Master
International Relations in Historical Perspective
★ StudyPath verdict
?/10
No verdict yet — the score, best-for / skip-if and match score are editorial signals we generate once the underlying outcome data is collected.
Tuition · Intl
↗€21,342
EU: €2,694/year · click ↗
Duration
1 year
60 ECTS
Start
Sep 26
apply by Apr 26
Language
English
IELTS 6.5+
Accred.
NVAO
NVAO 2020
Admission
Open
no intake cap
Enrolled/yr
↗346
DUO ↓19% ↗
Intl. %
?
no data yet
S:F ratio
↗19:1
institution-wide ↗
Min. English
6.5
IELTS required
Entry route
↗Bachelor
1 bachelor routes ↗
Satisfaction
↗3.7/5
NSE 2026 ↗
Employment
↗83%
field est. ↗
Median salary
↗€3,239
/mo gross · field ↗
Alumni
?
no data yet
↗ Real values are sourced; tiles marked “?” aren’t collected yet · Enrolled/yr is live from DUO · Satisfaction/outcomes are live from StudiekeuzedatabaseLast sync: 13 Jun 2026
About this program
What drives cooperation and conflict between states? How is the world order changing? What is the legacy of empires in today's world? Do smaller states matter? Can global governance protect the environment? What’s unique about this Master’s programme, is that you will learn to answer these questions from a historical perspective. You will gain a greater historical understanding of international politics and current global developments. For, even though history does not repeat itself, you can learn a great deal from it!
Institution’s own description (HOVI via Studiekeuzedatabase)
English60 ECTSMaster of ArtsField area: Language & CultureSector: Recht en BestuurCode of Conduct (intl.)Full-timeMaster
About Utrecht University
Founded in 1636, Utrecht University is one of the oldest and largest universities in the Netherlands with nearly 39,000 students. Known for excellence in life sciences, sustainability research, and a strong interdisciplinary approach. Home to 12 Nobel Prize laureates and ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide.
Living in Utrecht
Student cost of living
Rent · room
€600/mo
Monthly total
€850–€1,650
Cost of living
Medium
Population
361k
Historic, vibrant, and student-friendly. Utrecht combines medieval charm with modern amenities. The city center is lively yet manageable, offering a perfect balance between Amsterdam's intensity and smaller cities' tranquility.
View city guide →Specializations
Tracks from HOVI
Young InnovatorsHonourstraject
Young Innovators is an honours programme for curious and involved students that like to commit to challenges about sustainability and societal wellbeing. You’re a changemaker worki…
Graduate Honours Interdisciplinary ProgrammeHonourstraject
During the Graduate Honours Interdisciplinary Seminars you will meet students from other disciplines in a series of small-scale seminars. Under supervision of leading UU researcher…
Leadership ProgrammeHonourstraject
In the Leadership Programme you discover what kind of leader you are or want to be. You apply knowledge from different disciplines to real leadership dillemas and get a better unde…
Source: HOVI via Studiekeuzedatabase
Curriculum
Course structure by year
Year 1
Semester 1
- The Many Faces of International Politics: History & Theory
- IR in Practice
- Electives (case studies)
- Research Seminars (Conflict and Security / Europe and the World / Globalization and Global Governance)
Year 1
Semester 2
- Practice track: Internship (15 EC) + Thesis (15 EC)
- Research track: Research tutorial (10 EC) + Thesis (~25k words, 20 EC)
- Applied Research track: Applied research lab (15 EC) + Thesis (15 EC)
60 ECTS total · semester-by-semesterSource ↗
Career outcomes
Graduate surveys · field-group level
Good job-market outlookfield: politicologie
Median starting salary (field)€3,239/mo gross
Employed ~1.5y after graduating83%
Months to a substantial job7
Working in their own field49%
Permanent contract35%
Satisfied with their job3.9/5
Top graduate occupations (field)
Specialisten op het gebied van beleidsadministratie29%
Bedrijfs- en organisatieanalisten12%
Specialisten op het gebied van public relations6%
Administratief secretaressen en uitvoerende secretaressen5%
Professoren en andere onderwijsgevenden in het hoger onderwijs5%
Field-group estimates from national graduate surveys via Studiekeuzedatabase — not measured per programme
Progression & cohort
Official register statistics
Complete this degree89%
Women among first-years61%
Say workload is “just right”59%
Official register statistics (1cijferHO · 2025) via Studiekeuzedatabase
Student voices
National Student Survey (NSE) — first-party reviews coming
3.7/5overall satisfaction · NSE 2026 · 37 respondents
Content & set-up3.8
Teachers4.2
Atmosphere4.3
Involvement & contact4
Study guidance3.5
Testing & assessment3.7
Facilities3.9
Career preparation3.2
Teachers' English4.5
Would choose again3.8
Source: Nationale Studenten Enquête via Studiekeuzedatabase (Studiekeuze123/LCSK)
Admissions
Minimum language scores · from StudyInNL
- IELTS overall band: 6.5
- TOEFL paper based: 580
- TOEFL computer based: 237
- TOEFL internet based: 93
Scholarships
Internships
?No data yet
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