Why study Anthropology and Development Studies in Nijmegen?

Researching global challenges requires more than theory alone. It requires engaging with how these challenges are experienced and challenged in everyday life. In this programme, you combine academic depth with hands-on fieldwork, developing research that is both analytically rigorous and socially relevant. With this programme, you will...

• Specialise in urgent global themes
  You choose one of three tracks – Decolonising Diversity, Ecological Livelihood or Grassroots initiatives – each offering a distinct perspective on inequality, environmental change, and social transformation. These themes provide the foundation for developing your own research focus.
• Approach research field-based and engaged
  Design your own research project, grounded in societal relevance and developed in dialogue with the field. You carry it out during three months of fieldwork, in a national or international context. Throughout the process, you reflect on your positionality and learn to approach research as an engaged and collaborative practice.
• Learn in a small-scale, interactive environment
  Classes are discussion-based and highly interactive, with a strong emphasis on participation. You are encouraged to bring your own interests and experiences into your work, and to actively shape your learning process.
• Develop advanced and creative research skills
  Alongside a strong foundation in qualitative research, you will work with innovative and creative methods, including social network analysis, participatory and art-based approaches and mixed methods. This enables you to analyse complex social realities in ways that go beyond conventional approaches.
• Be part of a close-knit academic community
  As a small department with an open-door culture, students and staff know each other by name. This creates a supportive learning environment and a strong sense of community.
• Work with engaged and experienced scholars
  Our lecturers are active and engaged scholars who guide you in critically analysing complex societal issues and developing your own perspective.
• Connect research to society
  Beyond your thesis, you will explore how to translate your research findings into outputs that are accessible for audiences outside of academia. You will practice with various methods that strive towards societal engagement and impact.
• Access a global network for your fieldwork
  The department has an extensive international network — from the Netherlands to Latin America and Africa to Asia and the Pacific — offering a wide range of opportunities to shape your research around your own interests.