Colonial and Global History (MA)

Master

Discover the world at Leiden University

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History (MA)

The master’s programme in Colonial and Global History at Leiden University offers the most in-depth and comprehensive programme on the history of colonialism and globalisation currently available in Europe.

A top-ranked programme

According to the QS World University Rankings 2023, History at Leiden University is rated 1st in continental Europe and 17th in the world.

Why study Colonial and Global History at Leiden University?

During your studies you will explore the interaction between the global and the local such as globalisation and regional processes of identity and state formation. While the programme highlights the global connections and entanglements made by conquest, trade and migration, you will gain a comparative understanding of European imperialism and its impact on Asia, Africa and South America.

Another advantage that you will have as a student of Colonial and Global History is that you will have access to unique documentation centres and libraries specialising in Asia and Africa within easy reach of Leiden University – at the National Archives and the Royal Library in The Hague. This will be of great service during your studies.

Learn more about the study programme

Choose from two specialisations
Additionally, the Colonial and Global History programme offers two specialisations:

Focus on Heritage and Postcolonial Studies

When you choose the Heritage and Postcolonial Studies specialiation, you will focus your studies on colonial and postcolonial Indonesia, in transnational and comparative perspectives. You will critically study the politics and practices of archives in the context of colonial and postcolonial history, thereby engaging with debates and queries regarding their decolonization.

Learn more about the Heritage and Postcoloial Studies specialisation

Focus on Maritime History

You can also choose to focus on Maritime History. Maritime history, a field which has enjoyed a real renaissance in the past two decades, encompasses humankind’s relationships to the seas and oceans of the world. Besides economic, political and nautical themes, there is a new attention to social and cultural phenomena and the relation between maritime and global history, and between maritime history and cultural heritage institutions. Leiden University is the only university within the Netherlands with its own master’s specialisation in Maritime History.

Learn more about the Maritime History specialisation

Benefit from access to excellent resources

During your studies you will have access to unique documentation centres and libraries specialising in Asia and Africa within easy reach of Leiden University – at the National Archives and the Royal Library in The Hague.

What are your career prospects?

This Master's prepares you for a wide range of roles in almost every sector of the job market. Our graduates work at different types of organisations, such as research institutes, academia, government and the cultural sector. Jobs include researcher, consultant, conservator and PhD candidate.

Find out more about your career prospects

Is Colonial and Global History the programme for you?

Do you want to study in a highly stimulating and international academic environment? Are you interested in uncovering how the colonial past has affected – and still affects – the world? Then Colonial and Global History at Leiden University is the right Master's programme for you. Find out if you are eligible for this Master's programme by checking the admission requirements. 

Check the admission requirements

History Degree

Colonial and Global History at Leiden University is an accredited degree programme of History. After successful completion of this programme, you will receive a legally accredited master’s degree in History and the title Master of Arts (MA).

In which sector do students find jobs?

The graph above is based on alumni data from the MA Colonial and Global History 2016-2020

MA Specialisation Heritage and Postcolonial Studies

Objects and framings of heritage, archives, and academic knowledge production generate worldwide, fierce societal debates on the legacies of colonial violence, past injustice and present-day institutional racism. Whether bronzes from Benin, daggers from Bali, fossils from Java, photo-albums from freedom-fighters, registers of slaves, whether identified as art, loot, science, or proofs of rebellion or purchase: this upheaval shows why and how objects of heritage formation are sensitive, mobile, contested, and ever-changing in valuation. They are subject of exchange, (epistemic) violence, and appropriation, and therefore always political. To understand how heritage works, how it always generates mechanisms of identification, inclusion and exclusion, in the past and in the present, it is crucial to combine critical heritage studies with the history of science and knowledge. This is what this specialisation aims for.

Heritage and Postcolonial Studies offers students the unique opportunity of a training in critical theorizing on, and research into the politics and practices of material culture, heritage formation, archives, and knowledge production at large, in colonial and postcolonial situations.

In the specialisation we will reengage with notions of ‘the’ colonial archive and ‘the’ museum, and explore new approaches that centralize sites, objects, or locations of research (‘the field’), as means to study and understand the practice and politics of knowledge production. We contemplate the power-relations and silencing that shaped these sites, institutions, and forms of knowledge, and seek for ways to get beyond their framings. We compare alternative sources (including objects), alternative archives, museums and sites, and alternative ways of studying knowledge, and the role knowledge plays in culture and politics in the past and the present.

This specialisation

With these skills in hand, students can do an internship (if available), at the National Archives, at one of the heritage Institutions or Libraries, or at a Research Institute with relevant collections.

Detailed programme

For a detailed programme, see the Prospectus. Please note that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may slightly differ.

Maritime History

Maritime History encompasses humankind’s relationships to the seas and oceans of the world.

Why choose Maritime History?

Detailed programme

For a detailed programme, see the Prospectus. Please note that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may slightly differ.

