Anthropology and Development Studies

In this Master’s program you develop your critical, analytical, reflective and academic skills to contribute to society by conducting qualitative research. In the first semester, you choose and design your research project fitting in one of three thematic tracks:

• Decolonising diversity in a polarised world

• Ecological livelihoods and environmental justice

• Grassroots initiatives, development and the state

During three months of fieldwork you will find answers to your questions within your area of interest. Concluding the Master’s program, you will sum up your findings, not only in the form of an academic thesis, but also as a policy brief or other type of output that you can share with relevant stakeholders to increase your impact.

Possible jobs are that of a policy officer, advisor, or researcher for the central or local government, an advisor at aid, welfare and civil society organisations such as the UN, Cordaid or the Dutch Council for Refugees, a researcher at a university or NGO, trade union, consultancy firm or private institution or as a journalist or communication officer.

This program is accredited by the NVAO (the Dutch-Flemish accreditation organisation).

Within this Master's program, you choose one of three thematic tracks:

• Decolonising diversity in a polarised world
• Ecological livelihoods and environmental justice
• Grassroots initiatives, development and the state

Each track helps you understand and frame not only your research field, but also the world around you. After the first introduction meeting, you choose and enrol for the thematic course that introduces you to the theme. The theory that you study during the thematic course inspires you to come up with a research topic and gives you a solid foundation in relevant academic debates. Your final paper serves as a starting point for your literature review and theoretical framework of your research proposal.

Courses include:

• Contemporary theory of societies and change
• Advanced research methods
• Research design
• Field research
• Reflecting and reporting
• Master's thesis

For a complete course overview, please check the program web page.