Career prospects
Academic careers
HPS is a research-oriented programme. Nearly half of our graduates go on to do a PhD in HPS or a related field, both in the Netherlands and abroad. That is a high percentage compared to other historical or philosophical master programmes.
Non-academic careers
Slightly more than half of our graduates (and quite a few of those who finish their PhDs) find work in other fields. Most of them operate where science meets the rest of the world. HPS alumni are well-placed to translate between academic science and real-world situations. They can digest large amounts of information from different sources and assess which kind of knowledge is relevant in which situation. There are a lot of people who can work with quantitative models. There are also a lot of people who can understand social dynamics and cultural sensitivities. Very few people, however, can combine those skills, and act as translators between the two. HPS students can fill that gap.
The most common sectors are:
- Science policy or administration: university administration, publishers, funding organizations (NWO), science policy analysis (Rathenau Institute)
- Government agencies or NGOs who rely on both quantitative and qualitative information (Algemene Rekenkamer, Rijkswaterstaat, think tanks)
- Museums, especially science-related ones such as Boerhaave, Teylers, Museon, or natural history museums (also abroad)
- Teaching, on any level
- Art, often combined with science, including performing arts (music, theatre)
- Consultancy (business or IT). As one alumnus put it: 鈥淣one of the content matter, but all of the skills I learned in HPS are relevant to consultancy鈥.
Career Services
UU Career Services offers training related to career orientation and job application skills; examples include writing an application letter and CV and conducting a job interview. You can find more information about career services on or UU Career Services for international students.
Careers Day
Once a year Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 organises a . The Careers Day offers the opportunity to sign up for workshops and trainings, and to meet recruiters at the careers fair. It鈥檚 also possible to join a job application training or have your resume checked.
Bring your knowledge to life in the classroom!
Do you want to inspire young people and do something that truly matters? Become a teacher by completing the one-year Leraar voorbereidend hoger onderwijs (LVHO) after your Master鈥檚 degree. You鈥檒l be qualified to teach in all levels of secondary education (vmbo/havo/vwo), mbo and adult education. Please note that the programme is in Dutch.
Discover the possibilities of LVHO
During the LVHO programme, you鈥檒l learn how to explain complex topics in a simple way, challenge students to think critically, and create an inspiring learning environment. With practical experience and didactic training, you鈥檒l develop the skills to convey knowledge in a lively and accessible manner.
Hybrid teaching
Want to combine teaching with another job? You can! As a hybrid teacher, you might work in the corporate sector as well as in the classroom. This way, you will help students understand the theory but also show them how things work in practice. It keeps your work dynamic and varied.