Sustainability is one of the key concepts of our times, although a contested one. As the product of concerns about environmental degradation, climate alteration, rising socioeconomic inequalities, increasing mobility, and accelerated change, the term has many different meanings and imperatives: our lifeworlds must be environment-friendly, but also economically viable and socially equitable.
Explore the relationship between citizenship and social sustainability
This Master’s programme in Cultural Anthropology: Sustainable Citizenship departs from an integrated understanding. It focuses on the triangle of People, Planet, and Profit, pointing out that sustainability has not only an environmental meaning, yet also an economic and sociocultural one. As such, the programme seeks to understand how citizens worldwide are negotiating and restructuring their living environment to be safe and sustainable at the same time. It incorporates both local and global understandings of the concept of sustainability and, in doing so, scrutinizes various expressions of active citizenship in building sustainability around the world.
Innovative methodology
Anthropologists continually focus on cultural diversity and differences based on ethnicity, class, gender, age, and health. This Master’s programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills to evaluate these facets of life and their interrelationships. During your studies, you will learn traditional anthropological methods and techniques (fieldwork, participant observation, and qualitative interviews).
However, since anthropology is by definition engaged, you will move also toward engaged anthropology and explore collaborative ethnographic methods, such as participatory action research. In addition, you are introduced to related, innovative methodologies in, for example, the area of narrative and virtual ethnography, engaging in cutting-edge combinations of aesthetics, digital media, and ethnography. You will also discuss ethical dilemmas and your own social responsibility as an anthropologist.
Learn to integrate theory and practice
Programme objective
This Master’s degree programme will train you to work as an academic professional. Along with classic methods and skills, the programme allows you to acquire applied and practice-focused skills, enabling you to flexibly switch between or integrate scientific theory and anthropological professional practice. Take a look at the portraits of our graduates for a better idea of the career prospects.
Do you want to pursue a career as a scientific researcher? If so, the Master’s programme Cultural Anthropology: Sociocultural Transformation might be a better fit for your goals. This programme concentrates on the issue of power and (violent) conflict versus the state, while the Master’s programme in Cultural Anthropology: Sustainable Citizenship focuses on citizenship in relation to a sustainable living environment.
How does this Master’s programme differentiate itself from similar programmes at other universities?
- We offer an intellectually stimulating programme with a variety of work methods
- Above-average quality
- The ability to operate as a holistic specialist in the field of anthropology
- International context
The Students of Cultural Anthropology Journal (SCAJ)
The Students of Cultural Anthropology Journal (SCAJ) is a platform where students gain experience reviewing and publishing one another's written work. With this, SCAJ connects different years of study and creates an interactive learning environment to which all students are welcome to contribute.
World-class university in a lively student city
Choosing Utrecht University means choosing one of the best universities in the country with several renowned international rankings and twelve Nobel Prize laureates.
Located in the middle of the Netherlands, Utrecht is a medieval city with a centre small enough to explore on foot, yet large enough to host world-class festivals, fashionable shops, modern architecture and fascinating museums. Find more about what student life is like in Utrecht!
Key facts
- Degree:
- Culturele Antropologie (MSc)
- Language of instruction:
- English
- Mode of study:
- Full-time
- Study duration:
- 1 year
- Start:
- September
- Deadline:
- Tuition fees:
- Dutch and other EU/EEA students (statutory fee, full-time) 2024-2025: € 2.530
Non-EU/EEA students (institutional fee) 2024-2025: € 20.043
More information about fees - Croho code:
- 60745
- Accreditation:
- Accredited by the NVAO
- Faculty:
- Social and Behavioural Sciences
- Graduate school:
- School of Social and Behavioural Sciences