Maritime History and Global History

Leiden is the only university in the Netherlands with its own master’s programme in Maritime History. Being firmly embedded in the specialisation Colonial and Global History gives the programme its unique character. You will address questions such as:

'The Oceanic Turn'

Maritime History has enjoyed a real renaissance in the past two decades, experiencing an interdisciplinary transition known as the 'Oceanic Turn'. Besides economic, political, and nautical themes, there is fresh attention to social, cultural, and environmental phenomena. At Leiden University, textual sources on global shipping are connected and compared to visual and material culture. Our programme is given in close cooperation with professionals from various cultural heritage institutions in the Netherlands.

Rozemarijn Vlijm

Student in Maritime History

Rozemarijn Vlijm

“My internship at Maritime Museum Rotterdam offered me the chance to explore future career possibilities, expand my professional network and gain experience outside the academic field.”

Why Leiden University

Leiden University offers ambitious students a world-class environment in which to reach their full potential.

A top-ranked programme

The Leiden Institute for History is rated 1st in continental Europe and 17th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2023

Access to unique resources

At Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands, you can access resources found nowhere else in the world, such as those of the famous Leiden University Library and its collections of original manuscripts and periodicals.

An ideal location for the study of history

Leiden University offers you one of the best locations from which to explore and study the world, as well as start your career. Our historical location close to The Hague brings you within easy reach of the country's seat of government, politics, and international organisations, as well as the unique resources of the Dutch National Library and the National Archives, with its extensive collections.

An individual approach to learning

Leiden University's History department has a committed teaching staff who are both outstanding researchers and dedicated teachers consistently ranked highly by their own students. Small classes and intensive one-on-one mentoring give all our students the extra stimulation and support to go the extra step in their performance and their ideas for their future.

Specialist chairs

Leiden's History department has chairs in:

Adjacent departments in the Faculty of Humanities have chairs in International Studies, Latin American History, Brazilian Studies, African, Turkish, Indonesian, Indian, Korean, Chinese and Japanese History.

Diversity and inclusion

We are convinced that our education can only flourish if everyone within the programme feels supported, respected and empowered to do their best work. We find it important to offer a learning environment that allows for different perspectives and points of view that students bring with them, depending on their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, health, religion, age or socio-economic background. Every new generation sees the world from a new perspective – and our students are the newest generation. We look forward to hearing more about your perspective. Leiden University has been pursuing diversity policy since 2014, with the aim of creating a diverse and inclusive learning and working environment for all staff and students.

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About the programme

During the one-year master’s programme in Colonial and Global History you will learn about the importance of a comparative perspective for understanding transnational processes such as imperialism, colonialism, islamisation, modernisation and globalisation.

Programme structure

Electives

During this programme you can also select an optional course from a wide range of possibilities. For an overview of all or our electives, please check the online studyguide.

Please note that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may slightly differ.

Leiden University offers a unique master’s specialisation in Maritime History.

Learn more about our Maritime History specialisation.

Latest knowledge

All courses are taught by academics who are active researchers. The curriculum is regularly updated to reflect contemporary academic debates and the very latest insights. Regular seminars are held presenting students with our researchers' latest findings. Your research thesis is often linked to one of the research projects of our faculty members, who play an active role in every individual's education, acting as mentors and community builders.

Prof.dr. Gert Oostindie

Professor

Prof.dr. Gert Oostindie

“What I find to be really good of the program and its staff as a whole is the combination of expertise in global history writ large and the various specializations in regions (Asian, African, Atlantic), periods (ranging from pre-modern via early modern to post-Second World War and contemporary) and themes (slavery, economic networks, migration and ethnicity, and so on). Both for teaching and research, the proximity of world-class libraries (in Leiden) and archives (in Leiden and the Hague) is absolutely fantastic.”

Public debates

"The least any professor of History can do beyond simply teaching students the methods, contents and ethics of the discipline is to help them reflect on why all of this might be helpful for understanding not simply the past, but also the present. As a frequent contributor to the mass media I feel historians have something substantial to add to public debates and in my teaching I do attempt to stimulate my students to think about this, and to develop the requisite skills."

Comparative history

"My research requires me to reflect not simply on Dutch colonialism and what the subsequent decolonisation meant in the many places around the globe where Dutch colonialism left an imprint, but equally on the impact of this history including the postcolonial migrations in the wake of decolonisation on the Netherlands itself. None of this can be properly understood if we only look at the Dutch case, hence the need for comparative history. For me, this is where all my research and writing is all about, and this is what I try to get across to my students as well: find out for yourself how this history continues to have a huge impact, today."

Michiel van Groesen

University Lecturer

Michiel van Groesen

"The Colonial and Global History track offers you the opportunity to discover the world at Leiden University. This track concerns the global circulation of people, goods, values and ideas during the early-modern and modern times. This MA allows you to study the past from 1500 to today. It is a diachronic programme and students are actively encouraged to make connections between the past and the present, colonial legacies and the globalized world we live in today. During the courses, we combine a global approach with the information that is available locally, so we will introduce you to heritage institutions in the Netherlands. In this programme, primarily sources play a key role and we also encourage you to go to the National Archives in The Hague for example."

