Why this programme

International Bachelor History

What does this study entail?

During this international bachelor's programme, you will learn to understand how changes and events in the past affect our daily lives. You will make the crucial link between then and now and search in the past for answers to social issues that concern politics, the media or citizens today.

The International Bachelor History at Erasmus University Rotterdam is unique in its multifaceted approach. You primarily look at modern global history (from 1500 and onwards) through a social, cultural, political, and economic lens. This means that you study history more thematically (e.g. the history of migration and citizenship) and less based on historical periods – as is usual in other history departments. 

Is this the right programme for you?

Why are some regions rich, while others remain poor? Why does gender inequality persist through history alongside economic disparities? How have disasters shaped societies and how do communities respond to inequality in times of crisis? And what profits did multinational corporations gain from European colonisation?

Do these kinds of questions appeal to you? Then the International Bachelor History at Erasmus University Rotterdam is the programme for you. By focusing on modern history and looking at it through overarching themes, you will do your research and learn to provide answers to contemporary social questions as mentioned above.

International Bachelor History by Gabriella

5 reasons to study the International Bachelor History at Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (EUR)

  • Thanks to the engaging workgroups, the enthusiastic lecturers, and the mentor system, you receive personal help with your studies.
  • Every year, the bachelor is at the top of the National Student Survey and the Study Choice Guide.
  • The labour orientated focus of the bachelor prepares you for a career in, for example, education, research, government, media, or cultural institutions.
  • The Erasmus University Rotterdam offers high-quality master’s programmes that complement this bachelor, including the Erasmus Mundus Programme GLOCAL.
  • You will study in a multicultural, dynamic, and thriving city at a modern and progressive university.

The best history bachelor in the Netherlands

Students appreciate the competence of lecturers

The Dutch and English bachelor History have been at the top of the Studiekeuze rankings for years. What is valued most about the bachelors is the expertise of the lecturers, the way assessments and exams are structured, and the vibe within the programme. With a score of 69, Erasmus University Rotterdam is three points ahead of the University of Amsterdam and Utrecht University.

A word from our students

Noah Herwig

Noah Herwig - Student International Bachelor History

IBHistory taught me to see the bigger trends and historical debates around a topic.
IBHistory taught me to see the bigger trends and historical debates around a topic.

Small-scale Tutorials

Going into my university studies, I wanted to be surrounded by an atmosphere that allows me to not just learn new material but build a stronger connection to myself as well as others in and outside the classroom. IBHistory has consistently provided me with this opportunity, surrounding me with students from a wide range of backgrounds, and a course structure that encouraged and strengthened my independent thinking and collaboration.

As an IBHistory student, small, 20-student tutorials offer a great opportunity to engage with the course. Given the size of the class, I found it easy to settle in with my new environment studying abroad and connecting with my fellow students as well as teachers. The coursework incentivized me to give my opinions in class and learn from those around me, while also having ample opportunity to speak directly to the tutors if I was ever unsure about anything. 

First-Year Structure

IBHistory’s first year is structured in a unique and effective way, doing only one course at a time, in five-week blocks. This had several advantages for me as a student, as the workload was not overwhelming or daunting, but rather gave me the chance to better study the material and feel prepared. The five-week blocks felt just enough to have the chance to go in-depth with topics and discussions, while consistently offering fresh topics and new learning opportunities. 

Thematic Approach at EUR

Between each course, I learned to approach historical topics thematically. Rather than a collection of individual dates and events, as I was used to in High School, IBHistory taught me to see the bigger trends and historical debates around a topic. This meant I could place how historical events occurred from multiple perspectives, how they impacted different communities in the long run, and why it is important for historians to continue academic debates. There are also many chances to learn history ‘from-below’, challenging the common historical narratives that many of us know against those of the oppressed and silenced. 

Joost van der Linden

Student International Bachelor History

There are many stories that should be told but aren’t. They are either forgotten or haven’t been found yet. This is what studying history, at least to me, is. It is finding and telling the stories of the past that have not been told yet.
Young man posing for camera in a suit
There are many stories that should be told but aren’t. They are either forgotten or haven’t been found yet. This is what studying history, at least to me, is. It is finding and telling the stories of the past that have not been told yet.

