History: Religion and Society at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Learn about the historical relations between religion and society

The MA specialisation programme History: Religion and Society focusses on understanding the changing role of religion(s) in society from Antiquity until the present. You will explore questions such as:

• How has the relationship between religion, politics and society changed over time?
• How can we understand the gradual separation of Church and State and new forms of worship, dissent and devotion that have developed since the western Middle Ages?
• What has been the impact of broader processes such as secularisation, globalisation and colonialism?

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History: Religion and Society

Studying religion from an interdisciplinary approach

History: Religion and Society focusses on the role of religion in Europe and beyond, including the Mediterranean World and the Middle East. You will develop a thorough understanding of the relationship between religion, society and politics from Antiquity until the ‘War on Terror’. You will cover dominant and minority religions, ranging from Judaism and Christianity to Islam and Eastern religions. You will also study the history of the Reformations and Protestantism in Europe and the Netherlands and will be introduced to relevant collections, including important ones at VU Amsterdam. Your discussions will link to topics that are socially relevant today, such as clashes between religion and secularism, the entangled relations between politics and religion, and the future of religious heritage.

Learn from the experts

The History department of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam has a strong tradition in teaching and analysing the role of religion throughout history. The programme is taught by staff from the Chair of Religious History (Prof. Fred van Lieburg) and the Chair of Ancient History (Prof. Bas ter Haar Romeny). You will learn about the latest methods and research from our experts in the field.

You will also have the opportunity to improve your knowledge, network and skills by participating in activities of VU research institutes such as HDC Amsterdam Centre for Religious.

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History: Religion and Society

A master’s title in History: Religion and Society makes you an attractive employment prospect because you have broad-based knowledge of societal challenges from a contemporary and historical perspective.

Besides, you have developed an analytical way of reading and writing. These are skills that are specially important in today’s information driven society. Many of our alumni found jobs as advisor, journalist, consultant and policy analist.

With a master’s title in History you can embark on PhD research at a university or research institute. If you aim at an academic career you could also consider following the two-year research master’s degree course in History. This master’s degree course trains you specifically as a (university) researcher.

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History: Religion and Society

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 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.

Proof of sufficient proficiency in English

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.

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.

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Übersicht der Masterstudiengänge - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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