Religion and Cultural Heritage at the University of Groningen

How and why do we creatively make use of the past to forge new identities in the present? How do we negotiate the tension between heritage preservation and engaged ownership? What is at stake in the "musealization" of religion?
 

Religion and Cultural Heritage is a unique one-year interdisciplinary MA-programme focusing on a major trend at the interface of religion, identity, politics, and heritage studies. It also addresses a gap in critical heritage studies, studying the shifting place of religion in heritage debates.
 

Heritage and religion are in the news and on the political agenda both nationally and internationally. In the coming years, 30-80% of religious buildings will lose their original function in the Netherlands. National and European budgets are dedicating millions of euros to the development of plans to address vacant religious heritage buildings. Tourism and pilgrimage to religious objects, sites, and festivals are booming, which raises questions about sustainability and impact.
 

At the same time, heritage has become a significant subject in contemporary cultural debate. Large-scale migration and secularization are changing the religious identities of communities and the way they perceive the past. Urgent new questions are arising, like how migrant communities can maintain their religious identities while grappling with the material and intangible heritage of their new homes? And how does the new diversity affect the sense of identity and heritage of dominant cultures?

The demands of preservation of at risk material and intangible heritage in the face of war, displacement, population shifts, and climate change are great. How are preservation concerns balanced with local resources?
 

This programme challenges you to analyse and contribute your own voice to these debates.

More information on this programme? Visit the website!

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Religion and Cultural Heritage at the University of Groningen

The MA Religion and Cultural Heritage comprises a total of 60 ECTS. The programme is structured in such a way as to provide a balance between practical learning with community-based professionals, and academic research.
 

No matter what your goals may be, the degree gives you both a strong grounding in heritage theory and practice. It enables you to pursue your own interests in two overlapping approaches to heritage studies:

• material and intangible heritage (Material Religion; Heritage of Death; Museums and Religion)
• heritage of traditions and ideas (Popular Culture; National Socialism and Religion - Conflict and Heritage; Heritage of Nature; Theological Heritages; Reception and Re-Use of Authoritative Text)

CoursesCourse Catalog

• Compulsory: Heritage, Identity, Religion: Theoretical Approaches (5 EC)     
• Compulsory: Regional Heritage: Old Churches - New Meanings (5 EC)     
• Elective: Material Religion (5 EC, optional)     
• Elective: Religion and Nature: Genealogies of the Anthropocene (5 EC, optional)     
• Elective: Theological Heritages in a (Post) Modern Context (5 EC, optional)     
• Compulsory: Research Methods in Heritage and Historical Studies (5 EC)     
• Elective: Gender, Diversity and Religious Heritage (5 EC, optional)     
• Elective: Heritage of Death (5 EC, optional)     
• Elective: Museums and Religion (5 EC, optional)     
• Elective: National Socialism and Religion: Conflict and Heritage (5 EC, optional)     
• Elective: Popular Culture, Politics, and Heritage (5 EC, optional)     
• Elective: Reception and Re-Use of Authoritative Texts (5 EC, optional)     
• Internship (10 EC)     
• Thesis (20 EC)    
• Thesis seminar

Curriculum

There are three core modules (15 ECTS), a thesis (20 ECTS) and a practical placement (10 ECTS). You can choose three out of eight electives (5 ECTS each).
 

Study abroad is optional

More information on this programme? Visit the website!

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Religion and Cultural Heritage at the University of Groningen

Job prospects

You can advise or write policy documents on heritage subjects, such as the preservation of old churches or the distribution of funding for cultural activities. You could work for cultural organisations, the government, in the tourist business or at an NGO. You may also work in the media or as a teacher of religion in secondary education after completing your Educational Master's programme. If you wish to pursue an academic career, you can follow this track as a specialization within the Research

Check where our alumni end up after graduating on our alumni page.

Job examples

•     Cultural Education

You can work within organizations that consult upon the content and organization within the field of arts and cultural education. Or you could work at an educational department within institutions such as a cultural centers or museums.

•     Consulting & Policy

Your knowledge about religious heritage will enable you to advise upon or write policy documents on the conservation of religious heritage. You could find a job with central government but also at organizations and foundations in the cultural sector. This could, for example, be the Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht or the Stichting Oude Groninger Kerken.

•     Education

Once you have completed this Master's track, you will have sufficient knowledge of the subject to be able to teach Religious Studies or Social Studies in secondary education. Alternatively, you could opt for a position in higher vocational education. As you also need didactic skills as a teacher or lecturer, it is advisable to do a Master's in Education after you have completed your regular Master's programme.

•     Media & Journalism

A number of publishers have shown renewed interest in religion and society. With your knowledge and skills, you can make an expert contribution to publications in this field. You could also use your expertise as an editor at a broadcasting company, newspaper or current affairs magazine.

More information on this programme? Visit the website!

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Religion and Cultural Heritage at the University of Groningen

grade list 
 

A grade list of the marks of your bachelor's degree programme with an explanation of the followed courses.

language test 

• TOEFL: 580 paper/237 computer/92 internet;
• IELTS: 6.5 (6.0 on each part) (not for English native speakers)

previous education

Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Arts, Philosophy, Social Sciences (e.g. Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology) or Spatial Sciences (specialization Cultural Geography). Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. Students with another bachelor's degree may be admitted via a bridging programme.

written request 

A letter of motivation to the admissions board, outlining your interest in the programme, including your motivation and expectations (max. 1 page), accompanied with a writing sample of an academic paper, preferably your Bachelor's (or Master's) Thesis.

other admission requirements 

If you are a bachelor's student and if you are planning to enroll in the master's track in Religion and Cultural Heritage in the academic year 2020-2021, then you are allowed to have 15 ECTS of your bachelor's degree programme left for a conditional admission.

Application deadlines

Dutch students 01 May 2021 
EU/EEA students 01 May 2021

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Overview of Masters programmes - University of Groningen

		Applied Cognitive Neuroscience
		Arts and Culture
		Behavioural and Cognitive Neurosciences
		Biology
		Business Administration
		Clinical and Psychosocial Epidemiology
		Computational Cognitive Science
		Economic Development and Globalization
		Environmental and Infrastructure Planning
		Ethics of Education: Philosophy, History and Law
		Global Criminal Law
		Governance and Law in Digital Society
		History
		Human Resource Management
		International Business and Management
		International Relations
		Literary Studies
		Marine Biology
		Marketing
		Media Studies
		Molecular Medicine and Innovative Treatment
		Philosophy, Politics and Economics
		Philosophy, Science and Humanities
		Population Studies
		Religion and Cultural Heritage
		Religion, Conflict and Globalisation
		Sustainable Entrepreneurship
		Theory and History of Psychology
		Voice Technology
		Human Movement Sciences
		Sport Sciences

More information on this programme? Visit the website!

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