Admission and Application

Do you want to find out if you are eligible for this Master's Programme?

Check the entry requirements

Extra-curricular

Get the most out of your studies at Leiden University by taking part in our extracurricular activities.

Social and academic programme events

We want you to be part of the academic community that is formed by our staff. As a student you will be invited to take part in our social and academic gatherings. Among those are gatherings where members of staff present new research.

Studying abroad

Studying abroad is an option during your master in History. If you wish to take optional courses and/or write your thesis abroad, Leiden University offers a wide range of options for spending part of your studies abroad. The International Office of the Faculty of Humanities will be able to help you make the right decision for your time studying abroad.

Leiden Leadership Programme

Are you interested in developing your leadership potential? The Leiden Leadership Programme (LLP) is an Honours Programme specifically developed for ambitious master's students at Leiden University and the Delft University of Technology who recognise the importance of leadership abilities. The LLP offers in-depth training sessions, assessments, seminars, and the creation of a Personal Leadership Roadmap – a five-year plan for reaching and developing your leadership potential.

Study at the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts

The Academy of the Creative and Performing Arts (ACPA) is a research institute and part of the Faculty of Humanities. The ACPA offers education such as electives, and talent programmes such as the Practicum Artium (PA), which gives you the opportunity to study photography, graphic design or drawing, and the Practicum Musicae at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague, where you can study classical music, singing, early music or jazz. 
Find out more about ACPA.

Meet our staff

Prof.dr. M.E. de Bruijn

Mirjam de Bruijn is an anthropologist whose work has a clearly interdisciplinary character with a preference for contemporary history and cultural studies. The research Mirjam develops in interdisciplinary research programmes evolves around different themes and focuses on African situations. View her full profile here.

Prof.dr. J.J.L. Gommans

Jos Gommans is a historian with expertise on the early modern history of South Asia in its global interactions with the outside world of Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the European colonial empires. View his full profile here

Prof.dr. M. van Groesen

Michiel van Groesen is a professor Maritime History at Leiden University. His interest in maritime history is embedded in the culture of the early modern Dutch Republic and the Atlantic world. View his full profile here

Dr. A.F. Schrikker

Alicia Schrikker is interested in society-state interaction in colonial contexts in Asia in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. She supervises BA, MA and Phd research in the fields of socio-legal history, history of disasters and colonial mentality. Her regions of expertise are Sri Lanka, Indonesia and to some extent, South Africa and India. View her full profile here

Dr. C.M. Stolte

Carolien Stolte is Assistant Professor and Director of Education. Her research focuses on the international history of South Asia. View her full profile here

Meet more staff

Career prospects

Create a world of opportunities with a Master's degree from Leiden University.

Where do our graduates work?

Because of the extensive curriculum and specialisations, the career opportunities after completing the History specialisation in Colonial and Global History are broad. Our graduates have landed jobs in various sectors of the job market, such as research institutes, international organisations, government and cultural institutes. Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:

What our graduates do

Your master will qualify you for roles in almost every sector of the employment market. Many of our graduates work for government and semi-government organisations, education, research institutes, information services, IT, cultural institutes, financial institutions, communications, marketing, business services and welfare services.

Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:

Your qualifications

The MA in History offers outstanding preparation for students seeking a profession that requires in-depth knowledge of history and strong academic skills, with a focus on analytical and writing skills.

Teaching qualification

If you are interested in a career in teaching, you may be eligible to follow a teacher-training master's at the ICLON Graduate School of Education once you have graduated from the master programme in History. You must speak fluent Dutch and there are other, additional entry requirements.

Tika Ramadhini

Graduated in Colonial and Global History

Tika Ramadhini

"It did not take long for me to be involved in other academic activities after I graduated from the MA Colonial and Global History. Back in Indonesia, I became a part of a research for a joint-publication about Indonesian history with some young historians in Jakarta. I have always been passionate about history, and now I have figured out that doing an academic career is my true calling. I believe my two-years studying experience in Leiden has influenced me so much in life."

Working on my PhD dissertation

"Since March, I live in Berlin. I work as a doctoral research fellow at Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient, a German research institute devoted to an interdisciplinary and comparative study of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia from a historical perspective. Besides engaging myself in the research activities of the institute, I am currently working on my PhD dissertation about Southeast Asian women, at the Institute of Asian and African Studies of Humboldt Universität zu Berlin. Training that I received in Leiden, especially in conducting research independently, helped me a lot in doing my works today."

In which sector do students find jobs?

The graphs below are based on alumni data from the MA Colonial and Global History 2016-2020.

Career preparations

Find out how this programme prepares you for your future career and check our career preparation activities.

