p. 1

master s degrees in behavioural and social sciences 2010­2011 a word from the rector magnificus `master your talents thank you for considering us for your postgraduate studies we offer students from all over the world high quality research and education and provide you with the academic skills and knowledge you need for your future role in society the university of groningen founded in 1614 is one of the older universities in europe and has educated more than 200,000 graduates in the last 400 years we are proud to say that we developed into one of the leading research universities in the world we are even more proud to say that during all these years our tradition of academic excellence has not changed we are an international centre of knowledge that has managed to create an atmosphere that enables researchers to discover things which would otherwise have remained hidden to them we offer challenging study and research paths that vary in intensity to encourage you to develop your individual talent studying at the university of groningen will provide you with a truly international experience which will broaden your horizon the global outlook we provide you with will give you a competitive advantage in realizing your future careerplans all this takes place in the city of talent groningen a city where distances are small and possibilities endless i hope to be welcoming you to the university of groningen soon prof dr frans zwarts rector magnificus the netherlands

[close]

p. 2

the university of groningen the most welcoming university of the netherlands 400 years of academic tradition and innovation leading research university study in an international environment dedicated to student involvement facts figures 26,500 students 2,200 international students 9 faculties bachelor master and phd programmes 9 graduate schools 83 english-taught degree programmes 10 english-taught double degree programmes student facilities the groningen personal approach honours college for exceptional talent student support courses talent and career center excellent computer and online facilities wide variety of international student organizations limitless access to the university sports centre groningen safe environment full of life the groningen canals ports and warehouses take you back to 14th century hanseatic times when groningen was a member of this alliance of trading guilds groningen city city of talent 180,000 inhabitants best innercity of the netherlands 2005 best student city of the netherlands 2006 ranked as european city with the highest quality of life by its inhabitants 2006 lively with a safe community character cultural and economic capital of the north groningen museum the groningen museum is the most highprofile museum in the netherlands not only due to its striking design but also because of various exhibitions culture fun cinemas and theatres cater for all cultural tastes matching the groningen way of life these venues large and small can be found scattered throughout the city arthouse films in cinema `images concerts in the `oosterpoort theatre at the historic `schouwburg live music late-night jazz funk and blues-rock cafés musicfestivals like noorderzon eurosonic noorderslag and swinging groningen www.cityoftalent.nl www.groningen.nl contents the university of groningen leading research university 2 international outlook 3 international student barometer 3 social and cultural university facilities sports facilities 28 student associations 28 cultural student centre usva 28 groningen student platform 28 teaching and research master s degree programmes 4 graduate schools 4 phd opportunities 5 educational system in the netherlands 5 diploma supplement 6 preparing for groningen admission and registration 29 visa and residence permit 29 accommodation 29 health insurance 29 cost of living 29 tuition fees 29 scholarships 29 the faculty of behavioural and social sciences striving for excellence 8 accommodation master s degrees in behavioural and social sciences education 10 pedagogic 12 psychology 14 human behaviour in social contexts 18 artificial intelligence 20 human-machine communication 24 a home away from home 30 groningen safe environment full of life 31 the netherlands small in size internationally oriented the dutch landscape 32 famous dutch 32 climate moderate but unpredictable 32 the netherlands in a nutshell 32 english-taught master s degree programmes 2010-2011 33 central university services and facilities international service desk 26 introduction and orientation 26 language courses 26 computer and online facilities 26 university library 27 student advisors 27 student support courses 27 talent and career center 27 disclaimer all information published in this brochure is subject to change no legal rights may be derived from this brochure while the university of groningen makes every endeavour to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in this brochure it cannot be held liable for any errors or inaccuracies you may find the university of groningen is a signatory of the `code of conduct with respect to international students in dutch higher education

