The application deadline for this selective Master's programme is 1 March 2024, 23:59 CET (register in Studielink before 27 February, see step 3).

If you are interested in a scholarship, you need to apply for both the Master's programme and the scholarship before 15 January. Learn more at:

The Master's programme in Archival and Information Studies is open for application to students with a

• Bachelor's degree in the Humanities or Social Sciences from an accredited university.

The dual Master's programme in Archival and Information Studies is selective; in the selection process, your motivation, study performance and work experience will be considered.

Student profile

As a student in the Master’s programme in Archival and Information Studies you are expected to have the following knowledge, insight and skills:

• You are interested in the ways in which institutions, communities and individuals engage with their (archival) historical past, present and future through practices of appraising, collecting, preserving and curating.
• You are able to conduct a research project independently, formulate clear and functional research questions, collect relevant primary and secondary sources, and analyse them from a well-defined perspective. You have previously written at least a BA thesis, or conducted a capstone project with a considerable written component.
• You know how to construct a coherent argument, building on prior research in the field, and credit your sources in (academically) agreed-upon ways.

Pre-Master's 

If you do not meet the entry requirements above, for example if you have a relevant degree from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (HBO) or an equivalent thereof, you can eliminate your deficiencies by completing the pre-Master’s programme Media Studies. 

If you are unsure whether you meet the entry requirements, you are advised to get in touch with the programme coordinator before applying.

English language requirements

The programme is taught entirely in English; this includes all required reading. New Master's students therefore must be able to speak, read, write and understand English at an advanced academic level. Please check carefully whether you already meet the English language requirements or whether you need to arrange to take an official English language test. For more information, please read the English language requirements on the Graduate School of Humanities website.

Selection procedure

The MA in Archival and Information Studies is a dual (Professional) Master's programme. All prospective students of dual Master's programmes are subject to a selection procedure. The selection committee for the MA in Archival and Information Studies looks at a prospective student’s motivation (see ‘Motivation form’), the academic transcripts (applicants are advised to take into account the grade requirements specified below), their educational and professional background (curriculum vitae) and a writing sample.

If you wish to apply for this Master's programme, you are advised to consider that incoming students generally have a grade average of at least:

• 7.0 (Dutch educational system)
• B/3.3 (American system)
• 2:1 (an upper second class degree in the British system)
• C (ECTS-system)

All students applying will need to start their application by submitting an enrolment request in Studielink, the Dutch online system for students applying for a degree programme at a Dutch university.

Applicants for Archival and Information Studies need to submit an enrolment request in Studielink for the Master's in Media Studies 90 EC (Dual). When asked, select Archival and Information Studies as the track you intend to follow. Please note: even if you believe your prior education does not grant direct access and you think you need to take the pre-Master's programme to compensate for deficiencies, you must start your application by submitting an enrolment request for the Master’s Media Studies 90 EC (Dual).

It is extremely important that you register in Studielink at least 48 hours before the application deadline (see above). This is to ensure that you receive your login information (UvAnetID) in time to fill in your UvA application in MyInfo (see next step).

After enrolling in Studielink, you will automatically receive an email with a link to your MyInfo UvA application form. To log in to MyInfo you need your UvAnetID. Please fill out the application form, upload the required documents and submit your MyInfo application form before the application deadline.

Please make sure that in Studielink (step 3) you have selected Archival and Information Studies as the track you intend to follow, and it is the selected track in your MyInfo application. Applications for selective programmes that have been selected as a second track will not be processed.

Application fee

All applicants holding a nationality outside the EU/EEA are required to pay an application fee of €100 per Studielink enrolment before submitting your MyInfo application form. You will find payment instructions on your application form.

Application documents

Make sure you are well prepared before you start your application, and you have all necessary documents ready. You are asked to upload the following documents:

• curriculum vitae;
• proof of language proficiency (if required, see language requirements);
• transcript of records, up-to-date and issued by your home institution (if you are already a student at the UvA, a screenshot from SIS is sufficient);
• diploma (if already obtained)* or list of courses yet to complete;
• translation of your diploma and transcript of records (if they are not in English, Dutch, German or French);
• motivation form (PDF);
• programme specific documents (see below).

*Please note: If you have not yet obtained your diploma but are in possession of all other application documents, you may proceed with your application - as long as you obtain your Bachelor's degree before 1 September. If you have a non-Dutch prior education, please bear in mind that you must submit your certified documents before 1 May (non-EEA students) or 1 August (EEA students).

Programme-specific documents

In addition to the application documents that must be submitted for all Humanities Master’s programmes, applicants are expected to submit an English-language writing sample of around 5000 words (either a single paper, a combination of shorter essays, or a section from a longer thesis) that demonstrates their ability to use theory and handle sources in building up a sustained argument on a topic relevant to the programme. (If their first degree was not in English, they may also translate a text originally written in another language.)

Please collect and prepare all necessary documents before starting your application. You can find detailed information and guidelines on the Graduate School of Humanities website: