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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes Sustainable Tourism & Society
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Sustainable Tourism & Society

Can tourism have a positive impact on communities and destinations? Find out while doing your Master's in Sustainable Tourism & Society at Campus Fryslân! This programme offers international, place-based, critical, and research-oriented approaches towards today's tourism industry.

✔ Study how tourists, visitors, local communities, and the natural and built environment interact

✔ Learn about sustainable tourism development from a local, regional, national and global perspective.

✔ Enrich your expertise by working on real-life challenges together with our partners:

  • Tourism Alliance of Friesland (TAF) supports the region's development as a tourist destination.
  • Waddenacademie, an academic institution focussing on the socio-economic development of the Wadden Sea Region (a UNESCO World Heritage site).
  • Policymakers in the province and in several municipalities in the north of the Netherlands.
  • Key players in the field of tourism, such as TUI and World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

    Sustainable Tourism & Society offers critical insights into the tourism sector's role,

    Explore stories featuring Sustainable Tourism & Society on our blog!

    Msc Cultural Geography
    Sustainable Tourism & Society at Campus Fryslân , located in the city of Leeuwarden, is a track within the MSc in Cultural Geography. The programme offers two tracks: Climate Adaptation Governance and Sustainable Tourism & Society.
    → Keep me posted!
Facts & Figures
Degree
MSc in Cultural Geography
Course type
Master
Duration
12 months (60 ECTS)
Croho code
60656
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Campus Fryslân
Why study this programme in Leeuwarden?

Campus Fryslân is the only faculty in the Netherlands that offers an MSc programme in Cultural Geography. The curriculum focuses on the interplay between space and human well-being as well as on natural and cultural heritage, culture and identity, mobility and multiculturalism. Students can choose from two specialised tracks: Climate Adaptation Governance or Sustainable Tourism & Society.

The Sustainable Tourism & Society track allows you to confront today's most pressing challenges concerning the economy, global politics, environmental changes, and socio-cultural values, all through the lens of tourism and societies. Through this programme, you will be encouraged to tackle the complex entanglements of tourism from the local to the international scales through engagement with theory and empirical research projects.

Programme

Disclaimer: due to internal revision, the name and content of some of the courses may be subject to changes. The information will be updated as soon as possible.

Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Critical Approaches to Cultural Heritage and Identity (5 EC)
Critical Tourism Studies: An Introduction (5 EC)

<br class="Apple-interchange-newline">Tourism is one of the biggest industries worldwide and has major impacts on the socio-economic development and on the natural environment of destinations. During this course we analyse the modern culture of tourism through classic theories and key concepts, discussing questions such as why people travel, what being a tourist exactly means, and how the growth (a temporary decline due to COVID-19) impacts liveability locally and globally. We connect the classic theories and core concepts to state of the art research in the field of sustainable tourism, discussing specific cases involving both culture tourism (e.g. indigenous, ethnic and minority tourism; media tourism; arts, festivals and creative tourism) and nature tourism (e.g. natural heritage and eco-tourism). Students will explore the theories and concepts offered through their own qualitative research project, reflecting on what tourism experience means in current socio-cultural practice.

Field Work and Community Engagement (5 EC)
Critical Tourism and Regional Planning (5 EC)
Nature, Landscape & Heritage (5 EC)

This course studies the values of natural, heritage, and landscape aspects in rural and urban environments, focusing on societal appreciation and valuation. It covers the evolution of heritage preservation, emphasizing cultural, natural, and geoheritage. Contemporary issues in heritage and identity in diverse societies are explored, including practical examples in lectures and guest sessions. The course introduces ecological theories, biodiversity, and landscape biography methods, and delves into historical landscape development through lectures, excursions, and presentations. It contrasts academic theories with professional practices, including company visits. Students will analyze a chosen landscape to create a landscape biography, connecting historical and current biotic, abiotic, and human factors, including perceptions.

Thesis Design (5 EC)
Geographies of Migration (5 EC)

The Geographies of Migration course offers a deep dive into global migration discussions, focusing on human geography and worldwide population movements. It encourages critical thinking about prevailing migration narratives, analysis of global migration trends, and questioning of common assumptions. Students engage in examining societal phenomena linked to migration, borders, migration categorization, political identity, and place attachment. They analyze these topics through various socio-economic and cultural lenses within the context of global structures and power hierarchies.

Social Impact Assessment - Data and Representation (5 EC)
Sustainable Tourism: Planning and Practices (5 EC)

The course "Sustainable Tourism: Planning & Practice" teaches about tourism planning and policy-making, emphasizing critical analysis based on real-world insights. It covers three main areas: Foundations of tourism planning, including strategic approaches and tools, Practical experience in policy-making in collaboration with the European Tourism Futures Institute. And critical evaluation of key concepts like transition and resilience, applied to tourism practices.

Master Thesis (15 EC)

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is unaccommodated
Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Tourism Managementnhlstenden

Pre-master at previous program with a maximum of 30 EC

More information:

You can take a minor in your Tourism Management programme at Stenden that will give you direct access to the master track of Cultural Geography: Sustainable Tourism & Society.

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
Global Responsibility & LeadershipUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Human Geography and PlanningUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements
Spatial Planning and DesignUniversity of GroningenNo additional requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Academic Bachelor degree in geography, social sciences or tourism studies, with some background knowledge in Geography, including at least 10 ECTS in statistics and research methods.

language test

Sufficient English language proficiency is required, except for native speakers of the English language from the following countries: United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and The Netherlands.

