How is #blacklivesmatter a movement to empower (racialized) minorities across the globe? Does the discussion on diversity management ask for new leadership skills? How do global events such as the Covid19 pandemic affect minorities?
Hundreds of languages are spoken throughout the world, many of these by minority groups. In our BA-programme Minorities & Multilingualism you learn about the languages, cultures, histories and politics of ethnolinguistic minorities across the globe.
Language, Culture and Diversity
More than ever, our societies are diverse. Future leaders in education, business, and politics must address this diversity: they need diversity management skills.
Our programme covers courses on linguistics, political and cultural history, and social sciences, including a stay abroad (optional). You will encounter a broad range of topics: globalisation, migration and minorities, diversity management, and multilingualism.
You learn how to investigate, critically reflect, assess, and act upon these topics. You become able to formulate solutions and produce policy advice that helps organisations and communities deal with diversity.
Frisian
This bachelor offers you the opportunity to directly apply your knowledge to the local context by studying Frisian: you may follow a special Frisian track (60 ECTS) or choose a minor in Frisian (30 ECTS).
In the first year, you'll acquire foundational knowledge on the topics in the programme. You'll attend courses on the history of (linguistic) minorities in Europe, language change, multilingualism in society and linguistics.
In History of European minorities I and II you'll learn about the history of different minorities in Europe and how, throughout time, language and culture have played an integral part in this. Minority languages I and II explores the vitality of minority languages and factors that may contribute to language change, and examines whether language change, or even language death, can be predicted.
The course Introduction to linguistics teaches you the foundations of linguistics and the various domains from which linguists examine language (phonology, syntax, semantics, and so forth). In Multilingualism I and II you'll be dealing with questions relating to whether language shapes the way we think, and how different languages in our brain influence each other, but also how we can best deal with multilingualism in the educational domain.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Frisian as a Minority Language I (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Introduction to Linguistics I (5 EC) | ||||
| Introduction to Minority Studies I: Global Minorities (5 EC) | ||||
| Minority Languages I (5 EC) | ||||
| Frisian as a Minority Language II (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Intro. to Min. Studies II: Basic Conc (5 EC) | ||||
| Intro to Linguistics II: Multil. Spkrs (5 EC) | ||||
| Minority Languages II (5 EC) | ||||
| Countries/Societies of the Middle East (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Frisian Language Proficiency Ia (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Minorities in Europe I: Histories (5 EC) | ||||
| Multilingualism I: Social + Linguistic (5 EC) | ||||
| Elective (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Intersectionality and super diversity (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Frisian Language Proficiency Ib (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Minorities in Europe II: Cont. Issues (5 EC) | ||||
| Multilingualism II: Education (5 EC) | ||||
In year two you extend your knowledge. The courses deal with themes relating to the cultural diversity of minorities and their cultural representations in arts and literature. In addition, you'll develop your research skills and apply these in the local 'lab'. You'll also make a start with your minor, or you can opt to specialise in Frisian.
You'll examine the cultural diversity of minorities in Europe and the (un)founded ideas that persist on this in society in the course Minorities in contemporary Europe. Art and literature as a means of rebellion and the creation of an identity is the focus of Minority representations in arts, culture and media. You'll also learn about gender minorities and the position they take in society.
In addition to extending your knowledge, you will put this knowledge into practice. The course Research Methodology teaches you the necessary research skills that you will put to use in the two Into the local lab courses. You will apply the knowledge and skills that you have obtained on multilingualism and minorities in the other courses to your surroundings.
In addition to the courses in the second year of the programme, students get a wide selection of minors to choose from. There is also the possibility to specialise in Frisian. In this Frisian specialisation trajectory, Frisian proficiency is combined with Old Frisian studies, the history of Friesland and Frisian literature.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Frisian Language Proficiency IIb (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Min. Repr in Arts, Culture and Media I (5 EC) | ||||
| Research Methodology I (5 EC) | ||||
| Elective 1 (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Frisian Language Proficiency IIa (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Min. Repr in Arts, Culture and Media II (5 EC) | ||||
| Research Methodology II (5 EC) | ||||
| Elective 1 (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| History of Frisia (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Intersectionality and superdiversity (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Into the local laboratory: Cultural Her. (10 EC) | ||||
| Into the local laboratory: Language (10 EC) | ||||
In year three you will complete your studies and look ahead to future study and/or career opportunities. You can spend a semester at a university abroad, or complete an internship. In the final semester, you'll write your Bachelor thesis.
In the first semester you have the opportunity to study at a partner university abroad, follow a career minor, or a university minor. In the second semester, you'll take a course on multilingualism in educational domains and tackle intercultural communication issues in the course Diversity management. In these two courses you will look ahead at possible career paths in the (multilingual) education- or cultural heritage sector.
As an alternative, you can also do an internship at a company or organisation that deals with themes relating to minorities and/or multilingualism. You finish your studies by writing a Bachelor thesis; an intensive research project on a topic of your own choosing, in which you can put everything you have learned into practice.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Aldfrysk (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Frisian Linguistics (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Fryske Literatuer (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Minor (30 EC, optional) | ||||
| BA Thesis M&M (10 EC) | ||||
| Diversity in Education (10 EC) | ||||
| M&M Diversity Management (10 EC) | ||||
Disclaimer: The second and third-year course units shown in the table are subject to change in the event of alterations to the programme.
| Programme options |
|---|
| Frisian (track) As part of the full programme Minorities & Multilingualism students can follow a specialisation track in Frisian language and culture. For more information see link above. |
| Minors (minor) The fifth semester of your studies is dedicated to your Minor: a coherent set of future-oriented course units. It prepares you for a follow-on Master's degree program or for entering the labour market. You can opt for a Career Minor, a Minor abroad, a University Minor or a Faculty Minor. |
| University of Groningen Honours College (honours program) The Honours College will give talented, motivated students the chance to be challenged even more by following Honours programmes and taking part in numerous other activities. The Honours College comprises a broadening part and a deepening part and has a study load of 45 ECTS credit points besides the 180 ECTS credit points from your regular Bachelor programme. |
As part of your studies we encourage students who want to, to spend a semester at a university abroad. In this way, you'll be able to experience what you have learned in the courses in a different setting.
If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.
If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.
If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.
If you have passed the VWO (pre-university education) exam in English, you satisfy the language requirement.
Language requirement English: Minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. For more information, see: https://www.rug.nl/let/studeren-bij-ons/bachelor/aanmelding-en-inschrijving/language-requirements-ba
The degree programme will organize a matching procedure. Attendance is optional. The advice is not binding.
The Faculty of Arts believes students can decide for themselves whether they match with their chosen programme based on the available bachelor programme information, by visiting the Open Days, and by participating in a Webclass and/ or Student for a Day. If you are unable to attend one of these activities, a final opportunity for matching is to contact one of the students of the programme in June.
If you have any further questions about matching, check out: www.rug.nl/matching
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
The Faculty of Arts believes students can decide for themselves whether they match with their chosen programme based on the available bachelor programme information, by visiting the Open Days, and by participating in a Webclass and/ or Student for a Day. If you are unable to attend one of these activities, a final opportunity for matching is to contact one of the students of the programme in June.
If you have any further questions about matching, check out: www.rug.nl/matching
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Dutch VWO diploma, a German Abitur, an International Baccalaureate diploma, a European Baccalaureate or another diploma that is sufficient for acceptance to a Dutch university. Students with a Dutch 'hbo propedeuse' diploma also need to meet the language requirements mentioned below. |
| other admission requirements |
Language requirement English: Minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
| Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA | 2023-2024 | € 2314 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2023-2024 | € 11200 | full-time |
The Dutch government is halving tuition fees for first-year students in higher education.
Practical information for:
If you want to continue with a Master's degree programme after your graduation, as most students do, you will have a wide range of programmes to choose from. With a Bachelor's degree in Minorities and Multilingualism, you have access to the following Master's tracks at the University of Groningen:
When this BA programme is combined with certain faculty minors, you gain direct access to more Master’s tracks, such as Communication Studies, Dutch Studies (Dutch taught), and Journalism.
With a degree in M&M you are widely qualified on the job market. You have knowledge of issues surrounding minority groups in society, which makes you a suitable candidate to work at governmental agencies, as a policy advisor in education, diversity, minorities or cultural heritage. Or report on minority politics by becoming a journalist. Your knowledge of multilingualism and diversity management is valuable in careers where you have to deal with people from different (linguistic) backgrounds.
How can a city deal with multilingualism in the public domain? As a language policy advisor your knowledge of this comes in handy. Or specialize in multilingualism in the workplace and develop communication strategies for (international) companies. With a specialization in Frisian you are able to work in the Frisian cultural sector; at the Historic and Literary Center Tresoar, the Afûk, or the Fryske Akademy.
A diversity manager manages cultural diversity in the workplace and in organizations, and makes policies that provide solutions to societal challenges such as equal opportunities on the job market, in education and healthcare, and the participation of refugees in the community.
With this bachelor, you are able to teach at various universities (of applied sciences). For example in teacher training, cultural education, social work and language related programmes.
A policy maker develops and evaluates a policy and may assist in the execution of the policy.
After your bachelor's, you can obtain a master's degree and choose to enroll in a PhD program in the Netherlands or abroad.
As a communication expert in the field of intercultural communication you advise national and international organizations on efficient and effective communication.
Students may use their language skills to become a translator.
As a graduate, you have gained competency in a broad range of transferable skills in the field of language, culture, politics and minorities. This makes you an asset to public organizations in and outside of the Netherlands.
Students interested in journalism may consider using their language proficiency and knowledge of political and cultural affairs to work as correspondents or reporters for national or international media outlets.
Students who follow the Frisian track can carry out various functions in Friesland after graduation. Think of a job with the provincial government or medium-sized cultural institutions, such as Tresoar, Afûk, Frisian Museum and Omrop Fryslân.