[close]

p. 3

the university of groningen founded in 1614 the university of groningen is one of the oldest universities in the netherlands and enjoys an international reputation as one of the leading research universities it is a university with a modern studentoriented vision on education the university of groningen has always been an outstanding example of an international community almost 400 years ago close to half the students and lecturers came from outside the netherlands today close to 50 of our 1500 phd students are international students although internationally oriented the university maintains strong ties with the city of groningen and its surrounding region leading research university passion and performance realizing an ultimate dream is the main motive for many scientists in doing their research the university of groningen provides you with a study environment that rewards vision quality and achievement we belong to the top 3 of european research universities in the fields of nanoscience number 1 in europe top 10 worldwide ecology/biology materials sciences chemistry astronomy other strong research groups are molecular biology medical sciences neurosciences sociology philosophy theology archeology and arts humanities all awarded degrees have been accredited by the dutch government and are internationally acknowledged famous scientists past and present frits zernike nobel prize for physics 1953 heike kamerlingh-onnes nobel prize for physics 1913 albert szent-györgyi nobel prize for medicine 1937 serge daan award for eminent scientists of the japan society for the promotion of science jsps petra rudolf descartes award for her work on synthetic molecular motors and artificial nanomachines ben feringa spinoza award for his work on nanotechnology the academiegebouw the heart of the university of groningen international outlook involved with the world knowledge has no borders and knows no boundaries ­ it is universal by attracting genuine talent irrespective of the country of origin we ensure the quality of teaching and research going abroad for an international experience is not the only option anymore ­ home can be an international environment as well we maintain long-term partnerships with universities around the world with similar high standards participate in international networks and incorporate international themes in our programmes international student barometer since 2007 the university of groningen takes part in the international student barometer a global survey of satisfaction and well-being among international students why students choose to study with us international reputation quality of teaching and research reputation of groningen as a safe friendly and relatively cheap city rated best in the netherlands official welcoming ceremony social activities organized for international students sports facilities highly valued internet access international service desk and faculty international offices library and study facilities dutch/groningen host culture 9 faculties arts behavioural and social sciences economics and business law mathematics and natural sciences medical sciences philosophy spatial sciences theology and religious studies 9 graduate schools humanities law ggsl business and economics som philosophy behavioural and social sciences spatial science theology and religious studies thrs medical sciences science international rankings esi citations per publication position 81 of the 200 most productive universities worldwide shanghai jiao tong ranking arwu shared position 101 worldwide 35 europe times higher education supplement position 144 che-excellence ranking biology and physics received the `excellence group ranking chemistry and mathematics received the `top group ranking strategic partners europe uppsala university sweden ghent university belgium university of göttingen germany asia gadjah mada university university of indonesia bandung institute of technology indonesia university of beijing tsinghua university fudan university china osaka university japan latin america national autonomous university of mexico ­ unam mexico university of são paolo ­ usp brazil north america university of california at los angeles ­ ucla university of pennsylvania usa famous graduates aletta jacobs the first female student in the netherlands wim duisenberg the first president of the european central bank hans wijers ceo of the board of management akzonobel job cohen mayor of amsterdam peter rehwinkel mayor of groningen several members of the royal family groningen and europe 4 erasmus mundus programmes leading university in europe-mexico erasmus mundus external cooperation windows member of coimbra group bernoulliborg faculty of mathematics natural sciences 2

[close]

