History

Check if you meet the programme requirements and apply

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

  You will be directly admitted to the Master’s programme if you have a Bachelor’s degree in History from a Dutch research (WO) university.

  If you have a Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g. European Studies, Anthropology), your application must be assessed by the Board of Admissions.

• I have a Dutch higher vocational education (HBO) Bachelor’s degree (premaster)

  If you have an HBO diploma from a Dutch university of applied sciences in a related field, such as the second-degree teacher training course in History, you may be able to qualify for the programme by following the premaster’s programme. You can only start this programme in September.

  If you have a first-degree certificate (MO-B) in History, you could qualify for direct admission to the programme upon approval by the Board of Admissions.

  English language requirements

  This pre-master’s programme prepares students for an English MA programme. It is required to present official test results proving your proficiency in English before the start of the pre-master’s programme.

  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 a Dutch degree

  How to apply

  1. Apply for the Master’s programme in Studielink under the label Geschiedenis/History by 1 June. After applying in Studielink you will receive login information for your VU Dashboard. See also Additional information on the enrolment procedure.
  2. Add the requested Application File to your VU Dashboard and complete your application.

  Please note: students of the Faculty of Humanities at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam do NOT need to upload the application file. However, students need to complete the application. Choose the option to upload the documents at a later time

  1. Upon receipt of your application, your admission request will be processed and you will be notified whether you have been admitted or whether you must first meet additional requirements.
  2. Ensure that your payment of tuition fees for the Master’s programme has been received by 31 August so that you can complete your registration by then.
  3. Please check if you have to take an English language test. See the English language requirement page for the steps you need to complete.

  The Admissions Committee will determine whether you are directly admissible to the Master’s programme or whether you first have to follow a pre-master programme and if so, which courses you should take. If you are not admissible, you will receive a notification with the exact reason.

  The Committee might contact you for additional information.

• 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. To qualify for the  History Master’s programme, you must have a bachelor's degree from an officially recognised research university, including a minimum of three years of full-time academic studies with at least 180 ECTS or the equivalent.
  
  The Master’s programme in History is for students with an academic Bachelor’s degree in History. You may also qualify if you have an academic bachelor’s degree in another discipline of the Humanities (e.g. Theology, Philosophy) or in Anthropology or Sociology, if you have a major or specialisation equal to a minimum of 30 ECTS in History courses.
  
  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.

  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:

  • TOEFL 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 with score A, B, or C; or Cambridge Advanced Exam with score A, B, or C.

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

  • have 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

  The required evidence should, if possible, be included with the complete application. If either unsatisfactory or no evidence of English language proficiency has been provided with the application, admission will be conditional upon the provision of such evidence. This condition will be clearly indicated on the offer letter and must be fulfilled before enrolment at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
  
  See the Admission and language requirements page for further information on the general requirements.

• Application with an international degree

  If you have read the admission criteria 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 original documents are required.

  The application deadlines are:

  • 15 July for non-Dutch EU/EEA students
  • 15 July  for holders of a Dutch Bachelor’s degree (with a Dutch or EU/EEA nationality)
  • 1 april  for non-EU/EEA students
    

  Step 1: Review the admission criteria

  Step 2: Prepare your 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
  • 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 and a list of all the main literature

  Step 3: Await the 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 are admitted to theprogramme, you will receive a letter of conditional admission by email. 

  Step 4: Finalise your registration!
  Make sure to finalise your registration as a student before the start of the programme. Here you will find an explanation on what to do after you are admitted. When all of the conditions are met, you will be ready to start your programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam!

  Application fee & deadlines

  All students seeking admission to an international Bachelor’s or 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.
  For more information, international students may also contact the International Student Advisor: masters.hum@vu.nl.

  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.