The lecturers in the educational programme also conduct research in the areas in which they teach. With a broad BA programme, the different research fields are also well-represented: language contact studies, multilingualism in education, history of minorities (and of Friesland), literary studies, Frisian phonology, gender studies, (electoral) politics, race and racism, poverty and social exclusion, and psycholinguistics..
Hey everyone! My name is Marit, I am 18 years old and currently in my first year of Minorities & Multilingualism (also known as M&M). Besides my studies, I work, hang out with friends and love to read.
I have always been interested in minorities in general, and learning languages has always been something I have enjoyed and been good at. What also really intrigued me about M&M is how it is a widely oriented study, so there are many different topics. The study and its courses attract many international and exchange students; it is interesting to meet students from different backgrounds. The study is quite small (and when I mean small, I mean small – we are with nine people this year), which is actually a lot of fun! You know each other very well, you get along very quickly and there is a lot of contact with teachers.
Read more about Marit and why she chose to study Minorities & Multilingualism in Groningen.
Hey everyone! My name is Alissa, I'm 20 years old, from Germany and currently ain my second year of Minorities & Multilingualism. In addition to my studies, I am an Honours College student and the Secretary of Multi, our programme's study association, which means that I am responsible for all matters related to communication.
M&M is an interdisciplinary programme that offers a unique perspective on important societal matters. Essentially, we learn to become diversity managers - first we need to understand the different dimensions of societal issues, then we are gradually equipped with the tools to solve them. Thanks to the flexible programme structure and small-scale education of M&M, I was able to figure out my personal interests, namely minority rights and multilingual education. There is a lot of room for individual preferences and every fellow student of mine has opted for a different path when choosing their elective courses. Last but not least, I love the open and supportive atmosphere within the programme. Students and lecturers know each other very well and there is room for any question or concern.
I dream of working for an international organization like UNESCO or an EU-institution. Not only would this give me the opportunity to work in an international environment, but I could also make a change in the fields of minority rights and education policy. During the past year, I have also developed a strong interest for international relations. Therefore, I am excited to see in which direction this year will take me and what Master’s programme I will end up joining in a few years.
Zdravo! I am Helena and I am a second year student of Minorities and Multilingualism. I live near Trieste in Italy and I am part of its autochthonous Slovenian community. As such, I am passionate about topics regarding minority groups and other cultural discourses. I am a member of the M&M Programme Committee, as well as a member of the Multi student association. I like listening to people's stories about themselves, as there is infinite variety and creativity in them..
M&M is a programme that depicts at best our postmodern world. It does not only cover topics about minorities and multilingualism, but relates to many other fields of the humanities and social studies. It helps you understand the whys and how’s of today’s society and provides you with the ability to think critically about such topics. We can say that minorities are nowadays a majority, its significance is increasing and we need to be able to address such matters. Being from a minority group myself I want to gain concrete and specific knowledge about minorities and multilingualism in order to apply it to my native context.
As a native Frisian speaker, learning about my mother tongue was one of the reasons I wanted to study M&M and its Frisian track. During my studies, I’ve not only learnt to see Fryslân and the Frisian language in a wider, European context, but I’ve also learnt to see all kinds of matters from completely different perspectives.
To me, this programme is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn to see the world not only from a top-down but also from a bottom-up view. One of the things I like most about studying M&M, is that you get to study a very wide range of topics but are also granted a certain amount of freedom to focus on the topics that are most interesting to you.
You will not only focus on ethnolinguistic minorities such as the Scots, Frisians and Catalans, but you will also focus on societal minorities, on what multilingualism is and how it works and if you want, you can follow a Frisian track to learn more about the Frisian language, history and culture. Maybe even more importantly, Groningen is a very fun city to study in, with a great student life and a very lively, vibrant vibe. It’s almost as if the city were designed to accommodate students. All in all, I think that studying M&M in Groningen truly is a unique experience!
I believe that my background in Minorities and Multilingualism has provided me with broad insight into the interaction between individuals and communities, and has enabled me to engage with such topics critically. While the programme is mainly focused on one topic, it is incredibly open to all fields of social science. In fact, both the programme and the university encourage students to find their own interests through elective courses, a minor, and honours programmes, which paved my way into my further studies.
Currently, I am doing an MA in Ethnic and Migration Studies at Linköpings Universitet in Sweden. In this interdisciplinary programme, I study the meaning of migration in social, legal, bureaucratic, and economic terms. I chose this programme as I appreciated how it combines the humanities, which I am familiar with after completing the BA Minorities and Multilingualism, with the social sciences, which allows me to deepen my knowledge and specialize in the subject. While the programme itself is a good steppingstone into a scientific career because of its close links with the REMESO research institute, I am personally hoping to gain more experience in the field after completing this MA by finding an internship or job at a migration agency or an NGO.
Are you at secondary school and want to know what studying at
university is like? The Minorities & Multilingualism programme
is offering a web class! This online course from the University of
Groningen is specially designed for secondary school
students.
If you are interested in an Minorities & Multilingualism web
class, register
here.
This study is also available as a part-time study.
