Studies

Check whether you meet the programme requirements and apply

• I have a Dutch university level (WO) Bachelor’s degree (VU Bachelor’s degree, VU pre-master or Bachelor’s degree at another university)

  The MA Heritage Studies is open to students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree in: Archaeology; Art History (with a specialization in Architectural History); Ancient Studies (provided that 60 ECTS is spent on Archaeology); Social Geography (with knowledge of Historical Geography); History (with some specialization in environmental or city-country relations); or Students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree in one of the following design disciplines: Planning; Architecture; Landscape Architecture; Town planning (preferably with a focus on the history of the built environment or the history of the discipline). If you have an academic Ba in a different field, please contact the course coordinator to discuss your possibilities. 

  Your application will be reviewed by the Admission Board of Faculty of Humanities.

  English language requirements

  You must always present official test results proving your proficiency in English. You can apply online without having the test results, but in case you haven’t taken a test yet we advise you to plan a test date as soon as possible. The qualification or test result must have been awarded no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment. Below you will find the minimum English test scores for the English taught programmes at the Faculty of Humanities.

  An applicant should demonstrate that he or she has sufficient level of proficiency in English by meeting at least one of the following standards, no more than two (2) years before the start of the programme at the VU:

  • (academic) IELTS: 7.0, with a minimum of 6.5 on each item;
    Note: the IELTS Online Academic and the online IELTS Indicator tests are not accepted.
  • TOEFL paper based test: 600, with a minimum of 55 on each component and 4.0 in TWE;
    Note: TOEFL ITP tests are accepted
  • TOEFL internet based test: 100, with a minimum of 20-23 on each component.
    Note: TOEFL Essentials and TOEFL iBT Home Edition are not accepted. MyBestScore is also not accepted.

  The TOEFL ITP will not be accepted

  Exemptions from providing the English test scores are applicable to students, who:

  • completed an English-taught secondary or higher education degree in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia or - have earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an English-taught programme accredited by NVAO in the Netherlands, or
  • have earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an accredited English-taught programme in another member state of the European Union, or
  • have a Dutch VWO diploma, or
  • have obtained a Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or a Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) with a score of A, B, C

• I have a Dutch higher vocational education (HBO) Bachelor’s degree (pre-master)

  Students with a higher professional education qualification (HBO) cannot proceed directly to the Master’s programme in Heritage Studies. You will have to complete the pre-master's programme Heritage Studies or the minor Erfgoed en Ruimte first. 

  To be admitted into the Master’s programme with the minor Erfgoed en Ruimte, you also have to meet the following requirements:

  • portfolio of written final assignments from the courses of the minor must have been approved by the coordinator of the programme
  • student must have successfully completed the modules Onderzoekswerkgroep Architectuur, prm and Academic English
  • Students with a HBO Bachelor’s degree from the Reinwardt Academie can also be admitted if they have completed the following courses at VU Amsterdam:
  • The Architecture of the Building (6 EC) L_AABAMKD217
  • Landschappen in transitie (6 EC) L_KBBAALG004
  • Erfgoed onderzoeksseminar (6 EC) L_KBBAALG005
  • Academic English MKDA (6 EC) L_EABAALG102
  • Onderzoekswerkgroep Architectuur, prm (9 EC) L_KBPMKCW001
  • World Heritage and Conflict (6 EC) L_AABAGES207

  The pre-master's programme is only available in September.

  English language requirements

  This pre-master’s programme prepares students for an English specialisation of the MA Heritage Studies. It is required to present official test results proving your proficiency in English before the start of the pre-master’s programme. You can apply online without having the test results, but in case you haven’t taken a test yet we advise you to plan a test date as soon as possible. The qualification or test result must have been awarded no more than two years prior to the proposed date of enrolment.

