Erasmus University Rotterdam
Erasmus University Rotterdam

Why this programme

Global History and International Relations
Global History and International Relations student

What does this study entail?

Global History and International Relations provides you with the analytical depth to understand why global politics and the political economy look the way they do today, what direction they might take in the future, and how they have developed in the past. At the heart of the programme lies a powerful idea: histories are interconnected, leading to interlinked geopolitics, geo-economics and geocultures. But histories also stand apart from one another. This programme trains you to trace international connections across time and space, enabling you to understand why nations cooperate or, conversely, come into conflict with one another, and why economies rise and fall.

The programme focuses on the past five centuries and traces the rise and fall of empires and states, as well as the changing structure of today’s multipolar world. You will not only explore what has happened, but also how the past is used, misused and deployed (as a weapon) by global players in the present in their pursuit of power, profit or identity. You will learn to interpret history critically, which is one of the most valuable skills in contemporary world politics.

You will explore classical and critical theories of modern international relations, analyse the political-economic dimensions of global issues, and examine institutions of global governance, their promises, their limitations and the inequalities they perpetuate. Gender, race, the environment and marginalised perspectives are not mere add-ons, but central analytical perspectives that are woven throughout the programme. The programme is deliberately designed to be transdisciplinary. You will combine political theory, economic analysis, cultural history and approaches from the social sciences to address the complexity of global issues. In addition, you will develop digital research skills that will enhance your competitiveness in the labour market.

Rotterdam also plays an important role. As the home of Europe’s largest port and a city built on centuries of global connectivity, it is a fitting base for a programme that focuses on how the world connects and disconnects. By the time you graduate, you will not only have an understanding of the actors, institutions and forces that shape our contemporary world. You will also have the tools to analyse and challenge them, and to contribute to the debates that will shape what the future holds.

Is this the right programme for you?

Choosing the Global History and International Relations programme at Erasmus University Rotterdam means choosing to engage seriously with the world in all its complexity. This programme is for you if you want not only to understand what is happening around the world, but also why, and how the past centuries have led to this. You will learn not to view world history as a simple sequence of events, but as a tapestry of diverse narratives, created and contested by states, movements and civilisations to justify geopolitical, geo-economic and geocultural policies. An understanding of these historical narratives and how they are being rewritten in the present is essential for understanding today’s international relations and the world of tomorrow.

Five reasons to study Global History and International Relations at the EUR

  • Learn while being in the field, go to archives and museums to find diplomatic records, journals or protest pamphlets that will help you to build your cases;
  • Study in an international environment! According to the Times Higher Education, the Erasmus University is one of the 125 most international universities worldwide;
  • You will benefit from the engaging tutorials and a dedicated team of lecturers; The classes are based mostly on discussion among students. 
  • A master's degree in Global History and International Relations allows you to work in many types of working environments. Whether you want to become a journalist, pursue a career in politics, a historian, or a researcher, this programme will prepare you thoroughly;
  • Studying in Rotterdam offers the unique opportunity to experience a city rich in historical significance, yet vibrant and dynamic in its present-day context.
Global History and International Relations by Pieter

Global History and International Relations by Pieter

A word from our students

Tara Lewis

Tara Lewis - Student Global History and International Relations

That is one of the beauties of studying History, things rarely turn out the way you thought they would.

Tara Lewis

Student Global History and International Relations

That is one of the beauties of studying History, things rarely turn out the way you thought they would.

"I did not exactly choose to study history after extensive contemplation. I obtained a bachelor’s degree in communications and I was looking for a programme that would further enrich my education. History proved the ideal choice.

 I loved studying History. Of course the programme was sometimes intensive, but the courses were also interesting and diverse. I wrote my thesis on the 1641 rebellion in Ireland; I love the country yet never expected to write my thesis on this particular subject. That is one of the beauties of studying History, things rarely turn out the way you thought they would.

 I started working as an editor for the local newspaper during my bachelor. A friend of mine learned that the newspaper was looking to recruit reporters and I happily applied for the position; the position would enable me to look into different subjects, and approach these from different angles." 

Julie Küpperfahrenberg

Julie Küpperfahrenberg - Student Global History and International Relations

Here I had the feeling that my knowledge about history could be transformed into actual contributions to solve political problems and crises.

Julie Küpperfahrenberg

Student Global History and International Relations

Here I had the feeling that my knowledge about history could be transformed into actual contributions to solve political problems and crises.

"I knew that I wanted to do a master at a university abroad. In my opinion, it contributes a lot to your personal and professional development when you place yourself outside your familiar context. As I had only vague ideas in which direction I wanted to go with my professional background (every history student is more than familiar with utterances such as ‘History? Oh! That’s interesting! But what are you going to do with this later?’), I gathered information about master degrees at manifold European universities. I had come to the conclusion that I did not want to commit myself to the mere study of events, processes and developments of the past, so no art for art’s sake, but that I wanted to draw lessons from the past in order to improve the future. In this respect I was really exited when I came across the master program ‘History of Society: Global History and International Relations’ offered by Erasmus University of Rotterdam. Here, for the first time, I had the feeling that my knowledge about history could in some way be transformed into actual contributions to solve political problems and crises. Thus I applied at Erasmus University Rotterdam and I got admitted.

Although I was also approved at other universities, when I received my admission for Rotterdam, I did not shed a thought about going somewhere else. Firstly, Erasmus University is highly regarded in Europe. Secondly, the program itself exactly met my interests and my professional background. Thirdly, although I had only been in Rotterdam once before, I remembered it to be an open-minded, multi-cultural city with a very special charm that makes it so different from other cities in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe. I like the fact that Rotterdam is not one of the well-known touristic cities such as Amsterdam or Brussels, where everybody had already been - Rotterdam is in this way my city. The program fully meets my expectations. Although it is a lot of work, a lot to read and to write, I can clearly see the developments that I have made in the last six month, not only professionally or scientifically, but also and in particular personally.

When I will hold my Master degree in September, I seek to invest some time to concerns of my heart. I plan to do an internship at Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch. As I now approached political problems from an academic point of view, I feel that I need to add a humanitarian and practical perspective. Only then I will be equipped to find a work place, which is dedicated to solve international problems and thus to make the world a better place."

Not sure yet about your choice? Request a brochure!

Choosing a study is quite a challenge! Still in doubt about this study and want to have a good overview? Receive a clear digital brochure for this study.

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