Youth Development and Social Change

Adolescence is a period of major developmental change. Under which conditions do young people grow up to be sociable, well-integrated, confident, healthy and happy adults? Which social changes are crucial for their development? Why do some young people develop well, while others face issues?

The world we live in is interdisciplinary, so are the challenges youth are facing today. To tackle these challenges, you need to think out of the box and be able to work in interdisciplinary teams.

There is increasing concern about mental health problems among young people. We will teach you about the myriad of processes that affect these problems using insights from psychology, sociology, geosciences, medical sciences and many other disciplines. We stimulate you to build bridges between different perspectives and work with professionals in different sectors.

After graduation

This Master’s programme will prepare you for a career in the field of youth research, youth care and youth policy. Considering the increasing complexity of youth issues and diversity of professionals involved, interdisciplinary knowledge and skills are essential to work in the field. Upon graduation, you will not only have developed the skills to conduct research on complex (interdisciplinary) youth issues independently, but you will also have developed concrete skills to facilitate cooperation between professionals from different disciplines.

What is the perspective of young people on laws and policies such as social security benefits, minimum youth income and debt arrangements? How can these facilitate or prevent social participation of adolescents? To answer these questions, we need professionals who can bridge different disciplines and combine different methods.

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!