Societal Resilience (Research Master) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Use big data to tackle society’s biggest challenges

How do communities bounce back after tragic events like the COVID-19 pandemic? What role do social media play in political polarisation? How can analysing data help us find solutions? And what are the ethical concerns in mining data?

These are big questions that require big answers. The two-year Societal Resilience Research Master’s programme identifies, investigates and develops solutions for broad social challenges, using qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse data, both big and small.

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Societal Resilience (Research Master)

Become the researcher of the future

A Research Master’s degree in Societal Resilience prepares you to become the researcher of the future – someone who uses the latest in big data methods to analyse and solve tomorrow’s social challenges.

1. The Societal Resilience Research Master’s programme is deliberately broad. It covers four key themes:
2.  Diversity and inclusive communities
3.  Dynamics of interconnectedness
4.  Care and welfare
5.  Governance reform

You’ll delve into these four topics using a variety of data analysis methods, such as advanced data mining algorithms, scraping tools to collect data, qualitative and computational text analysis, and online network analysis. At the same time, you’ll develop communication, self-reflection and project management skills to be able to collaborate in multi-disciplinary teams, all of which will be highly valuable in the job market. Each thematic course is co-taught by senior social scientists from different backgrounds – for example, the diversity course is led by a qualitative sociologist and a quantitative social psychologist.

Societal Resilience offers you a unique proposition: while other computational social science programmes focus more on data methodologies, Societal Resilience applies these methods to real-world problems.

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weiter: Karriere »

Societal Resilience (Research Master)

Having studied Societal Resilience, your career opportunities are diverse. All sorts of organisations are looking for your unique profile: a new type of researcher who combines social science theories with innovative data methods to tackle real-world challenges.

Whether it’s for the governmental sector or the business world, many large corporations are collecting vast amounts of data, but their understanding of what to do with that data is limited. There’s a clear need for business analysts with experience in mining big data for a range of purposes.

The programme’s international approach lends itself well to working abroad. You can start building your international network during your Research Master’s degree. You and your fellow students will partner up with international organisations to work on societal issues. The programme also offers guest lectures by speakers from the corporate world, NGOs, government departments and more.

A Research Master’s degree in Societal Resilience is also a great entry point to a PhD. Your research proposal and Master’s thesis will be great preparation both for your PhD topic and when applying for funding.

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Societal Resilience (Research Master)

I have an international degree

The Research Master in Societal Resilience is a selective programme. Selection is based on academic results, the relevance of your prior education, knowledge of (social science) research methodology, motivation, work experience, previously written academic work and contact information of 2 references.

To successfully follow the Research Master in Societal Resilience, you need to have sufficient knowledge of  research methods at the level and load of an academic Social Science Bachelor’s programme.

Admission requirements and application

To gain admission to the Master's programme, you must hold a Bachelor’s degree in social or behavioural sciences, completed with a GPA of at least 7.5 (Dutch grading system) or the international equivalent. You can also apply with a degree in other fields such as mathematics, informatics, econometrics, operations research, computational linguistics, digital humanities, geography, or psychology, if you have a clear interest in social issues, as demonstrated by relevant elective courses, minors, internships or other extra-curricular activities. The Board of Admission assesses whether you have sufficient knowledge and skills in research methods. With research methods courses of at least 12 EC in total you qualify for this criterion.

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

It is not possible to apply to the Research Master’s programme in Societal Resilience.

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

The Research Master in Societal Resilience is a selective programme. Selection is based on academic results, the relevance of your prior education, knowledge of (social science) research methodology, motivation, work experience, previously written academic work and contact information of 2 references.

To successfully follow the Research Master in Societal Resilience, you need to have sufficient knowledge of  research methods at the level and load of an academic Social Science Bachelor’s programme.

Admission requirements and application

To gain admission to the Master's programme, you must hold a Bachelor’s degree in social or behavioural sciences, completed with a GPA of at least 7.5 (Dutch grading system) or the international equivalent. You can also apply with a degree in other fields such as mathematics, informatics, econometrics, operations research, computational linguistics, digital humanities, geography, or psychology, if you have a clear interest in social issues, as demonstrated by relevant elective courses, minors, internships or other extra-curricular activities. The Board of Admission assesses whether you have sufficient knowledge and skills in research methods. With research methods courses of at least 12 EC in total you qualify for this criterion. 

Mehr Infos zum Studiengang? Besuche die Website!

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weiter: Masterstudiengänge »

Übersicht der Masterstudiengänge - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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