p. 4

teaching and research the university of groningen is home to over 26,500 students who are welcomed to an inspiring and stimulating atmosphere with a degree from the university of groningen you can be confident that you have the required skills and theoretical background to pursue your future career master s degree programmes master your talents we train you to be a scholar and a scientist while instilling the professional skills enabling you to find work outside the research community as well our high quality master s programmes are grounded in research giving you the opportunity to share in the best and latest knowledge they last between one and two years successful completion of a master s programme is awarded with a master s degree ma msc or llm graduate school master s programmes for those of you with research as a special focal point we offer two-year `research master and `top master programmes they are designed to attract the most qualified students and are incorporated in graduate schools an excellent preparation for a phd or for professional and research careers double degree joint programmes studying at the university of groningen does not mean your experience is limited to the netherlands alone the university joins forces with strategic international partner universities or pools resources in a consortium of european universities enabling students to study in different countries and deal with different systems cultures and societies graduate schools a union of teaching and research the graduate schools bring together distinguished staff members and talented students who share a common interest with these schools we aim to ease the transition between the master s and phd levels give graduates strong research skills and create a supporting environment with expert scholars the schools offer outstanding services activities and events that enhance graduate study the interaction between graduate schools research institutes and faculties ensures an interdisciplinary approach while profiting from a wide range of external networks phd opportunities admission to a phd programme is highly selective and based on academic merit the best preparation is successful completion of one of our graduate school master s programmes in the four-year phd programmes you conduct your own research while the graduate school provides a balanced mix of expert supervision tailor-made postgraduate training and the freedom to pursue your own ideas educational system in the netherlands teaching style knowledge is considered quantifiable and thus measurable study programmes are carefully defined and highly structured and you are expected to contribute actively and work independently the teaching staff is there to assemble and structure the truths and facts that make up the body of knowledge you must make sure that you absorb knowledge filter it and make it your own ground-breaking learning system the netherlands has received international acclaim for its problem-based learning system training students to work independently through emphasis on self-study and self-discipline student-centred it provides you with the attention and freedom you need to develop your own opinions and creativity in applying your acquired knowledge teamwork a large part of all programmes is dedicated to writing papers analysing and solving problems in groups acquiring work experience through internships and conducting experiments in laboratories source of information nuffic teaching methods most of your courses will have a mixture of two or more of the below mentioned teaching methods lecture large group of students listening to a professor less interaction between teacher and student seminar small group a lot of interaction between professor and student you are expected to participate actively work/project group a group of 3-5 students conducting their own research you have to contribute to the project actively guidance from the professor when needed independent study you are expected to conduct a research project independently guidance from the professor when needed study support studying in a different country can be quite an overwhelming experience at times everything is different and your friends and family are far away to guide and help you through your studies as smoothly as possible the university of groningen offers students several support facilities more information on study support facilities page 27 dutch higher education values independence individual opinions teamwork

[close]

p. 5

binary system of higher education the netherlands has two types of universities universities of applied sciences hogescholen are primarily career-oriented and prepare students for particular professions the university of groningen is a research university universiteit with research as its main focal point universities research-oriented phd 4 years master s degree ma/msc/llm 1­2 years bachelor s degree ba/bsc/llb 3 years universities of applied sciences career-oriented phd not applicable master s degree m 1­2 years bachelor s degree b 4 years ects and grading ects is an eu standardized system for measuring study load as a way to facilitate international mobility 28 hours of study incl contact hours reading exam preparation etc 60 ects one year the minimum number of ects credits needed to obtain a master s degree is usually 60 in the fields of the humanities economics social sciences and law 120 ects credits are required for some programmes mainly in the field of natural sciences whereas other programmes vary from 180 medical sciences to 240 ects credits the dutch grading scale runs from 1 lowest grade to 10 highest grade as an indication 5.5 is a passing grade grades 9 10 and all grades lower than 3 are highly exceptional accreditation and quality assurance higher education in the netherlands enjoys a worldwide reputation for its high quality this is achieved through a national system of legal regulation and quality control the ministry of education culture and science is responsible for legislation pertaining to education as of 2002 the responsibilities for quality assurance have been allocated to the netherlands accreditation organization nvao all degree programmes offered by universities and universities of applied sciences are evaluated according to established criteria only accredited programmes will be eligible for government funding this system of quality control and accreditation guarantees that the education offered at all dutch universities meets the same high standards 1 ects diploma supplement the university of groningen issues a diploma supplement to every student upon graduation it is designed to provide a description of the nature level context content and status of the courses that were followed and successfully completed by the student it is free from any value judgements equivalence statements or suggestions about recognition the purpose of the supplement is to provide sufficient independent data to improve international `transparency and fair academic and professional recognition of qualifications i particularly like the scientific character of the degree programme i chose to study pedagogic in groningen because unlike other dutch universities the groningen master s degree programme in special education and child care offers a pedagogic specialization focusing on educating and supporting people with special needs i particularly like the scientific character of the degree programme which teaches you to critically view the practical world in a systematic way and thus to make a useful contribution to the field during my internship on curaçao i concentrated on implementing an education and support programme in an institution for people with serious multiple disabilities we adapted the programme to aspects of the antillean culture during my studies i was a member of the pedagogic specialization committee and i was also involved in module evaluations in the future i hope to find a job where i can continue to combine science and actual practice mirjam bakker student of the master s degree programme in special education and child care the university of groningen is the only dutch higher education institution to have a ects label and a diploma supplement label awarded and recognized by the european commission council of europe and unesco/cepes 6