The Master's programme in Colonial and Global History at Leiden University equips you with a range of transferable skills and knowledge that will help you stand out in your future career. Your specialised knowledge is complemented by a broad and contextual understanding as well as critical-thinking skills that can be applied to complex conceptual problems. Other skills you may encounter in the various History courses are:

  • Analysis
  • Research
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Written and oral communication
  • Creative thinking

You have the opportunity to do an internship at an organisation in the Netherlands or abroad. Internships are a great way to gain first-hand experience in your area of interest and deepen your expertise. Organisations that our students have interned at include:

  • Huygens Institute for the History of the Netherlands
  • KITLV (Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies)
  • Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael
  • Netherlands Institute for Military History

Please note that you will need to find your own internship and have to follow an internship procedure for approval. Pursuing an internship may have consequences for the date of your graduation.

Our staff can help you identify both the career that is right for you, and the necessary steps to get you there. Our team at Humanities Career Service provide all Leiden University humanities students with professional advice and guidance on everything from internships and career planning to job applications. Humanities Career Service also organises regular workshops on topics such as effective interview skills and creating a successful CV.

The Humanities Career Service offers you various (online) workshops, webinars and info sessions. Check our overview of career activities

The Leiden University Career Zone is an online career portal that helps you to prepare for the job market. Here you can find information, tools and tips to help you gain more personal insight, learn about the job market, develop your application skills, plan your academic and professional career, find job vacancies and discover what the Career Service can do for you.

Join the Mentor Network to contact alumni with experience on the labour market and ask them for advice. More than 1200 alumni are happy to help you!

Jelle on finding an internship via Leiden University's Mentor Network

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Alumni blog

Interested in studying Colonial and Global History at Leiden University? Find out what our alumni said about this master's programme.

Tika Ramadhini

Graduated in Colonial and Global History

"It did not take long for me to be involved in other academic activities after I graduated from the MA Colonial and Global History. Back in Indonesia, I became a part of a research for a joint-publication about Indonesian history with some young historians in Jakarta."

" I have always been passionate about history, and now I have figured out that doing an academic career is my true calling. I believe my two-years studying experience in Leiden has influenced me so much in life."

Working on my PhD dissertation

"Since March, I live in Berlin. I work as a doctoral research fellow at Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient, a German research institute devoted to an interdisciplinary and comparative study of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia from a historical perspective. Besides engaging myself in the research activities of the institute, I am currently working on my PhD dissertation about Southeast Asian women, at the Institute of Asian and African Studies of Humboldt Universität zu Berlin. Training that I received in Leiden, especially in conducting research independently, helped me a lot in doing my works today."

Admission and Application

Find out how to apply for Colonial and Global History at Leiden University by following our step-by step guide.

This specialisation is part of the MA in History. If you would like to apply to this programme please first select the MA History (CROHO code: 66034) in Studielink and then select the specialisation Colonial and Global History.

The guide will give you the necessary help and guidance in submitting your application.

Admission requirements

To be eligible for Colonial and Global History at Leiden University, you must meet the following admission requirements.

Diploma requirements

The following diploma requirements apply for this programme:

Students with a Bachelor in History from Leiden University are directly eligible for admission. Students can apply in Studielink. There is no need to submit an application for admission using the online application portal.

If you can demonstrate a level of knowledge, understanding and skills equal to that of holders of a degree mentioned above, you may be eligible.

All applicants must:

  • have a bachelor’s degree from a research university that matches the level of a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree, or demonstrate to meet the requirements for such a degree, including general academic skills;
  • have completed historical courses on relevant topics for the chosen specialisation and of sufficient level (around 45 EC);
  • be able to conduct independent empirical research;
  • be able to read academic literature and critically reflect on it;
  • have a knowledge of general history and be able to present their findings (based on critically reading the literature or on empirical research) in a systematic and analytical manner;
  • be able to write a thesis with proper references to the literature.

You are required to submit a writing sample, such as a BA Thesis, capstone project or final paper, that shows your knowledge, understanding and skills.

Applicants who have completed the following degrees including the coursework specified below are considered to have fulfilled the admission requirements:

  • a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university in Languages and Cultures of South and Southeast Asia, including the combined programme in History worth 60 credits;
  • a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university in International Studies, including
    • BA Thesis on a historical subject,
    • the following optional courses which are part of the bachelor’s programme History:
      • BA-Werkcollege (BA History, second year) or Elective on historical subject (BA International Studies, second year) (10 EC)
      • Completed a BA-Seminar (BA History, third year) in the BA History (either as an extra pre-master-course or as an extra Elective in the BA International Studies) (10 EC)
  • a bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university in Liberal Arts and Sciences: Global Challenges, with a major in Human Diversity: track Global and Contemporary History or a major in World Politics: track Global History

The Board of Admissions will assess whether your degree and background are sufficiently related to the level and content of a bachelor’s degree in History from Leiden University on the basis of the requirements specified above.

