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Dual Master
Heritage and Memory Studies (Heritage Studies)
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Restitution Studies

Provenance and restitution are current and urgent issues for museums, collections and heritage institutions, as well as society at large. The specialisation Restitution Studies allows students to focus on the interaction between social debates, policies & regulations, institutional concerns and the object itself.

This specialisation covers three main areas of restitution debates:

  • illicit trade and looted objects in the contexts of archeology;
  • World War II; and
  • the colonial past. 

Through various courses and an internship the students are prepared for work in the field of Restitution Studies, combining academic reflection and extensive knowledge with relevant, practice-based skills. We expect students to have a background in archaeology, art history, history or another relevant Bachelor's. 

Restitution Studies specialisation explained

In this video, programme director Arnold Witte and curator Laurien de Gelder explain the relevance and urgence of the Restitution Studies specialisation.

Study programme

COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC
  • Heritage & Memory Theory
    6
  • Looted Objects and Restitution
    6
  • Who owns the Past?
    12
  • Methode en praktijk van herkomst- en restitutieonderzoek
    6
  • Elective: Provenience & Provenance: archeologisch erfgoed en herkomst*
    6
  • Elective: Archief: van instrument tot object. Herkomstonderzoek en archieven*
    6
  • Elective: Paleogafie & digital humanities*
    6
  • Thesis / final project
    12
  • Preparation & start internship
    6
COURSES SEM 1 SEM 2 SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 EC
  • Internship including seminar
    24
  • Thesis
    6

* In block 4 (and 5) of the first year, you choose 12 EC of elective courses. The courses mentioned are recommended, but you are free to choose other courses as well.

Application and admission

If you wish to pursue this specialisation, the regular application and admission procedure for the Master's in Heritage and Memory Studies applies. In the application form, please indicate that you intend to do the Restitution Studies specialisation.