Master's programs

Career Perspective

One aim of the research master is to prepare students for research positions.

• The Dutch Research School for Theology and Religious Studies NOSTER currently coordinates the PhD training program of 54 PhD Students, who are all employed (mostly as AIO or OIO) by the Dutch universities. Since not all AIO's and OIO's are members of NOSTER, the actual number of AIO's and OIO's is larger. In Flanders (Belgium), the number of PhD students in theology is similar to that in the Netherlands; in Leuven alone, there are 40.
• Besides research positions within Faculties of Theology, PhD positions in other Faculties may be open to graduates of the Research MA. A Research MA graduate specialized in church history may obtain a PhD position in History within the Arts Faculty; a Research MA graduate specialized in systematic theology/ethics may obtain a PhD position in philosophy.
• Besides research positions within the universities, there are research and management positions in churches, religious organizations, political parties, the educational sector and the government (e.g., the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science), which require research qualifications, but not a PhD Degree.

Thus, for some students the Research Master provides a basis for further (PhD) training, whereas for other students the Research Master completes their training for an academic working environment.