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Heritage and Memory Studies (Heritage Studies)

Dual Master
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Across the world, heritage is seen as a corner-stone of cultural identity, a resource for more sustainable living environments and a universal right to cultural expression. Simultaneously, urban and rural spaces, buildings, monuments and even intangible forms of everyday culture are increasingly stage-managed, commodified and imbued with nostalgia. The past is frequently turned into an arena of current social and political conflict.

Language of instruction
English
Mode
Full-time

 ðŸ’¡A five-month internship bridges theory and practice

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Dynamics of heritage and memory

As student of this multidisciplinary programme, you will critically analyse the dynamics of heritage and memory: how what is remembered and narrated about the past changes through time, depending on people’s needs. Conservation of heritage, its management and policies related to this have for a long time been in the hands of experts who decided top-down what needed to be done. Nowadays they are being aided, challenged and even replaced by more and more bottom-up, participatory and inclusive heritage practices. The programme offers multiple specialisations, including a new specialisation: Restitution Studies.

Why Heritage and Memory Studies at the UvA

Tailored to your interests

The curriculum covers heritage and memory studies theory, which draws from art/architectural history, cultural anthropology, cultural history, cultural theory, sociology, social geography and archaeology. Through course assignments and electives you can customise your programme to suit your own interests.

Practical experience

A five-month internship lets you further develop your professional heritage skills and network, while offering scope for practical experience, specialist knowledge and theoretical reflection.

Learning on the ground

Through seminars and on-site visits – in Amsterdam, elsewhere in The Netherlands and abroad – you learn to analyse in real-life settings the politics of heritage and memory practices.

Unique combination of heritage and memory

Worldwide this is the only programme that offers a combination of heritage studies and memory studies theory.

Is Heritage and Memory Studies right for you?

  1. You have a strong interest in the societal and political issues at play in the uses of the past in the present.
  2. You look forward to gaining experience in both academic research and heritage practice, and aim to bring the two together.
  3. You are eager to contribute to and critically rethink the preservation, management or presentation of tangible or intangible heritage, or the performance of memorial practices.
Discover Heritage Studies: Heritage and Memory

In this video the teacher and student of this Master’s explain in about 5 minutes how this programme is structured and what you will learn.

Degree certificate

Heritage and Memory Studies is part of the accredited Master's programme in Heritage Studies. After successful completion of the programme, you will obtain a legally recognised Master’s degree in Heritage Studies and the title Master of Arts (MA).

Facts & Figures
Degree programme
MA
Type
Regular study programme
Mode
Full-time
Credits
90 ECTS ECTS, 18 months
Language of instruction
English
Starts in
September
CROHO code
60835
Location
University Quarter