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Master programme

The current master programme in Human Geography has undergone a makeover and the renewed highly flexible programme started in September 2007. The master thesis research will play a leading role in the master programme. Around the master thesis you will take several courses which contribute to the specialisation of your choice or are essential for your master thesis research. Some courses will be mandatory, but partly in close co-operation with your master thesis supervisor and mentor you can choose elective courses. The choice of elective courses has to be well founded on the basis of the specialisation of your choice and on the basis of your master thesis research and have to be approved, by the examination board. In this way you can take a master programme that is tailored to your personal interests. However, we have tried to assist you by already doing some preliminary work. We have already prepared some possible ways to fill in your master programme. We, ourselves, are already very enthusiastic about it.  Unfortunately there are hardly any conventions about the terminology of master programmes, and where they exist they seem to change rather frequently. To make things clear: We offer a single master programme in Human Geography, but in its new form you can tailor that programme to your personal interests in different ways. For convenience we call these master-'specialisations'. In addition to a specialisation which is fully tailored to your personal interests, you can choose one of the following specialisations which we already prepared for you*:

You can also download a nice flyer giving a general overview over all our master specialisations.

The master programme can also be conducted in dual mode (studying next to working in the human geographic profession). Additionally there are two further programmes, namely the enhancing post-master programme for secondary teacher training also called educational master, and the research master.

* only the mandatory courses within these specialisations will certainly be offered. Other courses such as elective courses are recommended, but if for what reason so ever you can not take such a course, you will have to take another (approved) course in stead. (Some courses will only be offered if a minimum number of students are enrolled).

Economic Geography

In the specialisation Economic Geography you will study the role of regions as locations for companies. Especially with increased competition an optimal interaction between the company and its local environment will be essential. Think of flows of knowledge, the recruitment and training of employees, relations with suppliers, local governments and NGO's. For regions the presence of companies which operate on an inter-regional, international or even global market are the key to prosperity. On the other hand, these kind of companies are usually also inclined to move to other places if these other places seem more attractive. In this specialisation you will therefore learn to analyse and understand local developments from a global perspective.

You can also download a flyer on this master specialisation.

Globalisation, Migration and Development

In the specialisation Globalisation, Migration and Development you will study the aspects of globalisation and socio-economic and spatial development in different parts of the world. Social and spatial inequalities, processes of social exclusion, emancipation of social groups, immigration and multi-cultural society are the core issues in this master specialisation. These issues will have different effects in different spatial contexts. Urban contexts both in Western- and developing countries, as well as problems of international migration, livelihood strategies and development policies in different regions have our special attention.

You can also download a flyer on this master specialisation.

Urban and Cultural Geography

Cities are the vibrant and dynamic focal points of our society. These diverse agglomerations of people, companies and organisations with complex relationships far beyond nations and continents. In the specialisation Urban and Cultural Geography you will study how different actors influence the physical form of cities but also the way in which they present and understand the character and identity of cities. They create and make cities! The diversity of activities in cities is the source of conflicts but sometimes also motor of innovation and development. Because of your knowledge and insights in these processes you can with this specialisation find a job in companies, government agencies and nongovernmental organisations, which do research, design policies, or do business in the field of urban development.

You can also download a flyer on this master specialisation.

Europe: Governance, Borders and Identities

In the specialisation Europe: Governance, Borders and Identities we devote ourselves to the most relevant European social and political-geographic themes, which dominate the current scientific, societal and policy debates. On one hand we will focus on the internal relationship between national sovereignty and identity and the community and cohesion in the European Union as a whole. On the other hand we will focus on the external policy of the European Union and her role in the world. Concrete themes, which we will deal with, are e.g.: European internal market, European federalism, forms of European Citizenship and degrees of European identity, transnational governance, multi-level governance, cross-border co-operation, border regions, (im)mobility on European labour market, national identities and borders, geopolitics of states, nations and regions in the EU, multicultural society, external border- and immigration policy, external neighbour-policy and European post-colonialism. We will discuss different empirical case studies, such as: Brussels as capital of the EU, Dutch-German border areas, Dutch-Flemish border areas, Northern-Ireland, Cyprus, Israel-Palestine, Spanish-Moroccan border, German-Polish border regions, Esthonia-Russia, etc.. This one-year master specialisation is an outstanding preparation of a professional career with an international dimension in private companies, government, or non-governmental organisations. 

