MSc in Anthropology and Development Studies

This unique Master's programme, which is at the cutting edge of social and cultural anthropology as well as development studies, also includes knowledge derived from sociology, politicology, economics and geography. Using a multidisciplinary perspective you will be encouraged to go deeper into the most relevant current local and global issues, including poverty, health, environment, inequality, mobility, multiculturalism and transnational networks. It is a study designed for those who want to break with traditional paradigms.

Ambitious

The programme attracts ambitious, enterprising students. You are not afraid of a vigorous training in methodology; you are involved with social issues and themes and you want to play a role in the international debate around global policy issues. You will learn how to reformulate these issues into research questions and discover the best methods to use when exploring them. We will also teach you to think critically and analytically and we will train you in academic and communication skills.

Contact with the world

The programme is run by two Nijmegen chair groups: Cultural and Social Anthropology (including the renowned Centre for Pacific and Asian Studies), and Development Studies (through the Centre for International Development Issues Nijmegen (CIDIN), which is recognised internationally for its expertise on issues related to development cooperation. Both chairs have a wide network of international contacts that extend from China to Chile and from South Africa to the Balkans. This means that as a student you will have plenty of opportunities for arranging an internship. CIDIN together with the city’s cultural centre Lux organises a series of debates – under the title Global – involving academics with international reputations in the field of development. The Nijmegen programme is also part of the European Association of Development Institutes. In short, this programme will open doors for you around the world.

Career prospects

About 10% of our graduates go on to do a PhD either in Nijmegen or elsewhere in the world. There are special arrangements for PhD students from developing countries; you can get information about grants from your own university. Most graduates find jobs in policy making or research, working in refugee or civil society organisations, government agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations, multilateral institutions (UN, EU and OECD), development cooperation organisations and international companies.

Admission requirements

As an international student, your prior education must meet certain requirements.

1. A completed Bachelor's degree in Anthropology, Development Studies, Non-Western Sociology or related area

In order to get direct admission to this Master's you will need a completed Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Development Studies, Non-Western Sociology or related area that is the equivalent to a Dutch university diploma (this does not include a Bachelor’s from a University of Applied Science, in Dutch hbo; in German Fachhochschule).

2.Basic training in Social Science research processes

Our programme is based on research; we are an academic university and involved in many international research projects. Therefore, we require a basic training in Social Science research processes: research design, fieldwork and data analysis.

3.Proficiency in English

In order to take part in this programme, you need to have fluency in both written and spoken English. Non-native speakers of English* without a Dutch Bachelor's degree or VWO diploma need one of the following:

• A TOEFL score of ≥575 (paper based) or ≥90 (internet based)
• An IELTS score of ≥6.5
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with a mark of C or higher

4. The required documents need to be written correctly, in good English.

5. The degree should have been obtained in the last 7 years; if longer ago the student should refer to recent expertise in a related field (education, research and/or training).

Deadlines

Programmes starting in September

• Non-EEA students: 1 April.
• EEA students: 1 May.

Quality label

This programme was recently rated ‘Number One’ in the Netherlands in the Keuzegids Masters 2016 (Guide to Master's programmes).