International universities in history

[seaofghosts]

Hey everyone!

 

I was wondering if there are any benefits/drawbacks to studying history in Europe. I've been looking at schools for an MA in Medieval or Classical Studies and I'm very interested in getting my grad degree(s) in Holland, Germany or possibly Hungary. If I were to come back to the States for a PhD or to teach, how would my degree be received? 

 

Thanks in advance!! 

[czesc]

Benefits: usually cheaper than a US MA, closer to research materials and ability to learn the local language, if they relate to your interests (assuming so, if you're doing medieval/classical).

 

Drawbacks: might not be as well-recognized by US admissions committees, or they might feel that their standards are lower if they're not, say, a prestigious UK school.

[New England Nat]

Not answer your question directly... but about international MAs.

 

I've been told by a number of East Asian specialist historians that they don't consider a Chinese MA to be worth the paper it's written on and that it only represents a certain amount of time spent in China for language use.

[PieMonster]

You are probably aware of CEU and many other, which offer funding. You can also consider Bilkent's funded Master's program for Medieval Europe: http://www.bilkent.edu.tr/~history/index_files/EuropeanHistoryFaculty.htm Many of our graduates have been accepted, and are still being accepted, to American PhD programs: http://www.bilkent.edu.tr/~history/index_files/AchievementsAndPublications.htm

[annieca]

I think it depends on where you want to end up. If you want to teach/work in Europe, go for Europe. If you want to be in the States, go for the States (with a few exceptions within Britain like Oxbridge, St Andrews, Edinburgh)

 

Some drawbacks that haven't been mentioned: culture adjustment, academic adjustment and being on a completely different calendar.