Be prepared to be alone in the field and trust on your own instinct and research skills
Cultural and Social Anthropology
'The Master’s in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam(UvA) provides you with the opportunity to conduct your own fieldwork. For me this was the main reason for choosing this Master’s here. The detailed and intensive preparation courses are really useful to help you design your fieldwork on the topic of your interest. This made sure I was secure and ready when I left the Netherlands for three months, to spend my days with criminalised women in Toronto, Canada.' Ruby Monde tells about Cultural and Social Anthropology.
Three months of fieldwork at an inspiring, high-spirited, empowering organisation was the experience of a lifetime for me. As a student from the small city of Amsterdam I endorsed in the complex structures of the big city of Toronto. It is still unreal for me to believe that I actually conducted my own fieldwork and wrote a professional thesis about it. This has been a big aspiration for me since I've started the Bachelor’s in Anthropology.
Every student designs his research based on a personal topic but gets assigned a supervisor who will guide you to and through this fieldwork. The supervisor will also help and support you while writing the main thesis. However, the Master’s and especially the fieldwork is very independent. Be prepared to be alone in the field and trust on your own instinct and research skills.
I am proud to add to my curriculum vitae that I've conducted a qualitative research of my own design. This is a great skill to add to your cv and also an impressive one for new young professionals like ourselves.
Classes filled with inspirational international students
The UvA is a dynamic and inspirational place to do the Master’s in Anthropology. All classes are taught in proficient English. They are filled with inspirational international students to share your experiences with after returning from the intense adventures of anthropological research. We often looked to each other for support and advice and had a good dynamic that added to the quality of the programme and the design of the research and thesis.
A challenging but fulfilling Master’s
Before starting this Master’s it is advised to already have a strong idea of what your research will be about. It is recommended to have contacts with the people or organisations you want to conduct your research with or for. Next to designing your own research you will be practicing your practical research skills during the preparation phase of the programme and you have to fulfill the requirements of the theoretical parts of the Master’s. It is a challenging but fulfilling Master’s which deepens your understanding of actual anthropological research and strongly develops your writing and academic skills.