We advise that you submit your application as well as the application documents as early as possible, rather than wait until the application deadline. The sooner you enrol, the sooner we will be able to inform you about your enrolment request.
The application deadline for this selective Master's programme was 1 March 2021. It is no longer possible to apply for the academic year 2021-2022.
Please note: if you are an applicant with an EU/EEA nationality and wish to apply for housing, you must submit your application by 1 March.
If you are interested in a scholarship, you need to apply for both the Master's programme and the scholarship before 15 January. Learn more at:
The Research Master’s in Cultural Analysis is open for application to all students with a Bachelor’s diploma from the UvA, or a recognised equivalent from another accredited university, in the humanities or social sciences with a minimum of 30 ECTS (equivalent to a full-time semester of academic studies) taken in the fields of cultural and or critical theory, comparative literature or history of art.
You are expected to have an awareness of basic theoretical notions in contemporary cultural and critical theory (while a background in literary and/or visual analysis is helpful but not compulsory).
It is not possible to apply to this programme with a degree from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (hbo). We do not offer a preparatory programme (schakelprogramma) for this Master's.
If you wish to apply for a Research Master's programme, you are expected to have an overall grade point average (GPA) of at least an
If you obtained a lower grade averages you can apply, particularly if you obtained a sufficient grade average for the courses related to the research master’s programme and/or courses taken in the advanced phase of your prior education. Please include an explanation in your motivation form.
If you are unsure whether you meet the entry requirements, you are advised to get in touch with the programme coordinator before applying.
New Master's students should be able to speak, read, write and understand English at an advanced academic level. Please check carefully whether you already meet the English language requirements or whether you need to arrange to take an official English language test. See the English language requirements on the Graduate School of Humanities website.
Because of the limited number of places available, all prospective students are subject to a selection process. We will compare your file to that of other applicants. Distinguish yourself with solid basic academic knowledge in the field of study, sufficient test scores and a convincing and enthusiastic motivation letter.
All students applying will need to start their application by submitting an enrolment request in Studielink, the Dutch online system for students applying for a degree programme at a Dutch university.
Applicants for Cultural Analysis need to submit an enrolment request in Studielink for Arts and Culture - Research Master's or Kunst- en cultuurwetenschappen - research master.
It is extremely important that you register in Studielink at least 48 hours before the application deadline (see above). This is to ensure that you receive your login information (UvAnetID) in time to fill in your UvA application in MyInfo (see next step).
After enrolling in Studielink, you will automatically receive an email with a link to your MyInfo UvA application form. To log in to MyInfo you need your UvAnetID. Please fill out the application form, upload the required documents and submit your MyInfo application form before the application deadline.
All applicants holding a nationality outside the EU/EEA are required to pay an application fee of €100 per Studielink enrolment before submitting your MyInfo application form. You will find payment instructions on your application form.
motivation form (PDF), a CV/resume, a programme-specific document, and proof of English language proficiency.
Programme-specific documents
Applicants are invited to either submit a recent sample of academic writing which will be assessed according to the following criteria:
or to complete a written exercise. Select a cultural object – possibly, but not necessarily related to your proposed research, and then draw on theoretical discourse with which you are familiar. Provide 1,000 to 1,250 words of critical analysis written in English. Try and identify a particular aspect or detail of your chosen object and bring that into conversation with one or two concepts from your theoretical discourse. Ideally, the analysis will show both how the concept illuminates the object and the object encourages us to reflect further on our understanding of the concept. Add a bibliography of secondary material you used.
Please collect and prepare all necessary documents before starting your application. You can find detailed information and guidelines on the Graduate School of Humanities website:
Once we have received your complete application, it will be evaluated by our Admissions Board. This programme offers rolling admissions, meaning you will receive an admission decision within six to eight weeks. It is therefore advisable to complete your application well before the deadline.
If you are admitted to the programme, you will receive a letter of conditional acceptance. In order to proceed with your enrolment, you must accept this offer at your earliest convenience. Read more about the steps you need to take after (conditional) acceptance on the website of the Graduate School of Humanities: