Social Research
Student testimonial: Trineke
Why Social Research?
The Master’s programme in Social Research was suggested to me by the study advisor. This Research Master, which prepares for a PhD, is a good way to find out whether taking a PhD fits me or not. Additionally, a two-years Master allows me to gain more knowledge and skills, for example by doing a research internship at the department of Social Sciences.
Why the VU University Amsterdam?
Having had a good experience with the VU during my bachelor Political Science, I quickly decided to stay at the VU. Especially the small scale education and the good contact with the teachers make me enthusiastic about the VU.
What do you like most about this study?
Since the study takes two years there is lot of space in the curriculum to adjust the program to your own interests. You can, for example, combine a research internship with some methodological courses.
About the teachers?
The contact with teachers is one of the great pluses of the Social Research Master. The Social Research Master consists of a small number of students, which makes intensive contact with the teachers possible. In addition, in the Social Research Master courses you get in contact with a lot of scholars, which both introduces you to different types of research and gives you the possibility to get in contact with scholars to get an internship.
About the fellow students?
In the Social Research Master there is diversity in nationality and disciplines. According to me, especially the latter is very interesting. Although being all social scientists, there are great differences between the several disciplines (e.g. Communication Science, Political Science, Sociology etc.). There are differences in the objects of study as well as in the approaches towards its. I am confirmed in being in the right track, namely Political Science, but the contact with students of other disciplines ensures that you critically think about your research. In other words, they provide you a different set of glasses.
What do you do besides studying at the VU?
Besides studying, which takes already a lot of the available time, I am a student-assistant for a professor in the USA. He is doing research on the effects of changes in the benefits offered to economically vulnerable groups on movements in political left-right dimensions. My job is to code Dutch legislation on social benefits. Furthermore, I am active in a political party.
What would you like to do after graduation?
After the first half a year of the Master I am inclined to answer that I would like to pursue an academic career. So, I would like to take a PhD, which is exactly what this Master is about. Another possible option is a traineeship to be trained as a civil servant, for the national or European government.
What would you say to prospective students about this master’s?
If you want to become both a specialist and a social scientist with a broad spectrum, and if you want to study in a small scale environment, then you should definitely apply for the Social Research Master at the VU.
Trineke Palm, Master’s student in Social Research 2009 - 2010
