Tilburg University is a research university located in the city of Tilburg in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1927 and offers a range of bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs in fields such as economics, law, social sciences, humanities, and theology. The university is known for its expertise in fields such as economics, business, psychology, and law, and is home to a number of research institutes and centers focused on these areas. Tilburg University has a strong international focus, with students from over 100 countries and partnerships with over 150 universities worldwide. It is also a member of several international research and educational networks.

Program content
Block 1 (September - October)
You will take the following courses in block 1:

Social Changes and Sustainable Development
In this course, you will get an overview of the most urgent global challenges for sustainable development, such as poverty and inequality, migration, climate change and environmental degradation, illustrating how they foster social change on different levels of analysis. You will discuss the role organizations can play in tackling global sustainable development issues, particularly through sustainable business models and by leveraging digital platforms, and the challenges and shortcomings such organizational interventions may entail.
Master Seminar: From Theory to Research
Throughout the program, Master’s seminars will prepare you for your Master’s thesis, which will focus on one or more Sustainable Development Goals.
Block 2 (October - December)
You will take the following courses in block 2:

Social Policy and Social Risks
In this course, you address the topic of social policy and welfare states. Against the backdrop of global challenges and widespread socio-economic changes, you investigate how various ‘welfare regime types’ have developed over time in different countries, reflective of different concepts of social solidarity and leading to varied outcomes in terms of economic well-being (poverty, life chances), stratification patterns (inequality), and life-course risks and their consequences.
Master Seminar: From Theory to Research
Throughout the program, Master’s seminars will prepare you for your Master’s thesis, which will focus on one or more Sustainable Development Goals.
Master's thesis
Block 3 (January - March)
You will take the following courses in block 3:

Hybrid Organizations
In this course, you are introduced to the role of hybrid organizations, and will consider various organizational models and initiatives that may strengthen policy actions in tackling complex and compelling social issues and improving sociodemographic indicators. You will investigate different types of ‘hybrid organizations’, especially social entrepreneurship, the challenges they confront, such as those related to measuring social impact and international scaling, as well as the actions they undertake to overcome them.
Master's thesis
Block 4 (March - June)
You will take the following courses in block 4:

Politics and Society in Comparative Perspective
You develops cross-country analyses of politics and societies, particularly focusing on the rise of populistic groups and of populistic rhetoric.
OR Health and Policy
Delve into concept and key theories in health and policy, and illustrate them with practical examples like health and wellbeing in relation to social and economic factors, policy interventions at macro/meso/micro level, illiteracy, education, poverty, housing, (un)employment, or social and physical environment.
Master Seminar: From Theory to Research
Throughout the program, Master’s seminars will prepare you for your Master’s thesis, which will focus on one or more Sustainable Development Goals.
Master's thesis
Master's thesis
In each track and throughout the program, Master’s seminars will prepare you for writing your Master’s thesis, which will focus on a Global Management of Social Issues (GMSI) related topic in the area of societal challenges and sustainable development.

In your Master’s thesis, you will investigate societal interventions that have been designed and/or implemented to address global social challenges/one or more Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
You will have the opportunity to do a project in an emerging country, hosted by a partner university, or accompanied by an internship in an international organization ((non-)government, or private).
You will write your Master's thesis within the Department of Sociology.
Master's seminars are organized throughout the program, to prepare you for your thesis, by developing academic and research skills.
In case you do an Extended Master's program, it is preferable (but not mandatory) to connect your thesis to the junior traineeship.
Thesis examples

Explaining maternal healthcare utilization across low-and middle-income countries. A multilevel model testing the influence of religion and gender equality
Homeowners’ attitudes towards renewable energy sources
Political legitimacy of energy policies. How national energy policies moderate the relationship between citizen’s power supply concern and political trust?
Integration is not a one-way process. An interview study on perceived discrimination based on ethnicity among highly educated Dutch citizens with an immigration background
Is meat manly? Exploring different explanations for the relationship between gender and meat consumption
Watch a trial lecture
Do you want to experience what a lecture of this Master's program is like? Watch the recording of a lecture and get an impression what to expect.

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