Health Humanities
Combine insights from cultural studies, philosophy, history, and anthropology to approach contemporary issues related to mental and physical health. Study how perceptions of illness and health are historically and culturally situated. Reflect on current and technological developments within the healthcare domain. This is a track of the MA Arts and Culture Studies.
Learn to critically analyze opinions, claims, beliefs and practices regarding health and healthcare. Gain an understanding of the historical and cultural context in which these have developed. Draw on insights and theories from various humanities disciplines, including cultural studies, gender studies, history, anthropology, philosophy, (online) media studies and technology studies.
Address questions such as:
- How does knowledge production take place in relation to disease and health? For example, how does evidence-based medicine work, and why is it such an important part of current biomedical science? What role do numbers, images, and narratives play in the production of knowledge about health?
- What political beliefs underlie policy choices within healthcare, and are these choices inclusive and just? For example, which bodies are included in public space and which are not? What role does gender play in the formation of medical knowledge and healthcare provision?
- How is our thinking about normal and abnormal shaped by socio-cultural norms? For instance, what values and assumptions underlie the BMI index? Why is melancholy considered a sign of depression in our culture and not a normal part of life?
- What are the implications of the many new technologies on our thinking and behavior in relation to disease and health? For example, do you feel healthier by monitoring your health with wearables and apps? And if AI is used for diagnosis, who is responsible if something goes wrong: the developer or the healthcare provider?
Connect theory with practice through an internship (optional) and by attending guest lectures from professionals.
Turn academic content into publications that are accessible to a wider public through Diggit Magazine - both a learning instrument and an online news platform focusing on arts, digital culture, and globalization.
This is a track of MA Culture Studies. You specialize by following one of its tracks.
Typical courses are:
- Cultural Practices of Knowledge Production in Health and Medicine
- Online Health Practices
- The Normal and the Abnormal
- Diversity and Equity in Health and Medicine
Na studia magisterskie mogą kandydować wszyscy, którzy ukończyli studia licencjackie lub inżynierskie (studia I stopnia), studia magisterskie lub studiują na ostatnim roku studiów I-stopnia. Studia, które planujesz powinny mieć zbliżony profil do tych obecnych lub ukończonych, ponieważ w procesie rekrutacji kluczowa jest ich zgodność programowa.
- Wykaz punktów ECTS – osoby, które są jeszcze w trakcie studiów, muszą załączyć wypis punktów ECTS, w którym będzie wykazane, jakie przedmioty były realizowane na studiach oraz ile punktów za nie otrzymano.
- Dyplom ukończenia studiów licencjackich lub inżynierskich – jeśli jesteś absolwentem wyższej uczelni, nie potrzebujesz wypisu, wystarczy załączyć dyplom ukończenia studiów wraz z suplementem (w języku angielskim lub oryginał z tłumaczeniem)
- Uwaga! Każdy kierunek magisterski może mieć inne wymagania i wymagać specyficznych dodatkowych dokumentów. Przed aplikacją sprawdź na stronie uczelni, jakich dokumentów potrzebujesz!
Spełnienie wymagań w zakresie języka angielskiego można udokumentować w następujący sposób:
- IELTS – 6.5
- TOEFL – 90
You are eligible to apply if you have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, such as Culture Studies, Philosophy, Literature, Religious Studies, Science and Technology Studies, Anthropology, Medicine, History, etc., or a BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Our Admissions Committee will assess every application and evaluate whether or not your previous education matches three years of Dutch academic education. Our Admissions Committee evaluates the modules you have completed previously and whether these match the profile for the program. Depending on your academic deficiencies or degree, you might be required to follow and complete a pre-Master’s program.
Documents to verify your educational background and motivation
Diploma(s)
Your Bachelor's (and Master's) diploma(s), if you already have them.If you have not yet completed your higher education study program, you should upload a provisional transcript with your grades up to this point (see 2). Once conditionally admitted, you must send a certified hard copy of your diploma to us, according to the details in your conditional Admission Statement.
If you already have completed your higher education study program but have not yet received your diploma, you can provide us with a Graduation Statement from your university that you have completed all graduation requirements for your study program and the date the diploma will be awarded. Such a statement must have an original seal/stamp and signature.
Transcript of Records
This is a list from your University of the courses you have taken in your Bachelor's (and Master's) degree, with the grades you have achieved. This must be an official list from your University, not your results downloaded from the University’s student system. If you have not yet completed all courses at the time of application, please provide the Transcript plus a list of the courses you still need to complete before graduation.Official translations of the Transcript of Records and diploma(s)
If your Transcript of Records and diploma are not in English or Dutch, a certified translator must translate the documents (with the exception of the course description and the thesis/research paper). The translator must attach the translation to copies of the original document and stamp both documents. Please note: we cannot accept translations that are not attached to a copy of the original document; the translator must make sure that s/he stamps the copy of the original document and attaches the two documents to each other.English language test results if you are not exempted. Exemption form (pdf).
You can check the requirements above under the heading 'English language requirements'. Please note that it is not obligatory to have completed the English language test before application. In our online application system you can indicate the type of test you intend to take and the approximate test date.Statement of purpose (motivation letter) - format (pdf).
Resume / Curriculum vitae.
A copy of your Bachelor's or Master's thesis or an essay completed during your studies (only in English and at least 1500 words; if you have not yet written a thesis, you could also upload a dedicated writing sample in form of an academic essay or research proposal)
Upon graduating you will have obtained the following title (as stated on your diploma): MA Culture Studies, specialization Health Humanities.
Health Humanities prepares you for a career in health (care) journalism, policymaking, administration, consultancy, management, education, communication and counselling in the field of health and healthcare.
An (optional) internship gives you the opportunity to put your knowledge into practice, and a preview of possible future professions. The experience will enhance your position in the labor market.
