What impact did the recent economic crisis have on individuals' living and working conditions, on individuals' study and career choices, on social inequalities and social cohesion?
The International Master in Social Demography is a Double Degree Program offered jointly by the Department of Political and Social Sciences of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) of Barcelona and the Faculty of Spatial Sciences of the University of Groningen (UG). After successful completion of the programme, students end up with two official diplomas: Master of Research in Sociology and Demography, issued by the University Pompeu Fabra, and Master of Science in Population Studies, issued by the University of Groningen.
The double degree programme, which is entirely offered in English, combines the strengths of two of the highest-ranked Social Science Departments in Europe to offer high level research training in Sociology and Demography.
The programme emphasizes the study of both advanced and developing societies from a unique interdisciplinary and dynamic perspective.
See the flyer: http://www.rug.nl/frw/education/more-education/FlyerDDMSocialDemography.pdf
The program combines the strengths of two of the highest-ranked Social Science Departments in Europe to offer high level research training in Sociology and Demography. It emphasizes the study of both advanced and developing societies from a dynamic perspective, using analytical and methodological tools from two disciplines. The program has a unique approach for understanding how individuals' main life events both influence and are influenced by the social context in which they live.
Courses |
---|
Analysis of Social Inequalities (5 EC) |
Demographic Changes and Social Dynamics (5 EC) |
Design, Evaluation and Analysis of Questionnaires for Survey Research (5 EC, optional) |
Foundations of Political and Social Research (5 EC, optional) |
Gender, Family and Society (5 EC) |
Health and Inequality (5 EC, optional) |
Labour Economics (5 EC, optional) |
Migrations and Society (5 EC, optional) |
Social Policies and the Welfare State (5 EC) |
Statistical Analysis Techniques I (5 EC) |
Statistical Analysis Techniques II (5 EC) |
Periods | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Courses | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Advanced Qualitative Research (5 EC, optional) | ||||
Population, Health and Place (5 EC) | ||||
Working with Data in Population Research (5 EC) | ||||
Optional courses MSc Population studies (10 EC) | ||||
Life Tables & Population Projections (5 EC) | ||||
Migration, Families & Households (5 EC) | ||||
Advanced Statistical Analysis (5 EC) | ||||
Contemporary Population Issues (5 EC) | ||||
Master's Thesis Population Studies (20 EC) |
For detailed information on UPF' first year course contents and syllabi: https://www.upf.edu/web/mastersociologydemography/groningen-university More information about these courses can be found on http://www.rug.nl/frw/education/master-info-frw/courses-double-degree-master-social-demography
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
additional subject |
Students must have an adequate knowledge of research methods and techniques (students must have taken and passed one statistical course during their previous studies) |
certified competences |
Students must have demonstrated their English language proficiency by submitting the results of either TOEFL (100 IBT), IELTS (minimum 6.5 overall, no part less than 6.0), or Cambridge Proficiency or Cambridge Advanced (A-B-C) or any other certificate equivalent to B.2.2 |
language test |
English on VWO level or one of the following equivalents:
|
previous education |
Students must hold a university degree (undergraduate and/or graduate) in a relevant discipline, e.g. the field of social sciences, law, humanities or health sciences, and have a graduation date no later than the start of the programme. For the study year 2021-2022, some students can start their (pre)master's programme under certain conditions. This way, students can already take master courses whilst also finishing their bachelor's programme and study delay is limited as much as possible. This is refered to as the 'Zachte Knip' (soft cut). Please find the conditions and information about application on https://www.rug.nl/frw/education/introduction/zachte-knip/non-fss-students. |
other admission requirements |
Students with a non-Dutch previous education can apply through either institution. All applications will be looked at by both institutions. Students with a Dutch previous education can contact Billie de Haas (b.de.haas rug.nl) to apply for the Double Degree. After that you can register for the Master of Research in Sociology and Demography at UPF for your first year. You don't need to register in Groningen yet. You do that in your second year. If accepted, students will receive one joint admission letter. Double Degree students are not admitted to the separate master programs offered within the double degree, but to the complete joint program only. To graduate, they must pass all the requirements of the double degree program.
Students who wish to apply for admission to the double degree through the UPF need to follow the procedure set up for all students who request admission into UPF's Research Master in Sociology and Demography. In the required letter of motivation for admission, please indicate CLEARLY your interest to apply for the double degree (Master in Social Demography with the University of Groningen).
