FAQ

The basic requirements set down by the College of Humanities (for admission to BA programmes) and the Graduate School of Humanities (for admission to MA programmes) apply to our courses as well. As usual, you should always check with these authorities for details. If you are an international student coming for our MA, please note that the one-year and two-year (“Research MA”) options require different grade averages.  And don’t forget that grades are not everything: you will also be assessed on the basis of your motivation letter and (for the Research MA) research proposal.

Since you are unlikely to have a formal educational background in the study of esotericism, we are looking for evidence that you have an idea of what it means to study esotericism from an academic point of view. While we conduct our research and teaching respectful of the people – in the past and present – who make up the currents and movements we study, the HHP Centre is committed to developing our knowledge of the historical and discursive conditions that led to the emergence of esoteric currents. In the motivation letter you should mention your previous experiences in the study of esotericism, whether in an academic context or by independent research, and motivate your interest in this area of study. For an application to the Research MA, a research project is also required. The general focus of the RMA programme is on spirituality and religion, but if you intend to specialize more particularly in the study of esotericism, then we recommend that you submit a research proposal on a chosen subject taken from the study of esotericism. Scholarly dictionaries (such as the Brill’s Dictionary of Gnosis and Western Esotericism) may be of help in suggesting possible subjects. The research proposal should include the following elements: title, introduction, research question(s), scientific background, methodology and bibliography (max. 2000 words).

Undergraduate courses on esotericism are still rare in the international academic landscape, so not having followed formal courses in this area of study is not exceptional for our students and in any case it is not a condition for being admitted into our MA and RMA programmes. The specialization on “Spirituality and Esotericism in Western Culture” is part of the MA programme “Religion and Spirituality”.  Ideally, students applying to this programme should possess a BA degree from an accredited university in the humanities or social sciences with a minimum of 30 ECTS (equivalent to a full-time semester of academic studies) taken in the field of Religious Studies or any other area (such as history, cultural studies or art studies) that is pertinent to the study of Spirituality and/or Religion. So, essentially, anyone with a BA in a relevant field in the humanities or social sciences can apply for our MA. To give you an idea: Most of our successful students have a BA in religious studies, history, anthropology, philosophy, cultural studies, literature, or art history. Please also note that admission is not determined solely on your grade average: your motivation letter and (for the Research MA) research proposal will also be important to determine whether you are a suitable candidate. For the formal requirements, always check with the Graduate School of Humanities.

Unless you have a BA from an accredited university, you are not eligible for our MA programmes. Students are expected to follow valid methodologies of the academy (e.g. history, sociology, anthropology) and assignments will be assessed according to academic standards. HHP’s mission is to study the history of Hermetic philosophy and related currents, not to assist individuals with their personal spiritual pursuits.

Yes, there is a possibility, but it depends at this moment on your nationality and on whether you are fluent in Dutch. The University of Amsterdam now offers the possibility to take a “Pre-Master” programme (“schakelprogramma”, in Dutch) for those students who don’t qualify directly for an MA programme. This may be because their degree is not equivalent to a full BA, but is for instance a vocational degree in applied sciences, such as HBO degrees in the Dutch educational system). The Pre-Master programme for Religious Studies has a number of components in Dutch and is available at this moment only to EU citizens. It is therefore not suitable to students with a non-EU nationality and/or who are not fluent in Dutch. There is no direct application to the Pre-Master programme: in order to be admitted you have to apply for the regular MA programme; the selection committee will then determine if, in case you are not eligible for direct admission to the MA programme, you can be admitted to the Pre-Master programme.