University of Bamberg

Program and courses Double degree in Sociology: Bamberg - Tilburg

Combine two Master's programs from two universities to get the ultimate international experience. Bamberg University focuses on the specializations ‘Empirical Social Research’ and ‘Education, Labour Market, Inequality’. Tilburg University focuses on translating societal problems into sociological research to evaluate and derive policies.

Program structure

This two-year program consists of 120 ECTS:

  • The Master Sociology at Bamberg University (60 ECTS): 
    • 7 research methods and data acquisition and analysis courses (42 ECTS) 
    • 3 content courses (18 ECTS) 
  • The Master Sociology at Tilburg University (60 ECTS): 
    • 4 content courses (24 ECTS) 
    • 2 Master seminars (12 ECTS)
    • Master’s thesis (24 ECTS) 

You will spend the first year at Bamberg University in Germany, and the second year at Tilburg University. At Tilburg University you will follow the sociology track: Politics, Policy and Society in Comparative Perspective. During the first term, you will be assisted in designing your individual study plan to tailor it to your interests. An overview of the modules and courses of the program is provided below.

This program has one entry moment at the end of August.

Program content

Courses at Bamberg University

At the University of Bamberg, you will take seven courses in research, data acquisition and data analysis (42 ECTS) and three content courses (18 ECTS ). 

  • Sociological Theory, Lecture (6 ECTS)
  • Research Design (6 ECTS)
  • Two courses in Advanced Methods of Data Acquisition (12 ECTS)
  • Four elective courses in Advanced Methods of Data Analysis (24 ECTS)
  • Two elective courses in Education and Work in the Life Course (12 ECTS)

You will find more information about the courses offered by the University of Bamberg on their website.

Read more about the courses at the University of Bamberg

Courses at Tilburg University

At Tilburg University,  you will follow the Politics, Policy and Society in Comparative Perspective track. You will take four content courses (24 ECTS ), four Master Seminars (12 ECTS) and you will write a Master's thesis (24 ECTS). Your second year is separated into four blocks.

You will take the following courses in block 1 (August – October):

  • Social Movements: Social Media, Democracy and Change
    You get a thorough introduction into the scientific field of social movement research. In a globalizing context and the current network and information society, it has become easier than ever to connect with people, share ideas and mobilize in collective action. In the recent decade we have seen several examples in which local movements spread globally through social media. 
  • Master Seminar Sociology: From Theory to Research
    Throughout the program, you participate in the Master's seminar Sociology, which prepares you for writing your thesis.

You will take the following courses in block 2 (October – January):

  • Social Policy and Social Risks
    Address social policy and welfare states and discover how various 'welfare regime types' have developed over time in different countries, reflective of different concepts of social solidarity and leading to varied outcomes in terms of economic well-being, stratification patterns, and life-course risks.
  • Master Seminar Sociology: From Theory to Research
    Throughout the program, you participate in the Master's seminar Sociology, which prepares you for writing your thesis. 
  • Master's thesis

You will take the following courses in block 3 (January – March):

  • The Social Structures of Western Societies
    During this course, you get an outline of the main sociological concepts, theories, research and debates of the social structure of western society in general, and three important elements (social class, family and ethnicity) in particular. Learn to describe and explain the impact of national institutions, history and traditions, and overarching trends such as modernization and globalization in a micro-macro perspective. 
  • Master Seminar Sociology: From Theory to Research
    Throughout the program, you participate in the Master's seminar Sociology, which prepares you for writing your thesis. 
  • Master's thesis

You will take the following courses in block 4 (March – July):

  • Politics and Society in Comparative Perspective
    Develop cross-country analyses of politics and societies, particularly focusing on the rise of populistic groups and of populistic rhetoric.
  • Master Seminar Sociology: From Theory to Research
    Throughout the program, you participate in the Master's seminar Sociology, which prepares you for writing your thesis.
  • Master's thesis

You will find a detailed description of the courses and required literature for the track: Politics, Policy and Society in Comparative Perspective in our course catalog.