I love stories. Stories are not simply tales we tell each other to entertain. Stories can guide your morals and teach you things, help you answer questions and understand the world around you. Stories immortalize people and things. If we stop telling each other these tales, we forget the things they can teach us. Now there are many stories that deserve to be and should be told but aren’t. They are either forgotten or haven’t been found yet. This is what studying history, at least to me, is. It is finding and telling the stories of the past that have not been told yet, although this is not what I thought when I started my study.

When I started this study, I was afraid my peers would have a head start on me. I hadn’t studied history in high school, and so, lacked a lot of knowledge that the others would have. Luckily, I quickly found out that this was not necessary. While it is very nice to be very knowledgeable about history, this bachelor is focused on doing research, and finding the history yourself. You don’t get told the stories; you learn how to find them and be critical of what you find.

Young man posing for camera in a suit

Elora Aarts

Student International Bachelor History

Learning from peers from different cultures really challenged my views and knowledge and helped me learn beyond the factual information of the bachelor
Smiling girl with black, curly hair and a green top
Learning from peers from different cultures really challenged my views and knowledge and helped me learn beyond the factual information of the bachelor

After trying two other bachelors in the social science field, I was really looking for something that would combine my interests for the social sciences with something that would add more to my studies. The International Bachelor History ended up being exactly what I was looking for.

Social Sciences

History had always been an interest of mine, and something that I had always been relatively good at. My interest in social sciences also fit in perfectly with the bachelor, especially in the second year where I was able to pick a specialisation that focusses more on social and cultural history.

International Perspective

Besides the inclusion of social sciences, the International Bachelor History also added an interesting new international perspective to my studies. Learning from peers from different cultures really challenged my views and knowledge and helped me learn beyond the factual information of the course. Especially with something as diverse as history, the views and experiences of my peers were the most interesting thing to me. The bachelor is quite small, which adds a very social aspect to it. It took little to no time for me to make friends and create a social circle at Erasmus, which was very exciting for me.

Biggest struggle

My biggest struggle with the bachelor was figuring out how to actually study. Coming from a background in different bachelors, the switch to something like History was quite hard. Learning how to study for exams and how to write historical papers was something that took some time for me. With some trial and error, I have now managed to figure out how to study efficiently in this field.

Smiling girl with black, curly hair and a green top

Lena Martinović

Lena Martinović - Alumna International Bachelor History

Rather than having to memorise numbers and names, IBHistory focused on concepts and ideas. I felt that this made the study very interesting.
Portrait picture of Lena Martinovic
Rather than having to memorise numbers and names, IBHistory focused on concepts and ideas. I felt that this made the study very interesting.

Concepts and ideas

“One of the main reasons why I decided to study History at Erasmus University Rotterdam were the classes. I loved the fact that the study itself was very transversal. We focused on modern history, on politics, culture, economics… Rather than having to memorise numbers and names, the programme focused on concepts and ideas. I felt that this made the study very interesting. Another aspect that drew me to Erasmus was the internship that we could do as part of our studies. As a non-EU student, opportunities to work and gain experience are scarce, so being able to use the skills I learned as a history student (research, writing, critical thinking) and apply them in a real-world example was invaluable.

I did my internship at EUROCLIO, a small non-profit organisation that focuses on history education as a tool for conflict prevention. I provided support with project management, report writing, event organisation, outreach, and communication. I wouldn’t have been able to do the internship without my study programme.”

Finding out my future career path

Alongside the internship, I did a lot of volunteer work at my university. My first year, I joined Erasmus Debating Society. I was not only involved in debating but was also involved behind the scenes. I had the opportunity to organise tournaments and as secretary of the society, I focused on internal communication and liaising between our society and stakeholders. This volunteer work complemented well with studying history, as the skills you learn as a history student can be applied to debating, and vice versa: my writing and critical thinking abilities improved greatly! It was through the volunteer work and the internship that I realised I would like to work in project management and communication. The internship led to a job in Belgrade, working for a small non-profit as a communication coordinator, after which I applied for my current position as project and strategy assistant at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

In my role as project and strategy assistant, I support the change management and internal communication activities of the team in Geneva, while providing trainings on the use of information management tools and procedures.”

Have fun

“Take the time to be a part of study groups or societies. Studying is important but remember that your time at university is short. Your faculty association is a great place to network, to meet people, but also to have fun.”  

Portrait picture of Lena Martinovic

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