The programme is selective. Each year we can place 40-45 students.

In the research master's programme there is a strong(er) focus on methodology courses. Students also develop their own individual thesis project, and receive individual thesis supervision. The two-year research master's also offers more time to gain in depth knowledge and allows you to develop the skills necessary to carry out high quality social scientific research.

In our Course Catalogue you will find an overview of the programme.

The programme offers three methodological specialisations:

• Empirical-Analytical
• Interpretative
• Mixed Methods (with a mandatory internship or fieldwork)

In the first block (first eight weeks in September and October), students will follow two general courses on social theory and ethics. During this period students also have the opportunity to get acquainted with the programme and staff members, and to choose their methodological specialisation. The methodological specialisation consists of a compulsory methods course in block 2 and 3, followed by a series of methods electives and other compulsory courses.

For more information see the Course Catalogue.

We offer a range of thematic and methods electives. You will follow three thematic electives (18 EC in total). One thematic elective can be replaced by an individual reading course.

The number of methods electives differs per methods specialisation:

• In the Empirical-Analytical methods specialisation you’ll have 24 EC in methods electives
• In the Interpretative methods specialisation you’ll have 12 EC in methods electives
• In the Mixed Methods with mandatory internship specialisation you’ll have 30 EC in methods electives
• In the Mixed Methods with mandatory fieldwork you’ll have 6 EC in methods electives

For more information see the Course Catalogue.

Please check our website to know about possible grants or subsidies.

Please check our webpage for information about application and admission.

In the first year, all students have a tutor, who functions as the bridge between students and the research programmes affiliated with the departments of Anthropology, Sociology and Political Science. There are three tutors in the programme, and they have the following responsibilities:

• introducing students to relevant program groups and UvA researchers
• helping students to develop their research ideas and find a research topic
• suggesting staff members for an individual reading course
• helping students to find an internship(supervisor) and thesis supervisor(s)

Students in the Interpretative methods specialisation and Mixed Methods with mandatory Fieldwork specialisation undertake fulltime fieldwork of 24 EC, in their second year, from the beginning September until the Christmas break. You can do your fieldwork within the Netherlands or abroad. Check the student site for more information about the fieldwork.

Students in these methods specialisations can also choose to do less extensive fieldwork of 15 EC, in case they want to do an internship as well. Check the student site for more information about the internship.

Students in the Empirical-Analytical methods specialisation and Mixed Methods with Mandatory internship follow a mandatory internship of 12 EC, in the first semester of the second year. For students in the other methods specialisations the internship is optional, and smaller (9 EC). Check the student site for more information about the internship.