See full overview program and courses

Master’s thesis at Tilburg University

Start your Master’s thesis (24 ECTS) at Tilburg University in your second year by writing your Individual Research Proposal (IRP) with feedback from the thesis supervisors. This proposal will be presented within the framework of the Master Seminar Sociology in unit 1 and 2.

  • You choose your own research topic.
  • You will write your Master’s thesis under joint supervision of faculty members of both University of Bamberg and Tilburg University.
  • Preferably, a Master’s thesis has a strong link with the departmental research program. 
  • Defend your Master’s thesis at Tilburg University in February of the second academic year.
  • In case you do an Extended Master's program, it is preferable (but not mandatory) to connect your thesis to your internship.
  • Your thesis can have a more empirical theoretical accent with scientifically relevant conclusions, or can be a sociological analysis of a social or practical problem and existing interventions leading to relevant policy conclusions.
  • You will participate in the Master's Seminar Sociology course, which prepares you for writing your thesis.

Thesis examples:

  • Discrimination of minorities in the labor market 
  • Is judicial legitimacy declining, and why? 
  • Health apps and psychological constraints 
  • School dropout among ethnic minorities 
  • Social contacts and feelings of trust 
  • Religiosity and civic morality in the Netherlands 
  • Analysis of European values 

Watch a trial lecture

Please note: programs are subject to change. We advise you to look up the current program in OSIRIS Student at the start of the year.

Do you want to know more about this Master’s program?

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Extend your Master's with an internship

You have the opportunity to extend your Master's program by half a year, in which you do an internship (30 ECTS), in Dutch or English. During the internship, you will dedicate half your time to research activities in the internship organization, and half your time researching and writing your Master's thesis. After completing the internship, you will receive a professional certificate in addition to your MSc. 

Generally, you can do an Extended Master if you are hired by a partner organization. You can either do your Extended Master at one of the Academic Collaborative Centers at Tranzo, or at one of the partner organizations of the Extended Master.

Admission and application Extended Master

You can apply for the Extended Master's program when you have started one of the tracks in sociology at Tilburg University. At the start of the Master's track Sociology: Politics, Policy and Society in Comparative Perspective, you will get more information about the extended Master's program in a track-specific meeting. During this meeting, you will be informed about the application procedure, deadlines, possible partner organizations and the structure of the program and internship. 

Partner organizations for Sociology: Politics, Policy and Society in a Comparative Perspective

Partner organizations:

  • Municipality of Tilburg (Research department)
  • AO Consult (Labor training consultancy)
  • Movisie (National Knowledge and Advisory Institute for Social Development)
  • Mulier (Institute for the promotion of social scientific knowledge development and policy effectiveness in the field of sports)
  • Nivel (Dutch institute for health services research)
  • PON (Social-Cultural planning bureau for Brabant)
  • ROA (The Research Centre for education and the labor market, Maastricht) 
  • SCP (Social and cultural planning bureau) 
  • Oberon (Research and advisory bureau for the education and welfare sector, Utrecht)
  • OI (Education Inspection)
  • Inspectie SZW (Social intelligence and onvestigation service, ministry of social affairs and employment) 
  • CBS (Central Bureau of Statistics) 
  • Municipality Helmond (Research and statistics department)  
  • Municipality Breda (Research and information department) 
  • Verweij Jonker Instituut 
  • European Values Study, Tilburg University 

Short overview of the Double Degree in sociology

  • Get two full Master’s degrees in Sociology from two outstanding academic institutions.
    • The program at Bamberg University focuses on empirical social research and education, labor market and inequality.
    • The sociology track (Politics, Policy and Society in a Comparative Perspective) at Tilburg University focuses on translating social problems into sociological research from both micro- (family, social networks, crime) and macro-perspectives (welfare state, solidarity) to evaluate and create policy. 
  • Get the ultimate international experience by studying in both Germany and the Netherlands.
  • Flexible program, with the possibility of tailoring your program to your interests, to create a unique and individual profile. 
  • You get the opportunity to enhance your skills and gain relevant work experience by extending your Master's program with an internship.

Interested in the Double degree in Sociology: Bamberg - Tilburg?

Check your eligibility and the deadlines for application

Application and admission

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