If you have a bachelor’s degree that does not meet the requirements specified above, you may be eligible for a pre-master programme tailored to your individual background (taught in Dutch). After submitting your application in Studielink, the Board of Admissions will decide whether you can be directly admitted to the master’s programme or whether you will first need to complete a pre-master’s programme. It is not possible to apply for a pre-master’s programme directly. Once you have completed the imposed pre-master programme, you will be admitted to the Master’s programme. Read more here.

Language requirements

February 2024 intake:

In order to successfully participate in this programme, you must be proficient in English. The following requirements apply:

IELTS: 7.0; with a score of at least 7.0 for each component.

  • We do not accept IELTS Academic online.
  • We do not accept IELTS General Training or IELTS Indicator.

TOEFL (Internet based) 100, with a score of at least 25 for each components

  • We are not able to accept The TOEFL IBT Home Edition™, except in the following situations only:
    You took the test before 1 Sept 2022 (and it is not more than 2 years old), or you are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres are inaccessible or closed due to unsafe conditions in a country.
  • We do not accept the following types of test: TOEFL My Best™ scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials™  or institutional tests such as ITP.

Note that English test results may not be more than two years old.

You do not have to submit an English proficiency test if you have completed your education in the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada) Singapore, South-Africa or Malta; or if you have obtained an English-taught International Baccalaureate™; or if you have completed a Dutch VWO diploma or an English-taught bachelor at a Dutch research university.

For detailed information, including exemption criteria and methods of submission, refer to English language proficiency.

From September 2024:

The following requirements apply: 

  • IELTS Academic modules only, on paper or on computer: 6.5 overall, with at least 6.0 for each separate component score.
    • We do not accept IELTS Academic online.
    • We do not accept IELTS General Training or IELTS Indicator.
       
  • TOEFL internet based: 90 overall, with at least 20 for each separate component.
    • We are not able to accept The TOEFL IBT Home Edition™, except in the following situations only:
      You took the test before 1 Sept 2022 (and it is not more than 2 years old), or you are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres are inaccessible or closed due to unsafe conditions in a country.
    • We do not accept the following types of test: TOEFL My Best™ scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials™  or institutional tests such as ITP.
  • Cambridge English Exam C2 Proficiency, or C1 Advanced (180), with a minimum score of 169 for each separate component.

Note that English test results may not be more than two years old.

You do not have to submit an English proficiency test if you have completed your education in the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada) Singapore, South-Africa or Malta; or if you have obtained an English-taught International Baccalaureate™; or if you have completed a Dutch VWO diploma or an English-taught bachelor at a Dutch research university.

For detailed information, including exemption criteria and methods of submission, refer to 
English language proficiency
.

>> Go to the next step: Check the application deadlines

Application deadlines

Starting in September

Starting in February

Please note: You must submit your application via Studielink and Leiden University’s application system (uSis), before the deadlines mentioned above.

Other deadlines

Leiden University reserves a limited number of rooms each year for international students. However, as the number of housing requests always greatly exceeds the number of rooms available, we strongly recommend that you also look into other housing options at the same time. Read more about how and when to arrange housing. If you want to request accommodation via Leiden University, submit both your application for admission and your housing request well before the deadlines! Accommodation is offered on a first-come first-served basis and is not guaranteed. You don’t have to await admission before requesting housing.

If you want to apply for a scholarship, grant or loan, please bear in mind that different deadlines apply, and these deadlines can often be earlier. Deadlines vary per scholarship. Visit the scholarship website for more details.

>> Go to the next step: Collect the required documents

Required documents

When you apply for admission, you’ll be asked to submit several documents.

Note: If you have a Dutch diploma that grants direct admission, you will generally not be asked to submit additional documents.

 

Required application documents

You’ll need to submit the following documents:

Please upload a copy of the page(s) in your passport containing your personal details and photograph. If you are from the EU/EEA, you can submit a copy of your identity card instead. Please upload copies of both sides.

If you are a non-EU/EEA national already living in the Netherlands, upload copies of both sides of your Dutch residence permit.

Your CV (curriculum vitae) must be written in English and should contain your basic personal data, as well as a clear overview of your educational and professional history to date.

You can apply for admission before receiving the results of your English language test. However, a sufficient result will then be a condition of your eventual admission. Of course, if you already have your English language test results, you can upload them directly.

  • Digital copies of diplomas and transcripts are initially required. Once you have been admitted, we will inform you how to submit certified copies.
  • The documents must be in the original language. If they are not in English, Dutch, German or French, they must be accompanied by official translations into one of these languages.
  • If you have not yet completed your current programme, state your expected graduation date and submit copies of all transcripts obtained to date plus a list of subjects still to be completed.

Additional requirements specific to Colonial and Global History

You are required to upload additional information: 1) about your acquired knowledge, understanding and skills in the field of the Master’s programme you are applying for and 2) about your acquired general academic skills. You can upload this format Questionnaire Master Application.

  • You can check the programme specific requirements regarding knowledge, understanding and skills on the Admission Requirements page. 
  • The format includes the list of general academic skills which the candidate must possess in order to be admitted to the Master’s programme at the Faculty of Humanities.
  • You can contact the coordinator of studies for further questions about the questionnaire. 

You are required to upload a writing sample: a substantial individual research paper, such as a BA Thesis, capstone project or final paper, demonstrating your ability to formulate problems and the skill to select the correct methodological approach as well as primary sources to analyse these problems.

>> Go to the next step: Step 4: Start your application

Application procedure

The application procedure is broken down into three parts.

Part 1. Application in Studielink

All students applying for a degree programme at Leiden University must start the application process in Studielink, the national online registration system for students wishing to follow a degree programme at a Dutch university. Studielink is open for applications from 1 October in the year preceding the academic year in which you wish to start.

1. Go to Studielink and enter your details according to the instructions provided. For this step you will need:

  • a copy of your valid passport or European ID card, or
  • if you are a Dutch resident, your DigiD

Be aware! If you wish to apply for a specialisation of a master's programme: first select the master’s programme in Studielink, then select the specialisation for which you wish to apply in Step 4 (Institutional Questions) in Studielink.

2. Within two days you will receive:

  • an email with information on the next steps you'll need to take;
  • your university ULCN student account details (unless, of course, you already have a ULCN account)
  • the link to Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis)

After receiving your ULCN student account details, log into Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis), using the link provided. Here you can view the status of your application, which will be one of two possibilities.

1. You can be directly admitted
If your (Dutch) diploma grants you direct admission, Leiden University's online application portal (uSis) will let you know. The portal provides an overview of what you have to do to complete your application, for example arranging housing, scholarships, applying for a visa/residence permit and insurances. Please follow the instructions carefully and proceed to step 3 Student registration.

2. You cannot be directly admitted: additional action is required
If you do not have a (Dutch) diploma that grants you direct admission, we will require additional documents to allow us to decide about your application. The online application portal (uSis) will tell you this and explain how to do so. See also Part 2: Admission to Leiden University.

Part 2. Admission to Leiden University

If you cannot be directly admitted, you must apply for admission via Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis). Please follow all steps below. 

In our online application portal (uSis) you can finalise your application by uploading the necessary documents and answering a few questions. This portal provides an overview of what you need to do to complete your admission application. Please follow the instructions carefully and make sure to include all the items that are asked for. We strongly recommend that you complete your application well in advance of the application deadline.

All applicants with an international degree must pay a non-refundable €100 application fee, which entitles you to apply for up to three programmes/specialisations in the same academic year. We cannot start processing your application until we receive this application fee, so please pay it as soon as possible. The online application system explains how you can pay it.

Can I be exempted from paying the application fee?
You do not have to pay the application fee if:

  • You are following, or have completed, a bachelor’s degree at a Dutch university (of applied sciences). 
  • You have previously registered as an exchange, bachelor’s, master’s or pre-master’s student at Leiden University.
  • You have previously been admitted to the same degree programme at Leiden University, but you decided to postpone your studies. This does not apply if you are applying for a different study programme or specialisation.
  • You have refugee status in the Netherlands (with a residence permit for asylum).

Exemptions cannot be granted for any other reasons.

After you have submitted your application, the online application portal (uSis) will, if applicable, ask you if you want to apply for student housing, a visa/residence permit or a scholarship. Be sure to make a careful note of the relevant deadlines for these options.  

After receiving your application fee payment (if applicable), the Admissions Office will check whether all the necessary documents have been uploaded and they will inform you by email whether any further items are required. The Board of Admissions of the faculty will then:

  • decide whether you meet the admission requirements for the programme; 
  • strive to issue a decision on your completed application within four to six weeks of the University receiving it.

Once a decision has been reached you will be informed by email. You can view your admission status in the online application portal (uSis).

There are three possible outcomes:

  1. You are admitted
    You have met all conditions for admission.
  2. You are conditionally admitted
    You will be admitted, provided that you meet certain conditions. These conditions will be specified in the online application portal (uSis).
  3. You are not admitted

The reason(s) for non-admission will be clearly stated in the online application portal (uSis). If you are informed that you have been (conditionally) admitted, you will have to take a number of additional steps.

If you are (conditionally) admitted, the Admissions Office will ask you to confirm whether you will join the study programme. You can do so in the online application portal (uSis).

1.    Go to ‘Application study programme’ in the online application portal (uSis).
2.    Open the ‘Confirm’ screen. Here you will see three options:

  • Yes, I want to study at Leiden University.
  • No, I no longer wish to study at Leiden University and hereby withdraw my application.
  • Maybe later; I do not wish to start this semester/academic year. I would like to receive further instructions by email.

The sooner the better
Confirm attendance as soon as possible, to avoid missing other important deadlines and information about your study programme.

Changing your mind
You can still change your mind if necessary, either in uSis or by contacting the Admissions Office master team.  

