Posthumus Summer School ‘Crises and History’ (Utrecht, 6-10 July 2026)

< back to overview Research Master courses

Annually, the N.W. Posthumus Institute organizes a summer school for RMA students on a specific and relevant theme in social and economic history. After two successful previous editions, the theme for the 2026 edition will be once again ‘Crises and History’.

Key info

Coordinator – Dr Jessica Dijkman (Utrecht University)
Period – 6-10 July 2026
Credits – 2 or 3 EC
Language – English
Location – Utrecht, exact location tba
Min. 5 participants
Registration: ultimately 1 June 2026

Description

The summer school is a one-week event that familiarises students with recent research on the theme. They gain insight in the central academic debates on the topic, discover the main methods and source types employed, and acquire the skills to use them in their research. In other words, the summer school allows students to acquire the knowledge and skills to develop their own research ideas on the theme and select and use the methods and sources to carry out the research.

Theme: ‘Crises and History’

Crises are not a new phenomenon: past societies also faced them. How these societies coped with crises, or why they failed to do so, is a topic that increasingly draws attention from historians. During this one-week summer school students acquire the knowledge and skills to develop their own research ideas on this theme and select and use the methods and sources to carry out the research. The Summer School approaches crises as multi-faceted processes that important social and economic aspects (such as the unequal impact on employment or wealth or the phenomenon of scapegoating specific social groups), but also political elements (consider the relation between crises and political stability or regime type) and cultural aspects (for example the role of religion in the handling of crises or the way in which they are remembered).

Structure

Seminars are scheduled in the mornings and include discussions of the literature, explorations of primary sources, lectures by guest speakers and an excursion. Students are expected to attend all seminars and prepare for them via readings and assignments. They develop a research idea related to the course topic and present this idea in the form of a poster presentation on the last day. For the 3 EC option, students additionally conduct a pilot study assessing the research potential of a body of sources and submit a 3,000 word report within three months after the summer school. If there are free places, the summer school is also open to PhD students.

Time investment for the 2 EC option is c. 56 hours (16 hours preparation in advance, 40 hours during the summer school). Additional time investment for the 3 EC option is c. 28 hours for the pilot study and the report.

Course objectives

At the end of the summer school the students:

Have a thorough insight in the central debates, theories and concepts related to the theme of the summer school
Have developed a research idea contributing to these debates and applying appropriate theories and concepts
Are able to select and use suitable methods and sources to carry out this research
in the 3 EC option: Are able to a detailed and systematic assessment of the research potential of a body of sources related to the theme of the summer school

How to apply

Deadline for applications is 1 June of each year. You can apply via the Application Form.

Questions and info

If you want more information on (one of) the courses, or if you have questions regarding the application procedure, please contact the Office Manager of the Posthumus Institute.