History and International Studies

During the Bachelor you develop a broad foundation of historical knowledge from Antiquity to the present era from a global perspective. You look at themes of contemporary relevance such as slavery or the rise of China and study them to understand today’s international relations. By combining insights from the study of History with those from the social sciences and International Relations, you develop a deeper understanding of today’s societal challenges.

The programme offers a combination of history courses, modern language units and research skills from the fields of global history and international relations. A highly motivated staff, strongly committed to teaching excellence and the learning experience of their students, teaches it.

Courses discuss the history of Europe and the world from antiquity to the present. Students can also choose electives that cover a great variety of themes, such as Global Political Economy, Transatlantic Connections and Environmental History. In Year 3, students can study a semester abroad, take an internship or choose a minor.

The small scale of the programme offers close interaction between students and staff, several of whom have won University Teaching Awards for outstanding performance and dedication to undergraduate education at the VU. The staff of History and International Studies cooperates with different public and private organizations as well as with the Rijksmuseum, Tropenmuseum, the Anne Frank Huis and many other international, research and heritage institutions. The University is located in Amsterdam, a city with international and historical allure.