Deadline final decision 
Do you need a student visa or residence permit? You can only request one after confirming attendance. So make sure to confirm attendance before the visa/residence permit deadline

If you don’t need a visa or residence permit, the latest deadline for confirming attendance is before the start date of your study programme.

Part 3. Student registration

If you’ve been (conditionally) admitted, follow these steps to register as a student at Leiden University:

Check in the online application portal (uSis) whether you need to submit any documents to meet the conditions of your admission. Instructions on how to do so will be provided in uSis.

Arrange the payment of your tuition fee before the official start date of your programme. You will receive instructions and information on the available payment methods by email.

If you are an international student, go to the Prepare your stay page of our website for information about the practical matters you should take care of before and upon arrival. These include, for example, arranging housing, scholarships, applying for a visa/residence permit and insurances.

>> Go to the next step. Step 5: Pay your tuition fees

Pre-master's

The pre-master’s programme helps students remove deficiencies to meet the admission requirements to the History master’s programme.

If you have a bachelor’s degree in History from a university of applied sciences (HBO), you will be admitted to the MA History after completing the pre-master’s programme. This one-year programme of 60 EC is taught in Dutch.

If you have a bachelor’s degree from a research university that does not meet the requirements, you may be eligible for a pre-master programme (in Dutch) tailored to your individual background. If you have completed the imposed pre-master programme, you will be admitted to the Master’s programme.

Language requirements

The language requirements for a pre-master's programme are identical to the language requirements for the master's programme for which admission has been requested. These requirements must be met before the start of the pre-master.

More details

For more information, please check the Prospectus or contact the Study Advisor, Sabine van Veelen.

Tuition fees

Your tuition fee depends on a number of factors, such as your nationality and your previous Dutch higher-education qualifications.

The tuition fees for the academic year 2023-2024 are:

The tuition fees for the academic year 2024-2025 are:

More information about tuition fees

The tuition fee for this programme is €2,314 for the academic year 2023-2024 (statutory fee) and €2,530 for the academic year 2024-2025 (statutory fee).

This tuition fee applies if this is your first master’s programme and you are a national of one of the following countries:

Austria

Latvia

Belgium

Liechtenstein

Bulgaria

Lithuania

Croatia

Luxembourg

Cyprus

Malta

Czech Republic

Norway

Denmark

Poland

Estonia

Portugal

Finland

Romania

France

Slovakia

Germany

Slovenia

Greece

Spain

Hungary

Suriname

Iceland

Sweden

Ireland

Switzerland

Italy

 


The fee applies for both full-time and part-time study.

The tuition fee for this programme is €19,300 for the academic year 2023-2024 (institutional tuition fee) and €20,900 for the academic year 2024-2025 (institutional tuition fee).

If you are not a national of an EEA country, Suriname or Switzerland, generally speaking you will have to pay an institutional tuition fee. This fee applies for both full-time and part-time study. 

However, if, on the basis of your Dutch residence permit, you are eligible for student finance from the Dutch education agency (DUO) you are entitled to pay the statutory tuition fee. Information on qualifying residence permits can be found in the DUO nationality chart.

Only applicable to EU/EEA, Swiss and Surinamese nationals.

The tuition fee for this programme is €15,400 for the academic year 2023-2024 (institutional tuition fee) and €16,300 for the academic year 2024-2025 (institutional tuition fee).

If you are following a second Dutch master’s programme you will generally have to pay an institutional tuition fee that is higher than the statutory tuition fee. Some exceptions apply.

Consult the tuition fee flowchart for second master’s programmes to find out how much tuition fee you will have to pay.​​​​​

Less than 60 EC

If you are going to follow a pre-master's or conversion programme after completing a bachelor’s programme, and if the programme is less than 60 ECs, you will have to pay €42 per study credit (EC).

60 EC or more

For a pre-master of 60 ECs you will have to pay the statutory tuition fee. If the pre-master's or conversion programme is more than 60 ECs – and therefore longer than one year - or if you are going to follow courses that are not part of your conversion programme, you will have to pay the institutional tuition fee for the programme in question (see second study programme). These fees apply to students of all nationalities. 

Scholarships, grants and loans

Leiden University offers a wide range of scholarships for students from specific regions of the world, or for specific programmes. Leiden University also offers the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS), a programme specifically designed for non-EU/EEA students enrolling in a master’s programme. Find out more about scholarships, grants, loans and deadlines

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss national and under 30, you may be eligible for a loan from the Dutch government to cover your tuition fees.

>> Go to the next step. Step 6: Prepare for your studies at Leiden University

Prepare for your studies

You’ve been accepted! Leiden University looks forward to welcoming you as a new student. Your next step is to prepare for your studies. Below you can find some tips to help you get a head start as you embark on your studies at Leiden University.

For international students

If you are an international student, a wealth of information can be found on the ‘Prepare your stay’ page of our website. This includes information about visas, housing, financial matters, what to arrange upon arrival, and much more.

