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What drives cooperation and conflict between states? How is the world order changing? What is the legacy of empires in today's world? Do smaller states matter? Can global governance protect the environment? What’s unique about this Master’s programme, is that you will learn to answer these questions from a historical perspective. You will gain a greater historical understanding of international politics and current global developments. For, even though history does not repeat itself, you can learn a great deal from it!

Connecting history and international relations with practice

By connecting the fields of history & international relations with practice, the Master’s in International Relations in Historical Perspective offers an in-depth and hands-on insight into these fields. In our programme, we offer three tracks, from which you can choose:

1. Applied Research Track: if you are interested in getting practical experience in the world of international affairs, we offer the opportunity to participate in an in-house Applied Research Lab.
2. Practice track: you can follow an internship at an external organization. 
3. Research track: if you are considering a research career or if you are pursuing a PhD, then you can also choose for a research track, during which you will follow a research tutorial and write a research thesis. 

Core Research Themes

• Conflict and Security theme: the history of security and conflict, including wars, terrorism, humanitarian interventions, and the role of the intelligence services in international politics.

• Europe and the World theme: the history of European international relations, including the European integration process.

• Globalization and Global Governance theme: the history of global processes including colonialism, decolonization, North-South relations, and global health concerns and environmental issues.

Understanding international relations is more than just absorbing information – actively getting hands-on experience, connecting to experts and stepping outside of the classroom is key to grasp our global challenges in contemporary and historical perspective

After graduation

Professionals with an International Relations in Historical Perspective degree can easily find their way in the world of international politics. Graduates have the skills to create effective policy and their career options range from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the EU, and the UN to NGOs and lobby agencies. Beyond that they have the expertise and skills which can be employed in other areas such as international companies and journalism.

Teaching and studying history, for example the history of security measures, terrorism and counterterrorism helps us to put current-day fears and anxieties in perspective.