NWIB Summer School 2023
Interdisciplinary research in Rome, Florence & Athens.
Are you a second or third year bachelor student that wants to look beyond the borders of your own field, work with students from other Dutch universities, and develop your academic skills? Fancy doing all this in beautiful Rome, Florence or Athens?
NWIB Summer School 2023: interdisciplinary and with students from different universities
The NWIB, or Dutch Scientific Institutes Abroad in English, are scientific posts of Dutch universities particularly situated around the Mediterranean. The institutes aim to support and realise scientific education and research, and make a substantial contribution to raising the profile of Dutch higher education abroad. In collaboration with Utrecht University the institutes in Rome, Florence and Athens developed an interdisciplinary Summer School for bachelor students, connecting their expertise in (art) history, archaeology and cultural heritage to a wide range of contemporary societal issues. Think of the inherent tension between religious practice and the economic need for tourism, or the complexities surrounding the preservation and ownership of cultural heritage (e.g. the Parthenon Marbles). But we also explore innovative academic themes such as the relationship between art history and medical practice: Can looking at art make you a better doctor or veterinarian? The institutes in Rome, Florence and Athens each have their own profile and expertise, however within this framework there is ample freedom to develop your own ideas. Together with students from different disciplines and universities you create your own interdisciplinary research project embedded in your city of choice. The point of departure might be (art) history or heritage, however we explicitly invite students from across the academic spectrum to combine intellectual forces. That means not just students of the Humanities but also the Social, Technological, Exact and Natural sciences.
This programme is taught in English and is offered to second and third-year bachelor students. Students of all disciplines are welcome to send their application.
At the NIKI this year’s Summer School is devoted to “Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) and the birth of the modern anatomical illustration”. The course is a combination of lectures and discussions of the readings in class. Students are required to write a research paper and to give a presentation about their research. The library of the NIKI offers students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the relationship between art and science during the Renaissance.
For students who are interested in:
Art History
Medical History
Medical Humanities
Supervisor: Prof. dr. Michael Kwakkelstein
When will the Summer School take place?
Who is eligible to apply?
2nd and 3rd year bachelor students at one of the following universities: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Radboud Universiteit, Vrije Universiteit van Amsterdam, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Universiteit Leiden, Universiteit Utrecht, University College Utrecht of University College Roosevelt
You are highly motivated and willing to invest the time necessary to successfully complete the programme
You like working together with other students (with diverse disciplinary backgrounds)
You are present at every segment of the Summer School, from beginning to end.
Admission
The first selection round is dealt with by the coordinator at your own university. If approved the coordinator forwards your application to Utrecht University for a second round of selection. Utrecht University then invites the most eligible candidates for matching interviews. The final selection takes place on the basis of these interviews.
Please apply by sending the following documents in a single PDF file to the contact person at your university:
Motivation letter (max. 350 words)
Resumé (max. 2 pages)
An official transcript of your grades
Indicate at which NWIB institute you want to conduct your research (we cannot guarantee you will be placed at your preferred institute)
Assessment & Credits
The type of examination is a group or individual research paper (depending on the institute) in which you process your findings from the introduction week (100% attendance is mandatory) and research on location. At the end of your stay in Rome, Florence or Athens you present your findings at the institution, and process this final round of feedback in a research paper. The combination of full attendance, active participation in all segments, research paper and presentation will be graded with a Pass/Fail. The assessment criteria for the research paper will be communicated during the introduction week.
The Summer School requires an investment of about 168 hours (6 ECTS).
Please make sure this applies to your university as well, and check if you can use these credits for attaining your bachelor’s degree, or whether these are solely recognised as extracurricular (Honours) credits.
Deadlines
The application deadline at your own university is April 14. The matching interviews are held in Utrecht on the 15th, 16th and 17th of May. The final selection will be made before May 26.
Costs
The Summer School is financed by the NWIB Institutes and Utrecht University, participation is free of charge. The institutes also provide accommodation (shared apartments or dorm rooms) during your stay in Rome, Florence or Athens. All travelling costs and costs of living (food and drinks) are at your own expense.
Organisation NWIB Summer School
UU Honours College
Yannick Servais & Melisse Vroegindeweij, honourscollege@uu.nl.
Click here for more information.
