Sociology and Social Research: Utrecht University

About the programme

Dutch sociology maintains an excellent position internationally with respect to the quality of teaching programmes and research quality. The quality of the Sociology and Social Research programme, compared to other programmes in the Netherlands and internationally, can be inferred from numerous and consistently very favorable external evaluations of research and teaching in Sociology at Utrecht University and the ICS.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the programme are highly trained researchers, well-qualified for a career in scientific research in the social sciences. Their career perspectives are excellent due to extensive and hands-on expertise in social science theory formation, data analysis, and writing and reporting on social science research.

After graduation, students also have good prospects to join a research institute such as the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI), the Netherlands Institute for Health Care Research (NIVEL), the Social and Cultural Planning Office of the Netherlands (SCP), and Statistics Netherlands (CBS), as well as research institutes in the private sector. They can also opt for a career as an advisor or policy officer within a company or governmental organisation

Entrance Requirements

Applicants must hold an academic bachelor’s degree in Social Science, Interdisciplinary Social Science, Sociology, Cultural Anthropology, Economics, Political Sciences/Public Administration, Geography, or Psychology.

Students who meet the admission requirements and have a GPA of 3.3 (or the Dutch equivalent of 7.5) or higher will be accepted. Students with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.3 (Dutch equivalent: 7 or better) may be eligible and can compensate by other capacities they possess, according to the programme’s admissions committee.

English Language Requirement

All courses are taught in English, therefore all students are required to provide proof of their English language proficiency. Accepted minimum English language test scores are:

• TOEFL internet: 93
• IELTS: 6.5 (and 6.0 for written part)
• Cambridge EFL Advanced English: B
• Cambridge EFL Proficiency in English: C