You can also download a flyer on this master specialisation.

Conflicts, Territories and Identities

In the master specialisation Conflicts, Territories and Identities you will investigate phenomena such as (inter-)national conflicts, wars and terrorism. We will look both at background and causes of these phenomena (imperialism, geopolitics, failing states, religions, (national) identities, discrimination, resources, borders) as well as at means to control and manage solutions ('good governance', humanitarian aid, diplomacy, peace power). You will get insights in the political and social construction of conflicts, territories and identities, as well as in theories and practices of (inter-)national conflict management. This specialisation is a collaboration between Human Geography and the Centre for International Conflict Analysis and Management (CICAM) of the Radboud University, Nijmegen.

You can also download a flyer on this master specialisation.

Free Specialisation

Furthermore we offer a so called 'free specialisation' which can be tailored to your own personal needs, consisting of master courses of one or more of the above specialisations, or other master courses enhanced with elective courses. Of course such a package of courses first has to be approved by the examination board, but it gives you maximum flexibility.

Educational Geography

As of the academic year 2003, you can take the master programme Educational Geography offered by the Department for High-School Teaching ('Instituut voor Leraar en School', ILS). This programme is directed at the training upper-grade high school geography teachers, but it is also aimed at the development of the communication of knowledge in general. This master curriculum, therefore, is ideal not only for a career as a geography teacher, but also for all sorts of positions in the area of internal and external communication on the part of companies and organisations. This programme will take about one and a half year or two years instead of the usual one year, because immediately upon starting the curriculum, you will begin a trainee period as teacher in high school. Until now this programme is only offered as an enhancing post-masters programme. So, you will have to complete your master programme in human geography first before you can start with the Educational geography master programme.

Under certain conditions you can receive extra student financing for taking this enhancing programme. For the detailed programme see the ILS website: www.ils.kun.nl (in Dutch)

Dual study mode

The master programme in Human Geography can also be taken in a dual study mode. This means that you combine studying with paid work in the human geographic profession. This is an ideal option if you seek a situation in which 'thinking' and 'doing', studying and working alternate, especially also because the regular master programme leaves only very limited space for getting practical professional experience. In the dual study mode you follow the same course programme as regular students reduced with one elective course but spread over three semesters. At the same time you will work at a professional organisation in a function which fits to the academic level and interests. A so aclled 'red tread assignment' will structure your research work conducted in the framework of your work at the professional organisation and will finally result in the master thesis. For this purpose we have pre-selected a number of possible employers active in the field of human geography. In total the dual study mode will take about three semesters. This is about the same as regular students effectively need to complete their master programme. Because the time frame of this dual study mode is contractually agreed with the professional organisation the dual study mode usually have no delays in completing their master studies. If you opt for the dual study mode, you will need to formally apply for a dual study mode job at one of the available professional organisations. The Department of Human Geography will pre-select possible candidates and advise the potential employer. The employing organisation has the final say in who they select. This procedure takes some time, so be early if you want to opt for the dual study mode. If you are not selected you can continue your studies as a regular master student without delay. Further information can be found here.

Research Master

If you are interested in a career as scientific researcher at a university or at any other privat or public research institute, in the near future you can enhance your master education with aen enhancing research training programme. This programme is now being set up and prepared, but the outlines seem to be clear already. You will deepen your knowledge and skills in the field of philospophy of science, resaerch methodology, resaerch project management and of course in the field of your specific master specialisation. Also a research stay at another foreign university will probably be a part of this research training programme. In total this enhancing programme will take one extra year. The  Netherlands Graduate School for Urban and Regional Research NETHUR, of which most Dutch human geographic researchers are a member, can serve as a quality assurance organisation of this programme. To be accepted in this enhancing research training programme you will have to fullfill strict criteria. Further details on this programme and the selection criteria will be published on this page as soon as they are available.

Further Information

For any further questions on our master programme or on the requirements for enrollment you can consult the study advisor: MSc. Jackie van de Walle (j.vandewalle@fm.ru.nl), room TvA 3.1_38, tel: +31-(0)24 - 361 60 49. You can also download a nice flyer.