The Master's programme in Heritage and Memory Studies is open for application to students with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in:

• the fields of cultural anthropology, cultural studies, (art) history, archaeology and prehistory, social geography, or urban planning;
• the humanities or social sciences with a minimum of 30 ECTS (equivalent to a full-time semester of academic studies) taken in the field of heritage and memory studies.

You will be considered for admission to the Master’s programme if you can demonstrate the following knowledge, insight and skills:

• You are able to conduct academic research independently and know how to formulate consistent and functional research questions, collect and critically evaluate source material, apply theory and communicate your research findings in logically structured writing. Substantial experience in doing research and academic writing is a plus.
• You have knowledge of basic theoretical notions in heritage and memory studies.
• You are eager to contribute to the research into and preservation, management or presentation of objects and sites.
• You have insight, preferably through some practical experience already gained in the field, into the type of work performed in the heritage sector.
• You fit the student profile.

Student Profile

• Keen interest in the societal and political issues at play in the uses of the past in the present. You are able to express a well-argued opinion on, for example, the role of heritage in urban planning or cultural tourism, the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, the selection of world heritage or the commemoration of events.
• An understanding of the type of work performed in the heritage sector and a clear idea of how you would like to contribute to the preservation, management or presentation of tangible or intangible heritage, or to the performance of memorial practices.
• Readiness and curiosity to delve into both academic research and heritage practice, and combine the two.
• A desire to contribute eagerly and critically to the academic and interdisciplinary environment of our Graduate School, demonstrated in a convincing written motivation letter.

Pre-Master’s

It is not possible to apply to this programme with a degree from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (hbo) or an international equivalent thereof. However, a pre-master’s programme in cultural anthropology, cultural studies, (art) history, archaeology and prehistory, social geography, or urban planning might enable you to eliminate your deficiencies and meet the degree requirements for application. We do not offer a preparatory programme (schakelprogramma) specifically for this Master's programme. For further advice, please contact the programme coordinator before applying.

The Admissions Board will determine if your academic background is sufficient for admission to the (pre-)Master’s programme. Admission to the (pre-)Master’s programme is not guaranteed.

English language requirements

New Master's students should be able to speak, read, write and understand English at an advanced academic level. Please check carefully on the page below whether:

• you already meet the English language requirements based on your prior education; or
• you need to arrange to take an official English language test. If you have serious reasons to believe you should be exempted from taking an official English language test, you will need to file a strongly motivated, official exemption request at the Graduate School of Humanities’ Examinations Board. Please note that there is a strict deadline in place for such a request, which is one month prior to the Master's application deadline.

Selection procedure

Because of the limited number of places available, prospective students are subject to a selection process. We will compare your application  to that of other applicants, thereby assessing which candidates fit the student profile best. As part of the selection procedure, we ask you to upload a sample of academic work written in English in the application form (see step 4 below).

Grade average

During the selection procedure for the Heritage and Memory Studies programme, preference will be given to students who have obtained at least the following grade average for the courses related to the dual master’s programme you are pursuing:

• A/3.6 (American system)
• 2.1 HONS (an upper second class honours degree in the British system)
• B (ECTS-system)
• 7.5 (Dutch system)

Students with lower grade averages are welcome to apply, particularly those who obtained a sufficient grade average in the advanced phase of their prior education. Please offer an explanation in your motivation form about what may have affected your academic development.

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 Heritage and Memory Studies need to submit an enrolment request in Studielink for the Master's in Heritage Studies 90 EC (Dual) or Erfgoedstudies 90 EC (Duaal).

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).

All students applying for a Master’s programme with a non-Dutch degree must pay a non-refundable application fee of €100.  The UvA cannot start processing your application until this fee has been paid. You can pay the application fee via SIS by credit card (Master or Visacard) or iDEAL.

You do not have to pay the application fee:

• If you have obtained or will obtain a Bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university or university of applied sciences (HBO);
• If you have already applied and paid the application fee for another Master’s programme at the UvA for the academic year 2024-2025;
• If you have already applied and paid the application fee for a Master's programme at the Graduate School of Humanities for the academic year 2023-2024;
• If you are applying through the Foundation for Refugee Students (UAF).

Please note that the application fee is non-refundable. You are not entitled to a refund even if you do not submit your application form, if you submit an application form after the deadline (which will not be taken into consideration) or if you submit an incomplete application.

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.

Important: if you intend to pursue the specialisation Restitution Studies, please indicate this on the motivation form.

Application documents

Make sure you are well prepared before you start your application, and you have all necessary documents ready. You are asked to upload the following documents:

• curriculum vitae;
• proof of language proficiency (if required, see language requirements);
• transcript of records, up-to-date and issued by your home institution (if you are already a student at the UvA, a screenshot from SIS is sufficient);
• diploma (if already obtained)* or list of courses yet to complete;
• translation of your diploma and transcript of records (if they are not in English, Dutch, German or French);
• motivation form (PDF);
• programme specific documents (see below).

*Please note: If you have not yet obtained your diploma but are in possession of all other application documents, you may proceed with your application - as long as you obtain your Bachelor's degree before 1 September. If you have a non-Dutch prior education, please bear in mind that you must submit your certified documents before 1 August.

Programme-specific document

The Admissions Board will request a sample of academic work written in English (750 words) in which you discuss and problematise a heritage or memory issue that illustrates how traces of the past (e.g. historic sites, objects, memorials) can be contested or instrumentalised. Use source citations: preferably MLA, but other referencing styles are accepted as long as used consistently. This programme-specific document should give evidence of the candidate’s ability to:

• design and carry out a research project with proper source acknowledgements;
• form a logically-argued opinion on a current heritage or memory issue;
• express himself or herself effectively in writing.

Please collect and prepare all necessary documents before starting your application. 

This programme does not require any other documents, such as a reference letter. Only the above-mentioned documents are taken into consideration by the Admissions Board.