The application deadline for this selective Master's programme is 1 March 2023, 23:59 CET for students with a Dutch or other EU/EER nationality (register in Studielink two days before, see step 3).

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:

Bachelor’s degree

The Master's programme in Preservation and Presentation of the Moving Image is open for application to students with a Bachelor's degree in the humanities or social sciences from an accredited university, with a minimum of 60 ECTS credits (in most cases, the equivalent of one year of academic studies) in the field of media history and theory, art history and theory and/or library or archival studies modules.

Pre-Master's 

If you do not meet the entry requirements above, for example if you have a relevant degree from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (HBO) or an equivalent thereof, you can eliminate your deficiencies by completing the pre-Master’s programme Media Studies. 

The dual Master's programme in Preservation and Presentation of the Moving Image is selective; in the selection process, study performance, work experience and motivation will be considered.

Student profile

As a student in the Master’s programme in Presentation and Preservation of the Moving Image you are expected to have the following knowledge, insight and skills:

• You are interested in the ways in which individuals, institutions and communities engage with their (media) historical past, present and future through practices of collecting, preserving, curating and programming.
• You are familiar with major references in media theory and have knowledge of important media historical developments (which could be media theory and history in general, or more specifically, such as film theory and history).
• You have the skills to collaborate in teams.
• You are able to conduct a research project independently, formulate clear and functional research questions, collect relevant primary and secondary sources, and analyse them from a well-defined perspective. You have previously written at least a BA thesis, or conducted a capstone project with a considerable written component.
• You know how to construct a coherent argument, building on prior research in the field, and credit your sources in (academically) agreed-upon ways.

English language requirements

The programme is taught entirely in English; this includes all required reading. New Master's students therefore must 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. For more information, please read the English language requirements on the Graduate School of Humanities website.

Selection procedure

All prospective students of selective Master's programmes are subject to a selection procedure. The selection committee for the MA in Preservation and Presentation of the Moving Image looks at a prospective student’s full application dossier, which includes their academic transcripts (applicants are advised to take into account the grade requirements specified below), their motivation (see ‘Motivation form’), their educational and professional background (curriculum vitae) and an English-language writing sample of around 5,000 words.

If you wish to apply for this Master's programme, you are advised to consider that incoming students generally have a grade average of at least:

• 7.0 (Dutch educational system)
• B/3.3 (American system)
• 2:1 (an upper second class degree in the British system)
• C (ECTS-system)”

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 Preservation and Presentation of the Moving Image need to submit an enrolment request in Studielink for the Master's in Media Studies 90 EC (Dual). When asked, select Preservation and Presentation of the Moving Image as the track you intend to follow. Please note: even if you believe your prior education does not grant direct access and you think you need to take the pre-Master's programme to compensate for deficiencies, you must start your application by submitting an enrolment request for the Master’s Media Studies 90 EC (Dual). 

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.

Please make sure that in Studielink (step 3) you have selected Preservation and Presentation of the Moving Image as the track you intend to follow, and it is the selected track in your MyInfo application. Applications for selective programmes that have been selected as a second track will not be processed.

Application fee

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.

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 May (non-EEA students) or 1 August (EEA students).

Programme-specific documents

In addition to the application documents that must be submitted for all Humanities Master’s programmes, applicants are expected to submit an English-language writing sample of around 5000 words (either a single paper, a combination of shorter essays, or a section from a longer thesis) that demonstrates their ability to use theory and handle sources in building up a sustained argument on a topic relevant to the programme. (If their first degree was not in English, they may also translate a text originally written in another language.).