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Social and Cultural Anthropology, MSc, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

the Netherlands

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Study options for this course

The award	How you will study	Study duration	Course start	Domestic course fees	International course fees
MSc	find out	1 year	September	EUR 2694 per year	EUR 24830 per year

About Social and Cultural Anthropology, MSc - at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

At VU, our MSc programme goes beyond studying cultures to unwrap the complex layers of society and human interaction. It is an immersive exploration of the interconnectedness of human beliefs, values, and social norms. The course is hands-on and engaging, providing you with the skills to understand and analyse socio-cultural, political, and economic phenomena.

Applying anthropology

We will teach you critical analytical thinking, advanced research skills, and the profound cultural understanding needed to navigate complex real-world issues.

Today's global challenges demand innovative perspectives, which is where anthropologists come in. From climate change to social inequality, anthropology addresses society's most urgent issues like no other science can. Anthropologists are the architects of the future, sought after by public, private, and non-governmental organisations.

Our MSc in social and cultural anthropology offers two tracks: the social and cultural anthropology track; and the professional anthropology track. The first provides a set of skills tailored for students who want to have free choice of the social phenomenon they want to study for their thesis and the latter provides a different set of skills tailored to students who want to work in collaboration with their research stakeholders.

Both tracks are focused on practical application of academic expertise, putting theory directly into practice thereby preparing you for a career in various sectors.

Summer School

Apply to VU Amsterdam Summer School and develop your academic skills in a focused and inspiring study abroad experience.

Learn more about Social and Cultural Anthropology, MSc - at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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Entry requirements

1. Academic requirements

Your previous education needs to be deemed equivalent to at least a Dutch academic Bachelor’s degree (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) obtained at a research university (nominal duration 3 years).

2. Programme specific requirements

The Admission Board needs to establish that you meet all of the following admission requirements:

A sufficient background in the methods and techniques of social science research
A sufficient background in the theory of (social and cultural) anthropology

This can be demonstrated by having a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, Sociology, or a related field, or if you have completed a minor in Anthropology, with a curriculum including social science research methods.

In all cases, your bachelor must be equivalent to a Dutch academic (WO) bachelor and therefore must be completed at a research university.

Premaster:

VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Social Sciences offers a premaster/bridging programme to students who do not meet the admission requirements for the MSc Political Science. However, international students cannot apply to this premaster directly. International students must apply to the master programme. The Admission Board may award the premaster as part of their decision on an applicant’s eligibility for the master. The premaster is only a relevant option if it would be sufficient to cover the gap between an applicant’s academic background and the admission requirements. The premaster contains mandatory courses on both social science research methods and (social and cultural) anthropology and is taught fully in English.

3. English language proficiency requirements

You will have to demonstrate sufficient English language proficiency. You can find an overview of relevant information to demonstrate your English language proficiency on the language requirement page.

Fees, Funding and Scholarships at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Need financial assistance? Read about scholarships: Scholarships for Master's programmes

Student reviews of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

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Masters Webinar

Each year, we organise an online session for aspiring Master's students that covers everything you need to know about the application process and beyond. This year, the International Master's webinar took place on Tuesday, October 15, at 16:00 (CET). You can watch the recordings all year.

During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to:

Discover what it is like to study at VU Amsterdam;
Learn everything you need to know about the admission and application process;
Get the latest insights on scholarship opportunities;
Hear first-hand experiences from one of our current international students about being a student in the Netherlands' dynamic capital city.

Bachelors Webinar

Each year we organise an online session for aspiring Bachelor's students that covers all you need to know about the application process and beyond. This year, the International Bachelor's webinar took place on Thursday 24 October at 16:00 (CET). You can watch the recorder version all year.

During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to:

Discover what it is like to study at VU Amsterdam;
Learn everything you need to know about the admission and application process;
Ask all your questions about the housing market in Amsterdam;
Hear first-hand experiences from one of our current international students about being a student in the Netherlands' dynamic capital city.