Human Geography Europe: Borders, Identity and Governance

Master's specialisation | Joint programme optionalBorders, Migration and Justice

In this specialisation we explore the influence of geopolitics and persistence of global injustices for present day human mobility across the globe. This implies paying attention to processes of colonial and post-colonial arrangements around borders, it calls for a comprehensive epistemology of the impact which policy has on mobility perspectives, and it requires critical empirical approaches to these dynamics that take all actors, migrants included, on board.

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Something for you?

  • This specialisation has a strong focus on the socio-spatial dimensions of bordering practices and migration practices, taking a spatial justice approach to explore the positions and roles of various actors.
  • You will be encouraged to take a multidisciplinary approach, relating human geography and geopolitics to other disciplines such as political science, law, sociology, anthropology, economics, international relations, gender, and development studies.
  • In this specialisation you are encouraged to conduct first hand in-depth research on topics such as bordering practises, migration governance, mobile livelihoods and transnational engagements. 
  • This programme has an above-average score compared to the national average on three or more of the five core subjects (Source: Keuzegids). 
Why study this programme?

Admission requirements

Do you want to know if you can be admitted? Read more about the admission requirements of this programme.

Admission and application
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What will you learn

You will gain much in-demand expertise on border policies, identities and shifting global mobilities, issues that are dominating the agenda of many governments, return in the interventions of NGO’s, the transnational operations of businesses, and in the narratives of (social) media.

Furthermore:

  • You will receive first-hand insights and guidance from experts in the field.
  • You will be stimulated to develop your own views, research, and findings, to prepare you for your own future after your studies.

In our one-year master's programme the first semester has a strong knowledge and theory gaining orientation, whereby guest lectures, in-class interaction, assignments and excursions provide an opportunity to also apply theoretical lenses to empirical cases. 

The second semester is primarily devoted to your master's thesis research. Your thesis is conducted as part of an internship experience with a relevant organization in the field, and in most cases will call for extensive fieldwork to collect new and relevant data. 

Study programme

Future career opportunities

This specialisation hands you the knowledge and skills for a career in jobs such as:

  • Policy advisor in local, national or supranational government
  • Research or advisory position with local, regional and international organisations tackling concerns such as the rights to mobility, the plight of refugees, the potential of cross-border regional development, or the transnational role of diasporas.
  • Researching and/or teaching in the field of human geography, geopolitics, international relations, development studies, border studies, migration studies, European studies, conflict studies
  • Research and advisory positions for NGO’s, critical journalism and advocacy platforms
  • Part of our mission is also to nurture engaged citizens who drive social change through activism and critical thinking. 

Career prospects

Research

To give an impression of the type of research in this specialisation, here are a few research questions that we are studying:

  • How to understand and normatively evaluate the EU’s border and migration regime?
  • How can we move beyond the narrow, yet impactful, state-centric iconography of borders as lines and migration as invasion arrows in our maps, in order to come to terms with a more sophisticated understanding of today’s bordering processes and migration? 
  • What is the colonial legacy of today’s border, migration and integration policies?
  • How do migration and career perspectives intertwine in uneven mobility policy landscapes?
  • What is the significance and impact of migration between destinations in less affluent countries? 
  • What is the impact of migration, through transnational linkages, on economic processes elsewhere in the world?

Questions about this programme?

Do you have a question about this programme? We're happy to help. Please contact us, ask a student or check out our information activities.

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Tuitions & grants

If you are going to follow this Master's programme, you will pay an annual tuition fee. There are different tuition rates. The amount depends on your personal situation.

Tuition