History KU Leuven

Overview

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Are you interested in analysing and understanding the complex developments of today in light of the past? Are you curious to learn more about the medieval urban socio-economic environment or the many surprising transfers and exchanges in the early modern globalised world? Or are you particularly eager to uncover many new voices of various historical actors?

Through the window of the past, our one-year research-intensive history programme aims to equip you with the skills and specialised knowledge needed to become a historian. Our programme will hone your ability to grasp, interpret and critically analyse complex issues and develop high-level research skills, while you get the freedom to specialize in your own topics of interest.

Our Master in History programme gives you the opportunity to study history in the historical town of Leuven and in one of Europe's oldest and most well-established universities. Leuven is only a fifteen minute train ride away from Brussels, and houses centuries-old scholarly tradition, well embedded in international and interdisciplinary circles alike.

The Master of History programme is structured around three pillars:

• Your master thesis and the research seminar: The pinnacle of your Master's degree is your Master's thesis which stands at the core of your individually designed study programme. You will shape your study programme around the topic of your master thesis, in close cooperation with your supervisor and the support of the research seminar.
• Specialization - electives: Together with your supervisor, you choose a series of elective modules catered to your own preferences and research plans. You can choose to specialise in a particular time period or a historical theme ranging from global, diplomatic history to urban history, or from the history of sciences to social and environmental history. Please consult a list of our specialisations below.
• Professionalization:  Students can choose an internship as part of the elective modules. The internship is a unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the labour market, and apply your academic skills in a working environment: in research, archives, media organizations, or in one of the many small or big museums and heritage organisations that Belgium has to offer.

Talented, motivated students in the humanities from across the world that have a strong appetite for studying, but also researching history are welcome to apply.

Career perspectives

History is a well-rounded discipline. You will take all kinds of classes about historical periods, regions and domains. Through different exercises, you learn to think, analyse, offer criticism, interpret, debate, draw conclusions, and express them in writing. You also become familiar with many other disciplines, such as law, political science and economics.

You will develop skills that are invaluable to employers in a variety of sectors, including: government and politics, media and communications, heritage and cultural organisations, and a broad range of private companies.

Historians are therefore valued in a wide range of job sectors. The time when all historians became teachers or archivists has long past.