Politics, Policy and Societal Development

Program and courses

Become an expert in sustainable development within an international context by addressing global societal challenges, such as poverty and inequality, migration, climate change, or humanitarian interventions after a natural disaster. You examine and discuss how organizations may address sustainable development goals by designing sustainable business models and leveraging digital platforms.  and the difficulties and shortcomings these interventions may entail. The core theme is sustainable development with a focus on social and economic motives. You adress societal issues at the macro- and micro-level from a sociological perspective.

• A different perspective on sustainable development: the Politics, Policy and Societal Development track address global societal issues from a societal, policy and political perspective.
• Learn how to run projects and compose teams of experts. 
• Community-building activities throughout the program will ensure cohesion in the programs cohort. Become part of an innovative program which brings together academics and students from all over the world in a small-scale and interactive learning environment.
• The program does not only offer an international perspective on sustainable development, but is also international in itself. Approximately 50% of the students is international.  
• With the double degree program (Double degree in Sociology and Social Research), you have the opportunity to earn a degree from both Tilburg University and the University of Trento, in Italy. 
• Add half a year to your Master's program by doing an Extended Master. During the Extended Master's program, you do a traineeship where you will enhance your skills and gain relevant work experience. 

Typical courses are:

• Social Changes and Sustainable Development
• Hybrid Organizations
• Politics and Society in Comparative Perspective
• Social Policy and Social Risks

More on the program and courses

Career prospects

You're prepared to lead and participate in change- and innovation-oriented projects aiming to tackle societal challenges. In this program you learn to combine disciplines to address complex societal challenges from a cross-cultural and international comparative perspective. 

With this knowledge, you can think beyond country borders and the limits of one area of expertise. These skills are in great demand within companies, organizations and projects operating in international environments.

Some examples of our graduates' jobs:

• Consultant in an international organization, connecting people in order to create the most competent team to solve complex problems.
• Fundraiser finding solutions for poverty, or helping with introducing sustainable practices in supply chains.
• Project manager making projects run smoothly to produce the best possible results.

Alumni facts

• 83% of our alumni find a job within 6 months after graduation
• On average 4 months between graduation and first job
• Gross salary per month:  €2652,-

Source: National Alumni Survey, 2020 | n=6

More on your career prospects

Application and admission

This program starts:

End of August

Best preparatory programs:

A bachelor’s degree in Global Management of Social Issues, Sociology, Human Resource Studies, Organization Studies, or Social Sciences.

Pre-Master’s program:

Open to both Research University students and students from a Dutch University of Applied Sciences (hbo).

Tuition fees and scholarships

International students find all information about tuition fees and scholarships here.

Interested in this Master's program?

Check your eligibility

Related Master’s programs

• Health, Wellbeing and Society track
• Organizing for Global Social Challenges track
• Research Master in Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Sociology
• Sociology and Social Research (Double degree with University of Trento, Italy)
• Sociology and Population Studies (Double degree with UPF Barcelona, Spain)
• Sociology: Bamberg – Tilburg (Double degree with Bamberg University, Germany)