More information and register here for UPF: https://www.upf.edu/web/mastersociologydemography/groningen-university |
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 15 July 2023 | 01 September 2023 |
EU/EEA students | 15 June 2023 | 01 September 2023 |
non-EU/EEA students | 15 May 2023 | 01 September 2023 |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
additional subject |
Students must have an adequate knowledge of research methods and techniques (students must have taken and passed one statistical course during their previous studies) |
certified competences | |
entry test | |
language test |
English on VWO level or one of the following equivalents:
|
previous education |
Students must hold a university degree (undergraduate and/or graduate) in a relevant discipline, e.g. the field of social sciences, law, humanities or health sciences, and have a graduation date no later than the start of the programme For the study year 2021-2022, some students can start their (pre)master's programme under certain conditions. This way, students can already take master courses whilst also finishing their bachelor's programme and study delay is limited as much as possible. This is refered to as the 'Zachte Knip' (soft cut). Please find the conditions and information about application on https://www.rug.nl/frw/education/introduction/zachte-knip/non-fss-students. |
other admission requirements |
Students with a non-Dutch previous education can apply through either institution. All applications will be looked at by both institutions. Students with a Dutch previous education can contact Billie de Haas (b.de.haas rug.nl) to apply for the Double Degree. After that you can register for the Master of Research in Sociology and Demography at UPF for your first year. You don't need to register in Groningen yet. You do that in your second year. If accepted, students will receive one joint admission letter. Double Degree students are not admitted to the separate master programs offered within the double degree, but to the complete joint program only. To graduate, they must pass all the requirements of the double degree program.
Students who wish to apply for admission to the double degree through the UPF need to follow the procedure set up for all students who request admission into UPF's Research Master in Sociology and Demography. In the required letter of motivation for admission, please indicate CLEARLY your interest to apply for the double degree (Master in Social Demography with the University of Groningen).
More information and apply here for UPF: https://www.upf.edu/web/mastersociologydemography/groningen-university |
Exam | Minimum score |
---|---|
IELTS overall band | 6.5 |
TOEFL internet based | 90 |
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 15 July 2023 | 01 September 2023 |
EU/EEA students | 15 June 2023 | 01 September 2023 |
non-EU/EEA students | 15 May 2023 | 01 September 2023 |
Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
---|---|---|---|
EU/EEA | 2022-2023 | € 2209 | full-time |
non-EU/EEA | 2022-2023 | € 16201 | full-time |
Practical information for:
The objective of the programme is to train young professionals and social scientists in the theories, analytical and methodological tools from both sociology and demography to conduct high quality research on how individuals' main life events (e.g. childbirth, education, marriage, occupation, divorce, death) both influence and are influenced by the social and geographical context in which they live.
The program emphasizes the study of both advanced and developing societies from an unique interdisciplinary and dynamic perspective.
After graduation you can find work in business, the government, or non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Demographers are trained to work with and interpret large data files. You can use these skills to make policy or develop programmes. You can also pursue an academic career and apply for a PhD position.
During the programme at the University of Groningen we offer support for your career preparation.
More information about the FSS Career Services.
The Master's thesis topic is integrated in the research theme of the Population Research Centre: “Population and Wellbeing in Context” and in the research theme of the socio-demographic research group of UPF.
See: http://www.rug.nl/research/ursi/prc/research/ and http://www.upf.edu/demosoc/
These research themes comprises topics such as: population decline, population ageing, social and economic inequality, global migration, life of migrants, healthy ageing in society, the sociology of the family, households, residence, studies on the labor market and working life, causes of death, child health, nutrition, access to health care, place making of elderly, and the assessment of social policies.
The double degree programme clearly reflects the major characteristics of the research programmes at PRC and UPF by focussing on both the macro (population) and micro level (the demographic behaviour of people); by adopting multi-disciplinary perspectives (demography, epidemiology, anthropology, geography, social ageing, nutrition); by teaching both quantitative and qualitative research methods; by focusing on the translation of research into policies or interventions.
The students are being taught the theories, methods and skills that the different teachers apply in their research. They participate in seminars and discussion groups in an active research environment including guest lectures and seminars by established professionals from other demographic institutions.
Part of the second year in Groningen is the participation in the Dutch Demography Day - a conference for demographers - and an excursion to the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute in The Hague.
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Read moreStudying in both countries provides different experiences on all levels: cultures, societies and educational systems vary greatly!
After my bachelor studies in East Asian Studies and Psychology at the University of Groningen, I was looking for an interdisciplinary programme that would support me in broadening my horizon and developing research skills.
Since quantitative skills were only a small fraction of my earlier studies, the double degree programme in Social Demography allowed me to gain substantive theoretical knowledge and practical expertise. I also appreciated the range in subjects that became available through the programme. When I saw the programme I just knew: this is it!
I believe that the combination of the programmes in two countries is one of the most valuable elements. Through this, the exposure to international lecturers as well as different types of students from all backgrounds is immense. The exchange generates great ideas and forces oneself to think outside the box. What makes this a great programme is that studying in both countries provides different experiences on all levels: cultures, societies and educational systems vary greatly.
If it feels right but you are still hesitant: just go ahead and apply! You won't regret it.
Students must pass at least 6 courses (30 ECTS) in their first year at UPF to be allowed to register at RUG in their second year. At least one of the six courses to be passed (5 ECTS) must be in Techniques of Statistical Analysis.
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