The following documents are valid:

  • Full English Bachelor's degree*, where the only language of instruction is English.
  • TOEFL: a minimum score of 90 with a minimum of 18 on reading and listening, 20 on speaking and 21 on writing,
  • IELTS: a minimum score of 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 on all items, or
  • Cambridge: C1 advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180
  • English taught bachelors from the following countries are valid as proof of English proficiency: The Netherlands, United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

An exemption can be given by the Admission Board.

other admission requirements

Please use the step-by-step guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure

Step-by-step guide


Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 July 202401 September 2024
01 July 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025

Be aware that the table about the selection procedures refers to the country where you obtained your diploma, not your nationality. 'Dutch students' for example means students with a Dutch diploma.

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

The programme is open to students with an academic bachelor degree in geography, or social sciences with some background knowledge in geography, including at least 10 ECTS in statistics and research methods.

language test

Sufficient English language proficiency is required, except for native speakers of the English language from the following countries: United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and The Netherlands.

The following documents are valid:

  • Full English Bachelor's degree*, where the only language of instruction is English.
  • TOEFL: a minimum score of 90 with a minimum of 18 on reading and listening, 20 on speaking and 21 on writing,
  • IELTS: a minimum score of 6.5 with a minimum score of 6.0 on all items, or
  • Cambridge: C1 advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180
  • English taught bachelors from the following countries are valid as proof of English proficiency: The Netherlands, United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

An exemption can be given by the Admission Board.

other admission requirements

Please use this step-by-step guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure: https://fd13.formdesk.com/rug/msc-cg-admission-application-guide

Language requirements

ExamMinimum score
C1 Advanced (formerly CAE)C1
C2 Proficiency (formerly CPE)C2
IELTS overall band6.5
IELTS listening6
IELTS reading6
IELTS writing6
IELTS speaking6
TOEFL internet based90

Registration procedure

The programme is open to students with an academic bachelor degree in geography, or social sciences with some background knowledge in geography, including at least 10 ECTS in statistics and research methods.

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 July 202401 September 2024
01 July 202501 September 2025
EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students01 May 202401 September 2024
01 May 202501 September 2025

Be aware that the table about the selection procedures refers to the country where you obtained your diploma, not your nationality. 'Dutch students' for example means students with a Dutch diploma.

Tuition fees
NationalityYearFeeProgramme form
EU/EEA2023-2024€ 2314full-time
non-EU/EEA2023-2024€ 17800full-time
EU/EEA2024-2025€ 2530full-time
non-EU/EEA2024-2025€ 20800full-time

Practical information for:

After your studies

Cultural Geography equips you with the necessary theoretical and practical tools to contribute to place-related liveability in society. A focus on tourism allows you to use your skills to improve local livelihoods, invest in community futures, and work towards tourism that improves tourists' and residents' health and well-being. Guest lectures, field trips, community lectures, and empirical research in the community prepare you to develop a working knowledge of the field and also network with lo

Job prospects

Graduates of the Sustainable Tourism & Society track can apply their theoretical and practical research and problem-solving skills and knowledge internationally and locally as:

  • policy analysts in governmental offices
  • tourism officers
  • destination planners
  • tourism entrepreneurs
  • UNWTO officers
  • researchers
  • lecturers

During the programme, we offer support for your career preparation with workshops, networking events, and career advice.

Research

Research in the Master

The research at the Department of Cultural Geography is strongly embedded in the research programmes of Campus Fryslân.

Topics of recent research projects are:

- Rural citizenship and youth;
- Hidden urban spaces;
- Gender & tourism livelihoods (post-)COVID-19;
- Sustainable tourism and climate adaptation;
- Community participation;
- Ageing and well-being;
- Innovation and rural transformation;
- Socio-spatial consequences of population decline;
- Heritage; evolution of the historical landscape;
- Nature and health;
- Social impact assessment;
- Social aspects of natural resource management;
- Tourism and (cross-border) regional development

The research projects deal with the relations between people and place. Knowing your own 'place' is of fundamental importance for the formation of human identity and well-being. Cultural expressions such as art, architecture, rituals and language, and our knowledge and appreciation of nature and landscape interact with the physical environment to shape our life stories and the liveability of places. Therefore, the ways in which we construct space and place are physical manifestations of both our imaginations and our self-awareness. This perspective allows you to understand and explain the differences between places, communities, and the spatial behaviours of humans.

Our research is strongly empirical. Students will become familiar with qualitative and quantitative research methods during the Master's. Innovative research methods such as visual methodologies and location-based applications (social or soft GIS) can be used for the Master’s Thesis.


Apply nowBrochureEventsContact

Contact

  • Marijke Huisman-Wolters (For all questions related to the programme and application)
    Email: cf-cg rug.nl
    Telephone: +31 (0)6 31 98 24 13
  • 
						Testimonial of Joost Blaakmeer

    The programme stands on the intersection of different geographical specializations

    – Joost Blaakmeer
    Read more

    What attracted me to the Master Tourism Geography and Planning is how it stands on the intersection of different geographical specializations. By highlighting the links between tourism, cultures and planning in a globally connected world and exploring relevant tourism themes such as heritage, landscapes and cross-border cooperation you become a tourism professional with the capabilities to approach tourism from various perspectives.

    I specifically liked how you l earn to bring together the various geographical viewpoints on tourism from a theoretical perspective whilst not ignoring how theoretical concepts are used by organizing company visits, excursions and guest lectures.

    Joost Blaakmeer, the Netherlands

    Close

Study associations

Nobis Cura Futuri

Nobis Cura Futuri is the Study Association and the official embodiment of the international student community at Campus Fryslân.
Founded in 2020, we aim to provide plenty of fun, social and academic events (think of Pub crawls, talent shows, travels, guest-speaker evenings). All in the spirit of Nobis Cura Futuri: “The Care of the Future is Ours”, meaning we strive to provide activities that are aimed at making the most of your student life by adhering to our values of responsibility, diversity, sustainability and development.
https://www.rug.nl/cf/studeren-bij-cf/nobis-cura-futuri
Read more