Wageningen University and Research is a public research university located in Wageningen, Netherlands. It was founded in 1918 and is one of the leading agricultural universities in the world. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as agriculture, food sciences, and environmental sciences. Wageningen University and Research is known for its research in areas such as food security, sustainable agriculture, and biodiversity, and has close partnerships with industry and government organizations.

In the master's Development and Rural Innovation you'll be trained as a professional who understands the social and technological aspects of innovation processes. The programme focuses on the innovations in agriculture, natural resource management and the food industry.

Course structure
Development and Rural Innovation is a unique, predominantly social science programme consisting of an amalgam of disciplinary and problem-oriented courses. It is taught in an interactive style where learning from each other is emphasised.
Study Tracks
Together with your study advisor you will choose one of the following study tracks.

Communication and Innovation Studies, in which you study communication among stakeholders and disciplines in the context of societal problem solving and change.
Technology and Development Studies, with the goal to understand how science and technology interact with international development problems, such as food security, adoption to climate change and social justice.
Sociology of Development, focuses on the understanding of worldwide rural development problems from sociological and anthropological perspectives.
Rural Sociology, focusses on the dynamics of food provisioning, agrarian change and rural and regional development.
Courses
The academic year at Wageningen University is divided into six periods. The total master's programme contains 120 ECTS (2 years) and consists of:

The first year invites and submerges you into the social sciences and allows you to build your theoretical framework for your thesis.
The second year allows you to illustrate you are capable of delivering a solid piece of scientific research through your thesis. The second year also challenges you to work within a real programme or project during your internship.
A detailed description of all the courses can be found in the study handbook.

Major Thesis
The programme of Development and Rural Innovation is highly thesis-oriented. The subject matter, methodology and design courses serve primarily as preparation for an empirical research project. This entails writing a research proposal, conducting the research and completing a master's thesis. Review the thesis catalogue for an impression of the thesis subjects previous students worked on.
WASS Graduate Programme
Are you enthusiastic about doing research and interested in doing a PhD in the future? The Wageningen School of Social Sciences offers motivated students a special track which prepares students for a PhD position. Learn more about the WASS Graduate Programme.

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is a Dutch public university and research center located in Wageningen, Netherlands. It specializes in the field of agricultural, environmental, and life sciences, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as conducting research in these areas. WUR has a strong reputation for its research, with a focus on sustainable agriculture, food production, and environmental protection. Its research is highly interdisciplinary, bringing together experts from different fields to work on complex problems related to global food security, climate change, and biodiversity. The university offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including Bachelor's and Master's degrees in subjects such as agriculture, biology, environmental sciences, food sciences, and international development. Many of its programs are taught in English, making it a popular destination for international students. In addition to its academic programs, WUR also conducts research for governments, businesses, and other organizations. Its research is focused on developing innovative solutions to address global challenges related to food production, climate change, and environmental protection. WUR has a modern campus with state-of-the-art facilities, including research labs, greenhouses, and experimental farms. The campus is home to a vibrant and diverse community of students and researchers from all over the world, creating a stimulating environment for learning and research.

You will need to book the accommodation after you have been accepted.

You can choose to live on campus or off campus in private accommodation.

• Make a booking online after you have been accepted (in this case please let us know your choice when you apply).
• Register when you arrive - its not possible to reserve a room before arriving. You can arrive a few days before and book it