Political Science: Democracy and Power at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Find solutions to social and political problems

Never before have political decisions been so interconnected across the world. A global pandemic, climate change, shifts in economic power, the rise of AI and big data. They all impact global politics. But how? And who are the main actors?

The Political Science Master’s programme at VU Amsterdam teaches you to analyse the exercise of political power in its social and international context. It enables you to formulate solutions to social and political problems by providing you with different theoretical perspectives and rigorous research skills.

In the first period, you study core debates and issues in political science. You then select one of three specialisms:

•  Democracy, Power and Inequality
• Global Environmental Governance, Sustainability and Climate Change
• International Relations, Security and Global Order

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Political Science: Democracy and Power

Become an expert in the topic of your own choice

VU’s Political Science Master has a unique curriculum. You will become an expert in a topic of your own choice. After two months discussing the core debates in political science and how to apply them, you will opt for an elective to give you a feel for the topics you are interested in.

Perhaps you are interested in the global political struggle of transitioning to a green and sustainable society? If so, then Global Environmental Governance, Sustainability and Climate Change might be for you. If it is global power struggles that interest you, competition about who owns today’s technologies, security conflicts, or the role of intergovernmental organisations like the United Nations, you might be better opting for International Relations, Security and Global Order. The third alternative, Democracy, Power and Inequality, will suit you if you want to learn more about the impact of different governmental models, the rise of populism, or the state of democracy in the European Union. Your professors will inspire you and help you make an informed choice.

Whichever theme you choose, you will immerse yourself in methodologies and theories and learn how to apply them. You will follow a short course on the philosophy, design and practice of political research, giving you the theoretical tools and insights to prepare for your thesis work. Working in small groups you will choose and formulate your research question, review literature, design your research, and collect and analyse the data you need.

In the last period, you will work on your Master’s thesis, supervised by a lecturer from one of our international team of researchers. When you graduate, you will have gained not only a helicopter view of today’s complex political environment but also an understanding of the interconnectivity between the main players – from governments, banks and multinationals, to NGOs and social movements; you will also have acquired expertise in global politics, environmental governance, and political institutions. You will be able to conduct analyses, collect and process data as part of your own independent research, write essays, papers and blogs, understand policy documents and outcomes and argue effectively and persuasively.

Completing VU’s Master programme in Political Science you will be well-equipped to work in complex environments, where understanding the different interests behind societal problems is key, and with sharp research skills, a range of career paths will be open to you. You could become a politician, work for local government, a human rights organisation or a multinational company – perhaps in an advisory or policy-making role. You could go into journalism. Or stay in academia and take part in a reputable international PhD programme.

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Political Science: Democracy and Power

The Master’s Political Science programme will develop skills that are in high demand across a range of disciplines. You will be an expert in research methodology, for instance, knowing how to collect, analyse and process data. You will be able to apply analytical skills to understand complex environments and the interconnectivity between the different players, whether individuals, organisations or institutions.

You will be familiar with the core debates in political science and be able to apply them to contemporary issues in a variety of different environments.

As well as being able to conduct independent research you will have teamworking skills. You will be able to write reports, draft policy documents, conduct presentations before a group, write blogs, summaries, and essays. You will have mastered the skills of debate and effective argumentation.

You will have acquired a helicopter view of today’s complex political environment. The key issues in current societal problems will be familiar to you and you will have the capacity to formulate solutions to such problems.

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Political Science: Democracy and Power

I have an international degree

To gain admission to the Master's programme, you must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations or a related discipline from an accredited research university (such as public administration, communication science, sociology, journalism, anthropology, etc.).

The Admission Board will review all courses in your Bachelor's degree. In some cases, you may be asked to demonstrate your abilities in an individual assignment if relevant core methodology courses are lacking from your previous degree, such as quantitative and qualitative methods.

You should demonstrate a strong working command of English by means of minimally one proof of academic writing that shows your ability to reflect, judge and reason in a well-structured and evidence-based manner. This proof of academic writing must include a clear research question, an explicit research methodology, a theoretical framework and academic literature references.

On the basis of the documents you submit, the Admission Board will make a merit-based selection of students applying the following criteria:

• Academic record, based on GPA or an overall grade average, preferably 7 or higher.
• Aptitude for social scientific theory and methods, as demonstrated by: thesis/proof of academic writing, results on individual courses, research skills and/or academic references.
• Likelihood to benefit ('growth potential') from the international and academic environment of the MSc Political Science, based on the above and your CV.

I have a Dutch higher vocational education (HBO) Bachelor’s degree (premaster)

Admission to the Master’s programmes is open to students holding any Bachelor’s degree in higher vocational education (hbo), provided they successfully completed the pre-Master's programme.

In order to enter the pre-Master’s programme with a HBO Bachelor’s degree, you have to pass the pre-Master’s assessment. The assessment is designed to ensure that students admitted to the pre-Master's (with the intention of subsequently completing the Master's programme) are able to meet the required academic level.

HvA doorstroomminor SWO

If you have a HBO Bachelor's degree including the doorstroomminor Sociaalwetenschappelijk Onderzoek at HvA, you are admissible to the Master’s programme after successfully completing one of the following courses, part of the Bachelor's programme in Political Science:

• State, Power and Conflict (S_SPC)
• International Relations and Global Governance (S_IRGG)
• Dutch politics and qualitative methods (S_DPQM)

In order to follow one of these courses, you have to register as bijvakstudent. You don't have to follow the pre-Master's programme nor take the pre-Master’s assessment.

To be admitted to the English-taught Master’s programme, students must meet the English language requirements listed on the Master’s website.

I have a Dutch university level (WO) Bachelor’s degree (VU Bachelor's degree, VU premaster or Bachelor's degree at another university)

To gain admission to the selective Master's programme, you must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations or a related discipline from an accredited research university (such as public administration, communication science, sociology, journalism, anthropology, etc.).

The Admission Board will review all courses in your BA. In some cases, you may be asked to demonstrate your abilities in an individual assignment if relevant core methodology courses are lacking from your previous degree, such as quantitative and qualitative methods.

You should demonstrate a strong working command of English by means of minimally one proof of academic writing that shows your ability to reflect, judge and reason in a well-structured and evidence-based manner. This proof of academic writing must include a clear research question, an explicit research methodology, a theoretical framework and academic literature references.

On the basis of the documents you submit, the Admission Board will make a merit-based selection of students applying the following criteria:

•  Academic record, based on GPA or an overall grade average, preferably 7 or higher.
•  Aptitude for social scientific theory and methods, as demonstrated by: thesis/proof of academic writing, results on individual courses, research skills and/or academic references.
•  Likelihood to benefit ('growth potential') from the international and academic environment of the MSc Political Science, based on the above and your CV.

Mehr Infos zum Studiengang? Besuche die Website!

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Übersicht der Masterstudiengänge - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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