  Prospective students of the pre-master’s programmes will need to prove their English is sufficient by satisfying at least one of the following criteria, no more than two years before the start of the pre-master's programme:

  a. (academic) IELTS: 7.0, with a minimum of 6.5 on each item
  Note: the IELTS Online Academic and the online IELTS Indicator tests are not accepted.

  b. TOEFL paper-based test: 600, with a minimum of 55 on each component and 4.0 in TWE
  Note: TOEFL ITP tests are accepted

  c TOEFL internet-based test: 100, with a minimum of 20-23 on each component
  Note: TOEFL Essentials and TOEFL iBT Home Edition are not accepted. MyBestScore is also not accepted.

  The TOEFL ITP will not be accepted

  Exemptions from providing the English test scores are applicable to students, who:

  a. have completed their secondary or tertiary education in English in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia.

  b. hold an English-language degree from a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme in the  Netherlands that has been accredited by the Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO).

  c. hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an accredited English-language degree programme in an EU country.

  d. have a Dutch VWO diploma

  e. have passed the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) and have achieved a score of A, B or C.

• Application with a Dutch degree

  You can apply for the Master's programme Heritage Studies under the label Erfgoedstudies via Studielink. The application deadline is: 1 June. If you have a Dutch diploma, follow this application procedure.

  What happens after I have applied?
  After you have applied for the master in Studielink, you will receive your login details for your personal dashboard on vu.nl by email within two days. Please complete your application in your personal dashboard.

  In your personal dashboard you are required to upload an Application File. Please download the correct file from this page. In this file you can see which documents are required to apply for your programme.

  Please note: students of the Faculty of Humanities at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam do NOT need to upload the application form.

  Your application will be reviewed by the Admission Board of Faculty of Humanities. You will be informed whether you have been admitted via Studielink. 

• I have an international degree

  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.
  
  The MA Heritage Studies is open to students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree in: Archaeology; Art History (with a specialization in Architectural History); Ancient Studies (provided that 60 ECTS is spent on Archaeology); Social Geography (with knowledge of Historical Geography); History (with some specialization in environmental or city-country relations); or Students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree in one of the following design disciplines: Planning; Architecture; Landscape Architecture; Town planning (preferably with a focus on the history of the built environment or the history of the discipline). If you have an academic Ba in a different field, please contact the course coordinator to discuss your possibilities. 

  English language requirements

  If you are applying for one of our English-taught Master's degree programmes you will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency by submitting English test results.  

  Although complete applications are preferred, you can begin your application before you have completed the test and then submit your passing score once you have been conditionally admitted. 

  You can find an overview of all accepted tests and scores that can be used to demonstrate your English language proficiency on the language requirement page.

• Application with an international degree

  Application documents

  To apply you are required to provide the following documents:

  • Scan of your passport or national ID card (ID for EEA students only) valid at the start date of the programme
  • Master Application File please download the correct file from this page. In this file you can see which documents are required to apply for your programme.
  • Proof of English language proficiency (if already obtained): upload your proof of English language proficiency or English language test results. Please find the English language requirements here.

  After having prepared the required documents, please follow the online application procedure. 

  Application fee & deadlines

  All students seeking admission to an international Master’s programme with an international degree are required to pay a non-refundable €100 application fee. Only after you have paid this fee will we be able to start the evaluation of your application file. If you are applying for more than one programme, you will only need to pay the application fee once. Your application fee payment is valid for two years.
  
  Information on how to apply with an international university degree and deadlines can be found here. 

  Grants and scholarships

  As an international student planning to study at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, you can apply for a variety of grants and bursaries. Detailed information about scholarships and deadlines can be found on www.vu.nl/scholarships or www.grantfinder.nl.

  International Student and Alumni Ambassadors 

  Our International Student and Alumni Ambassadors are happy to tell you all about their experiences with studying at VU Amsterdam and living in Amsterdam.

  • Our Student Ambassadors are current students at VU Amsterdam that represent a wide variety of programmes and countries.
  • Our International Alumni Ambassadors are VU Amsterdam graduates who are currently either working in the Netherlands or abroad, or doing a PhD or (second) Master's.

  You will find the full overview of our Ambassadors here: vu.nl/ambassadors. There you can chat with them directly.