
Master in Governance of Migration and Diversity
Rotterdam, Netherlands
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
17 Jun 2025*
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
Request tuition fees
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Application Deadline (Non-EEA) 15 May
Key Summary
Introduction
Is this the programme you're looking for?
Why do people migrate? How do migrants integrate into receiving countries, or sometimes fail to do so? This master's degree (MSc) focuses on sociological theories and research about migration.
The study programme in a nutshell
During the education, you will gain knowledge that enables you to understand issues related to migration and diversity from a broad perspective. The courses are offered by leading scholars from three universities and five academic disciplines: Sociology, Public Administration, History, Urban Studies and Development Studies.
What does this study entail?
In the master track Governance of Migration and Diversity - part of the Master Sociology at Erasmus University Rotterdam - you will learn to understand and manage complex societal developments, with a special focus on the contemporary issues of migration and diversity.
This master track is part of the interdisciplinary GMD Master programme, linking the University of Leiden, Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam (including the Institute for Social Sciences in The Hague).
What is this master track about?
Managing international migration flows can be a challenge. So how can we do this in the best possible way? How can interaction with migrants be stimulated in the countries in which migrants arrive in order to avert discrimination and encourage cohesion? What are the consequences of โsuper-diversityโ for contemporary cities and how can local authorities cope with these consequences?
In our globalised and complex network society, these urgent questions need to be answered. In order to do so, experts who demonstrate analytical skills, connective leadership, entrepreneurial attitudes and a strong ethical compass to achieve innovative solutions for societal problems are needed. This Masterโs specialisation in Sociology at Erasmus University Rotterdam focuses on the research, analysis and governance of societal issues.
Migration and diversity are key factors in some of the most fundamental transformations of society today. These transformations do not merely involve migrants, they have an impact on society at large. Migration and diversity have become highly politicised issues that play an important role in contemporary politics in many countries. These issues influence many different aspects of society, such as education, housing, labour and international relations.
This specialisation studies migration and diversity from an interdisciplinary perspective, addressing the different aspects of this societal transformation. The programme provides students with a strong theoretical basis. It focuses on sociological theories and research about the drivers of migration.
In addition, the integration of immigrants in receiving countries is examined from a sociological point of view. This includes the structural analysis of, for instance, labour market positions of migrants or problems related to discrimination. Furthermore, the cultural and religious aspects of integration are analysed, for instance, the role of Islam or the position of Muslims in Europe. During the programme, policies related to migration and the incorporation of migrants are studied. You will learn to critically assess how policies have been developed in cities and countries across the world and how migration and diversity are discussed in broader political debates and the media.
Joint programme
The master track Governance of Migration and Diversity brings together different disciplines: history, sociology, politics, international development and urban design as a foundation for a better understanding of the governance of migration and diversity.
The programme is a collaboration between Erasmus University Rotterdam (including the Institute for Social Studies in The Hague), Leiden University and Delft University of Technology. The cooperation between these universities provides a unique combination of varied expertise within one single master's programme. Students can apply to one of the four tracks:
- Historyl (Leiden University);
- Public Administration (Erasmus University Rotterdam)
- Sociology (Erasmus University Rotterdam) and;
- International Relations & Development (ISS, The Hague).
The Sociology track focuses specifically on sociological theories and empirical research about the drivers of international migration, how people migrate from one country to another (their migratory journeys and the obstacles they face with during their journeys) and how migrants are incorporated (or not) after arriving in the receiving society. We focus both on the challenges and the positive consequences of migration for receiving societies. We also research migration and immigrant integration policies, including possible perverse consequences of these policies.
Curriculum
The study programme in a nutshell
Mode of education
The master programme Governance of Migration and Diversity provides state-of-the-art courses and training given by dedicated scholars from five academic disciplines. During classes interaction amongst students and between students, and professors, is stimulated.
Curriculum
Besides the general mandatory disciplinary courses, you will follow track-specific courses. The general and the track-specific parts each compromise 50% of the master programme. During the programme, several site visits are organised to engage with firsthand experiences of governance issues. In the past years we have inter alia visited the Essalam Mosque and an asylum seekers center.
Below you can find the curriculum of the Sociology track offered by Erasmus University Rotterdam.
The curriculum is subject to alteration. No rights may be derived from this information
General courses - Master in Governance of Migration and Diversity
Governance of Migration and Diversity(5 EC) | History of Migration and Diversity (5 EC) | |||||||
Migration and Development (5 EC) | Sociology of Migration and Diversity (5 EC) | |||||||
Politics of Migration & Diversity (5 EC) | Social Inequality in the City, Diversity and Design (5 EC) | |||||||
Legal Perspective on Migration and Diversity (5 EC) |
Sociology track * at EUR | Public administration track at EUR | History track at Leiden | Development Studies track at ISS | Law (Leiden Law School) | No master track at TU Delft | |||||
Comparative Public Policy (5 EC) | Academic skills and Thesis seminar (5 EC) | The making of development: histories, theories and practices (8 EC) | ILS - Protection of Human Rights (5 EC) | |||||||
Students choose one ISS Foundational course (3 EC) (Optional) | International and European non-discrimination law (5 EC) | |||||||||
Social Inequalities (5 EC) | History of Migration and Diversity ctd. (5 EC) | Thesis Design (5 EC) | Privatissimum: International and European non-discrimination law (5 EC) | |||||||
Research Design and Methods (7,5 EC) | Media, Governance and Politics (5 EC) | Thesis (20 EC) | Climate Change and Development in the Anthropocene (3 EC). Research and Techniques (Select from optional ISS courses: total 8 EC). Working towards the Research Paper (2EC). Optional courses (16 EC, select from optional ISS courses) | International and European migration and asylum law (5 EC) | ||||||
Thesis (22,5 EC)) | Designing Migration Policy Research (5 EC) | International and European migration and asylum law in Practice (Moot Court) (5 EC) | ||||||||
Thesis (15 EC) | Research paper (21 EC) | Master Thesis: Governance of Migration and Diversity (10 EC) |
Gallery
Ideal Students
Is this the right programme for you?
We offer:
- A unique interdisciplinary program, with courses taught by leading scholars from three universities and five academic disciplines;
- Knowledge which will allow you to address governance issues related to migration and diversity;
- A focus on policies, politics, and governance at an international, national, and local level;
- Knowledge which will allow you to understand issues related to migration and diversity from a multidisciplinary perspective;
- Education which has a direct link to contemporary issues. Students are trained to contribute to the governance of migration and diversity.
Career Opportunities
Opportunities after graduating
Graduates of this master track will be suitable candidates for positions in:
- Governmental organizations (policy-makers, policy advisors, lobbyists) and;
- Organizations in civil society (e.g. unions, political parties, research institutes) on the local, national, or international level.
For example, our graduates currently work as integration advisors at local governments or as project assistants at IOMOpens External.
During this master track, you will:
- Develop a multidisciplinary understanding of migration and diversity from various perspectives, including history, development studies, sociology, public administration, and urbanism;
- Acquire a methodological understanding to study migration and diversity collect and process data scientifically and communicate your findings;
- Learn to better understand the governance implications of migration and diversity at the local (urban), regional, national as well as European, and international levels;
- Obtain professional skills in terms of designing strategies for the management of migration and diversity at the policy level.
Pursuing an academic career?
If you want to proceed with advanced, research-oriented education in the field of sociology you can apply for our Research Master in the Sociology of Culture, Media, and the Arts. Conducting research is the central element of this program. You will receive valuable training which prepares you to apply for a PhD position.