For Dutch students

  • The ‘student website’ page on Leiden University’s student website contains information about practical aspects, introduction weeks and student associations. It’s also a handy source of study-related information and advice.
  • For detailed information about courses, schedules and reading materials, check out the Prospectus. 

Sign up for the introduction week in Leiden (OWL) or The Hague (HOP)It’s the best way to get acquainted with student life and the student cities of Leiden and The Hague. 

Your student card is your proof of registration as a student of Leiden University. You can find your digital student card in the Leiden University app three days after your student registration is finalised. Read more about your student card here

As soon as you receive notification that your student registration has been finalised you should apply for a Leiden University ID card, or LU-Card. It also serves as your library card, print & copy card and access pass. Read more about applying for an LU-card here.  

Student life

Your time at Leiden is about more than just studying. Some of your best experiences will stem from being a part of our lively and diverse student community, as well as from life in the beautiful city of Leiden.

Welcome and orientation programme

In August and February each year, Leiden University hosts the English-language Orientation Week Leiden (OWL), which welcomes both international and Dutch students. The OWL is an excellent way to get to know Leiden University, the city, and other students.

Life in Leiden

Picturesque and the perfect size, Leiden is the ideal place to spend your university days. The Faculty of Humanities is located within the heart of the city, where dozens of cafes, shops and bars line its historic laneways and leafy canals. Small enough to run into familiar faces, but big enough to keep offering surprises – you will treasure your time at Leiden. And for adventures further afield, the major cities of The Hague and Amsterdam are a short train ride away, along with Schiphol Airport, which is just half an hour away by train.

Our study and student associations organise a huge variety of social, cultural, and study events to keep you busy all year round. You can also join the University Sports Centre, which offers scheduled group sports and fitness classes, amongst other activities.

The study association related to History is HSVL. You may contact the study association via info@dehsvl.nl.

International Student Associations

Leiden has several student organisations that specifically cater for international students. These associations organise regular social events and activities that help create the strong sense of community that exists within our international student body. The main two organisations are:

Erasmus Student Network Leiden (ESN)
ESN Leiden is an international student organisation which hosts a range of activities and programmes. They also have a buddy programme which provides new students with the right support to assimilate into Leiden and the university.

AEGEE Leiden
AEGEE is a leading European student association with sister organisations in over 40 countries across Europe. AEGEE organises many activities in Leiden, from dinners and pool nights to boat trips and guest lectures. 

For an overview of all of our student associations, please visit our Student assocations page.

Humanities Master’s Buddy Programme

The Humanities Master’s Buddy Programme has been set up by the Faculty of Humanities to help all students who are new to the university to integrate quickly and easily into university life. You will be matched to a buddy who can help you out with your academic and practical questions. Additionally you will be able to attend fun monthly activities and make friends from all over the world.

For more information about the Buddy Programme, please visit the Humanities Buddy Programme page.

Information activities

Get to know us through our online and in-person events for prospective students!

Two speakers at the open day
Two speakers at the open day

Are you thinking about joining this Master's programme, and want to determine if it will be the right fit for you? Below, you can browse the events that we have coming up, and sign up to experience Leiden University and the programme for yourself. Alternatively, take a look at the Master Talks videos to find out more about the programme or check out our virtual campus tours!

Upcoming events

Master's Open Days

The next Master's Open Day will take place on 16 February 2024. You can also still watch the recordings of all the presentations from the last Online Open Days. The videos can be found on the Master Talks page

Master Talks: Programme videos

On the Master Talks: programme videos platform you can find videos for each master’s programme. This includes a video which gives a short introduction to the programme. You can also find the recording of the Master's Online Open Days of 5-6 October and watch the programme presentation on the platform. 

Get to know the campus

Check out our virtual campus tours, filmed in 360 degrees – by dragging the video, you can look around at the surroundings yourself. Below is the video recorded at the Humanities faculty, where most of your lectures will take place; you can also view other 360 campus tours of the various university faculties here

360 Campus tour: the Humanities faculty

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Watch the video on the original website or

Contact

If you have a question, there are various ways to get in touch with us.

This website and our Frequently Asked Questions are the quickest ways to find an answer to many of your questions.

Questions about the Programme

Coordinator of studies
Sabine van Veelen
Email: mahistory@hum.leidenuniv.nl

Student ambassador
Do you have a question about studying at leiden University or student life in Leiden? Do you want more information about the History master's programme?
Chat with Merle for answers to your questions!

Questions about the application procedure, tuition fees and scholarships

Student Affairs Front Office
Phone: +31 (0)71 527 80 11
Email: Contact form
Or visit their website

Visiting address
Leiden: Plexus Student Centre
Kaiserstraat 25, ground floor
2311 GN Leiden
Monday to Friday between 11.00 and 16.00, Tuesday between 11.00 and 17.30.

Chat with a student

Do you have a question about student life in Leiden, studying at Leiden University, or do you want more information about the History master's programme? Chat with a current student for answers to your questions!