Study programme
The Museum Studies programme has a workload of 90 ECTS.
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Introduction to MuseologyPeriod 16
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Free-choice electivesPeriod 1Period 212
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Analysing Museums: Narrative, Design, ExperiencePeriod 26
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Exhibition MakingPeriod 36
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Master's Internship Museum StudiesPeriod 4Period 5Period 630
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Excursion Abroad - Museum StudiesPeriod 16
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Thesis Proposal: Museum StudiesPeriod 16
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Master's Thesis Museum StudiesPeriod 1Period 2Period 318
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Three core modules
You start your Master's degree with three core modules that give you thorough knowledge and insight into a multitude of museum practices. The first two courses start with a theoretical, historical and curatorial reflection on contemporary debates and practices. The last course involves the conceptualisation of an exhibition design. These subjects prepare you for your internship.
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Work experience period (internship)
An important part of the Master’s programme Museum Studies is a six-month internship (30 ECTS). Your internship will be determined in accordance with the placements offered by the museums and the development path you wish to follow. At the museum, you will work together with professionals who will show you the tricks of the trade. You are fully responsible for finding and organising your internship, yet you can benefit from the great network the UvA Museum Studies Staff has in the Netherlands and abroad. Museums that frequently offer internships are:
- Allard Pierson (University of Amsterdam’s Museum)
- Amsterdam Museum
- Jewish Museum in Amsterdam
- H’Art Amsterdam
- National Museum for World Cultures (Amsterdam and Leiden)
- Rijksmuseum (Historical department)
- Framer Framed Amsterdam
- Centraal Museum Utrecht
- Het Nieuwe Instituut Rotterdam
- Van Abbe Museum Eindhoven
- Twentse Welle in Enschede
- Museum Kranenburgh in Bergen
Additional internship allowance
Students taking a dual Master's programme may be eligible for an reimbursement. This only applies for EER students.
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Master’s thesis
The Master’s thesis (18 ECTS) reports on research carried out under the supervision of an academic staff member involved in the programme. The subject of the thesis must be mutually agreed upon by you and the academic supervisor.
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How many students does this programme have?
Per year between twelve and twenty-five students start their Master’s degree.
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I'm specifically interested in the arts. Is this Master's programme suitable for me?
This programme is about all types of museums. Art museums are certainly discussed, but they are only a small part of our area of interest. The main teachers' specialties are in the areas of nature, sustainability, anthropology, restitution, (art) history, and epistemology. The Master's Curating Art and Cultures is more directed to art museums (see also the following question).
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What’s the difference between the Master’s Museum Studies and the Master’s Curating Art and Cultures?
Museum Studies focuses on a broader range of types of museums and activities, such as curating, communication, public programming, audience research, and restitution. Curating Art and Cultures aims specifically and exclusively at curatorship and focuses mainly on art museums. Curating Art and Cultures is affiliated with the Art History department. Museum Studies is more in line with Cultural Studies.
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Can I have a job during the programme and the internship?
As the programme is full-time, it will be hard to have an extra job. The internship, usually from February to June/July, will be four days a week. The fifth day you meet your peers for a seminar.
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Are there any additional expenses for this programme, in addition to the tuition fee, and housing and living costs?
There are various additional costs that you should consider. We will visit many museums, for which you have to pay an entrance fee. The Netherlands also has a museum year card for €75. You visit the internship sites of your fellow students and for this you sometimes have to travel across the country. An excursion abroad takes place in the second year, for which you must take travel and accommodation costs into account. A small part of this will be reimbursed.