MSc in Youth Studies

Netherlands

What will I learn?

Substance use and addiction problems; Antisocial and criminal behaviour; Marginalization and exclusion; Excessive use of social media; Social inequalities and mental and physical health.

Or are you interested in questions such as: why are Dutch youngsters the happiest in Europe?

Do you want to contribute to the knowledge regarding youth issues, improve the quality of youth welfare and develop ways to prevent or solve problems associated with adolescence and young adulthood? The Master’s programme Youth Studies will enable you to look beyond the limits of individual fields of study. You will learn to observe and examine specific issues by combining different social scientific disciplines (psychology, pedagogy, sociology, anthropology) in an interdisciplinary approach.

By integrating knowledge from different disciplines you will be able to advance fundamental understanding of youth issues and to address youth problems whose solutions are beyond the scope of a single discipline or area of research. Additionally, you will gain knowledge about policies and interventions regarding youth issues and develop academic skills to conduct research in the field of youth.

This one-year Master's programme relates to topics and challenges relevant and, often, unique to youth such as:

  • substance use, addiction, and risky behaviour
  • psychosocial problems
  • social inequalities and wellbeing
  • radicalization, discrimination, intolerance
  • accessibility of health care
  • social media and the digital environment of youngsters
  • antisocial and prosocial behaviour
  • youth culture, pop music and cultural lifestyle
  • friendship, social networks and the social environment of adolescents
  • sexual development and behaviour
  • changes in youth welfare and youth policy

The programme's objective

This Master’s programme will prepare you for a career in the field of youth research, youth welfare and youth policy. By acquiring in-depth knowledge on youth issues, academic skills and competencies you will develop into a highly-qualified science practitioner. You will receive a structured and systematic training in theoretically and methodologically advanced research that will equip you to help solve social problems in the field of youth either within or outside of academia.

Possible career paths

This Master’s programme will make you a social-scientifically schooled university graduate fit for a variety of jobs in the wide scope of youth welfare.

Some examples are:

  • staff employee
  • manager
  • policy consultant
  • youth-welfare researcher
  • academic employee
  • public relations official
  • intervention specialist
  • prevention employee

Which department am I in?

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Study options

Full Time (1 year)

Tuition fees
€17,078.00 (15,42,449) per year
Start date

Expected September 2024

Venue

Utrecht University

Heidelberglaan 8,

Utrecht Science Park / De Uithof,

Utrecht,

3584, Netherlands

Entry requirements

For international students

You are qualified to enrol if you have a Bachelor's degree of Utrecht University in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences (ISS), Pedagogical Sciences, Psychology, Educational Sciences or Sociology, and possess demonstrable knowledge of youth issues (at least 15 EC, such as having followed the minor Youth Studies, either in its entirety or in part, within the ISS Bachelor’s programme).

Bachelor’s degrees from University College Utrecht, Roosevelt Academy and Utrecht University's Liberal Arts and Sciences allow access as well, with at least 22.5 EC for methods and statistics and 15 EC for youth issues (or related topics). After applying, your eligibility will be determined by the Board of Admissions.

Other English language requirements: Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, at least a B grade; Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, at least a C grade.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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