• How do gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, dis/ability and/or religion contribute to the formation of social identities?

  • What role do ensuing power differences between these vectors play in our globalised and mediatised world? 

  • How have feminist theorists rethought dominant understandings of subjectivity?

  • How does geo-political context shape the conditions for films, literature and artistic production to appear?

  • How can established power relations be transformed by feminist thinking in view of a more inclusive society?

In the two-year research MA in Gender Studies, you will approach a myriad of questions related to gender and other social categories through an intersectional approach.

Icon of International students
30 EC
study abroad option
in year 2 of the rMA programme

Critical practice of cultural theories and epistemologies

The programme combines a thorough grounding in the historiography and contemporary state of Gender Studies as a discipline with intensive training in the critical practice of cultural theories and epistemologies from feminist, postcolonial, critical race, and queer perspectives. You will be trained to apply these theories to the analysis of representations of gender in artistic practices, literary texts, political discourses and (new) media and technology. During the courses and seminars, you will learn about subjectivity, representation and power dynamics from feminist and queer epistemological, political, and ethical perspectives. 

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Am I eligible?

Gender Studies (research) is a selective Master’s programme. Do you want to know if you are eligible for this Master?

Check the entry requirements

Why this programme in Utrecht?

Transdisciplinary and intersectional approach

The strength of this research-based MA programme in Gender Studies is its transdisciplinary and intersectional approach, which is represented in the wide range of research expertise of both the academic staff and students, as well as in the curriculum itself. The programme starts from an intersectional understanding of gender as a perpetually emerging factor in the structuring of society and culture, closely interacting with other social categories, and it sees ‘gender’ as an individual, institutional, and symbolic ordering principle that impacts people’s everyday lives.

International reputation

Utrecht University’s research MA in Gender Studies is one of Europe’s most successful interdisciplinary teaching and research programmes in Gender Studies. You will benefit from engaging in a challenging and international setting that offers multiple avenues of investigation into complex social phenomena. The programme is closely affiliated with academics and institutions both within and outside Europe and offers an internationally recognised degree. Our lecturers are internationally recognised as experts in their fields. 

Meet our teaching staff

After graduation

After completing the research Master in Gender Studies you are qualified to apply for a postgraduate or doctoral research programme in the field of women’s, gender, and postcolonial studies. Furthermore, gender experts can also work at governmental organisations, NGO's, national and international women's organisations, and cultural institutions. 

More on career prospects

A global and local network

Our extensive networks of academic and research exchange partners offer you the opportunity to pursue studies and research through numerous organisations in the Netherlands and abroad.

Utrecht University:

Furthermore, the programme participates in:

  • GEMMA, the Erasmus Mundus Master’s programme in Women’s and Gender Studies.
  • AtGender - The European Association for Gender Research, Education and Documentation.
  • RINGS - International Research Network of Institutions and Advanced Gender Studies.
  • InterGender - Research school in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies.

On a local level, studying Gender Studies in Utrecht also means being part of an ambitious, open-minded, and intellectual community. We encourage you to join the student society AskAnnabel, which unites students of this programme and the Gender Studies programme and provides additional avenues for engaging in relevant discussions.

Key facts

Degree: 
Arts & Culture (research)
Language of instruction: 
English
Mode of study: 
Full-time
Study duration: 
2 years
Start: 
September
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: 
60829
Accreditation: 
Accredited by the NVAO
Faculty: 
Humanities
Graduate school: 
Humanities