Bachelor History Alumni Experiences

Why studying History at EUR

The History Bachelor at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) has an international character, which really appealed to me. I was also enthusiastic about the small-scale education the study offers. Almost every professor knows you by name and you also get to know your fellow students on a personal level.

During the courses, you study the past thematically with a view from the present. The topics studied are also incredibly relevant nowadays (think about social inequality, migration, identity, international relations, etc.). By choosing the Cultural History "track" and electives in the second year that really suited me, I knew I could distinguish myself from other students.

It was therefore no surprise that after my bachelor’s in history, I continued my masters at Erasmus University Rotterdam.  I chose the master Global History and International Relations, because - like in my bachelor programme - I could put together a large part of the programme myself by choosing electives, undertaking an internship and through a wide range of master's thesis classes.

Working in the education sector

During my studies, I discovered that I have a great interest in (history) education. This interest mainly developed while I was a mentor and ambassador and took the Education Minor. During my gap year between the bachelor and master programme, I also taught first-year history students. Finally, I decided to do my master's research on students' interests regarding history in primary education in a super-diverse city like Rotterdam.

So, it was clear that I wanted to be involved in education, even after my studies. Now I work at the Nationaal Regieorgaan Onderwijsonderzoek (NRO) as program/policy officer, and together with my colleagues I make sure that researchers have the opportunity to do even more important research on education. 

My advice to current (history) students

There are plenty of extracurricular activities offered in addition to the programme. Even though these activities can feel overwhelming or exciting, I would definitely recommend every student to take these opportunities. Especially because it can offer you a lot in terms of personal development. And most importantly, enjoy the study and studying itself; time flies when you are having fun!

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.”