ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ

The Master's programme International Relations in Historical Perspective comprises one year (60 EC). A study year is divided into two semesters, running from September until January and from February until June. A semester is divided into two study periods. 

Curriculum

The programme consists of compulsory courses, research seminars, electives, and is concluded with one of the three tracks. Check the study schedule (PDF). 

Semester 1 | Study periods 1 & 2

During the first semester, you will take a combination of team-taught compulsory courses, research seminars and elective courses: 

• The Many Faces of International Politics: History & Theory: This core (compulsory) course provides a historical and theoretical analysis of key concepts and approaches in international relations.
• IR in Practice: This core course provides students with the opportunity to learn how to find, identify, analyse and draft key documents such as policy briefs and UN resolutions. It concludes with a daylong simulation assignment.
• Electives: offer you the opportunity to specialize in two of the below mentioned research themes by focusing on specific case studies. The case studies can vary in content on a yearly basis, such as 'Humanitarianism', 'Memory and Reconciliation', 'Spain in an International Context', and 'The Cold War in the Balkans and the Middle Eastern Conflict'. Students will have the opportunity to explore their own research interests within the broader theme of the case study.
• Research Seminars: Aiming to foster the students’ critical and analytical skills through researching and writing a proposal for further research, research seminars cover three broad themes: Conflict and Security, Europe and the World, Globalization and Global Governance.

Semester 2 | Study periods 3 & 4

In the second half of the year you can choose one of three programme tracks, according to your interests:

1. Practice track (internship): As part of the Master's programme, you will undertake an internship (15 EC) of three to six months and write a thesis (15 EC), in the order of your choice. On average, 85% of our students do an internship. The internship allows you to put your knowledge and skills into practice. The internship experience will help shape your professional skills and form an important part of your resume. Recent studies show that 80% of students who took part in an internship found employment within a year of graduating. (Support from our Internship Coordinator and Career Services Officer is available, but students are responsible for finding an internship themselves).  
2. Research track: You will take a research tutorial (10 EC), and will write a longer research thesis of around 25.000 words (20 EC). The Research Tutorial offers a deeper exploration of international historical methods and is particularly suitable for an academic career. 
3. Applied Research track: You will be enrolled in one of our applied research labs (15 EC) and work together on a UU-based project with external stakeholders, for example, the  or the student led think tank , and next to that you will write a thesis (15 EC). Similar to an internship, the applied research track will thus equip you for the job market in both academic and professional terms.

We will ask you to communicate your choice to us (Practice Track, Research Track or Applied Research Track) by January, during our yearly mid-term evaluation talks.

Below, you can find an overview of courses from the current academic year of this Master's. Please note: The course offer is reviewed yearly. This overview is therefore subject to change.

Educational methods

• seminar: 50%
• internship: 25%
• independent study: 15% (thesis)
• group work: 10%

Writing a thesis at the end of your studies is an individual exercise, but you will write it in the context of a coaching group that regularly meets under the guidance of a supervisor. Your supervisor will also be available for individual coaching.

Internship

An internship offers you the opportunity to test your knowledge and skills in practice. Internships at organisations like the EU, the UN, or the Foreign Ministry seem the most obvious options, but there are many more interesting opportunities, ranging from the policy-making sector to journalism, think tanks, NGOs and international companies. You may also look for an internship within a larger project based at Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ. Keep in mind that many organisations in the Netherlands use Dutch as their working language. You can also do an internship within an international organisation in the Netherlands or abroad.

Examinations

• Research proposal
• Simulations
• Essay exams
• Presentations