• Have social inequalities increased or declined in recent decades?
• How do shocks, such as the current economic crisis, affect societies, individuals and contemporary politics?
• Do we witness changing experiences of health and well-being, sexual identities and body regimes? 
• Has there been convergence across countries due to globalisation?
• What are the origins and consequences of economic shifts, for example in trade, investment and migration?
• How do contemporary societies cope with changes in welfare policies and labour market structures?

Contemporary societies require flexible social scientists, who are able to generate relevant knowledge about important social and cultural issues. The Research Master's programme in Social Sciences is a two-year programme for motivated students with excellent academic records who wish to pursue a career in social science research in an academic setting or in private or governmental research institutes. The programme offers a combination of rigorous training, a wide range of courses to choose from in the first year and up to six months of independent study/fieldwork in the second year.

This programme offers advanced training in current social science theory and innovative methodologies in a rigorous and multidisciplinary social science research environment. It trains students to conduct research along both empirical-analytical and interpretive lines. During their studies, students specialise in one of the following five thematic specialisations:

• Institutions and Inequality
• Health, Care and the Body
• International Comparative Politics
• Globalisation, Flows and Localities
• Migration and Integration.

Studying Social Sciences at the University of Amsterdam

The programme centres on having students work closely with highly qualified University of Amsterdam (UvA) academic staff. The thematic specialisations are all linked to strong research groups of the new social science research institute (Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research). In each of the five specialisations, a specialisation tutor will function as the bridge between students and researchers. These tutors act as advisers for the Research Master's students during the two years of study. The programme offers a combination of rigorous training, a wide range of courses to choose from in the first year and up to six months of independent study/fieldwork in the second year.