[close]

p. 6

faculty of behavioural and social sciences the faculty of behavioural and social sciences is a centre of knowledge focussing on individuals and society we study issues relating to human behaviour the relationships between people and society as a whole this includes the study of how people function under normal circumstances but also of the problems encountered by individuals or groups and how these can be resolved or prevented the faculty has a twofold task research and teaching thanks to its research activities the faculty has become a leading centre on behavioural and social science our research forms the basis of our teaching programmes students gain insight into the latest advances in their chosen discipline the faculty stimulates their drive for new knowledge and to develop the skills that enable them to acquire and assess knowledge independently society benefits in various ways from knowledge acquired within this faculty naturally students apply their knowledge in their subsequent jobs we also have direct connections with the professional field in particular through the research we carry out and the advice we provide for companies and organizations in the community striving for excellence honours streams our mission is to conduct high-level research and provide high-quality teaching based on that research we aim to deliver high quality in our teaching as well as in our research within that context where possible students and staff are encouraged to excel even further in terms of education this is possible through the honours stream of the bachelor s degree programmes and through the two-year research master s programme in terms of research we excel through a number of programmes that lead the field worldwide master s degrees in behavioural and social sciences 2010­2011 the tuition fees for 2010-2011 for the faculty of behavioural and social sciences appr eur 1,620 for eu students appr eur 9,500 for non-eu students in the top left conrer of the pages where the master s programmes are described you can find a coloured indication of the type of master s programme the coloured beams represent the following type of programmes rm research master part of one of our graduate schools tm top master part of one of our graduate schools em erasmus mundus the highly esteemed erasmus mundus status dd double degree j joint programme

[close]

p. 7

t dd jw education faculty of behavioural and social sciences key facts start programme september 200 duration in months 2 language english degree master of science msc in education optional courses capita selecta educational policy and educational management ­ 5 ects the child s world and education historical roots and actual developments 5 ects any other course useful for your thesis ­ 5 ects semester 2 the master s thesis project ­ 30 ects the last phase of the programme is the research component supervised by a member of our academic staff because of the comparative and international nature of the programme ideally theses will be researched in the student s home country and may concentrate upon a particular matter of interest to educational policy or theory in that country what is the link between empirical knowledge about learning and cognition and the instructional practice how does the structure of an educational organization effect the outcome of schoolings which instructional designs are the most effective for learning what are the effects of small classes general information the master s degree programme in education `educational effectiveness and instructional design teaches you to analyze education from a system s point of view this results in attention for the context input process and outcomes of education central in this view is attention for ways to improve education and issues related to the quality efficiency and effectiveness of education programme content the programme is a one-year programme 60 ects combining core courses with an individual master s thesis project semester 1 the first semester is reserved for statistical methodological and theoretical deepening concentrating on educational theory and practice and includes compulsory courses curriculum theory 5 ects learning and instruction 5 ects educational research and evaluation ­ 10 ects organizational management and educational effectiveness ­ 5 ects admission requirements bachelor s degree in education or a bachelor s degree in a subject related to education competence in terms of good knowledge of research methodology and related statistics a diagnostic test is available on the website good knowledge of educational psychology a diagnostic test is available on the website advanced analytic and synthetic cognitive skills english language requirement toefl 580 or ielts 6.5 all applications are subject to an academic assessment by the admission board application you can apply online please go to www.rug.nl/howtoapply application deadline eu students 1 may 2010 application deadline non-eu students 1 march 2010 if you wish to apply for a scholarship the deadline for programme applications is two months before the scholarship deadline further information www.rug.nl/gmw/onderwijs/mastersopleidingen or www.rug.nl/pedok/onderwijs/masteropleidingen internationalmastereduc contact details academic advisor drs j.a.m evers t +31 50 363 64 80 f +31 50 363 65 21 j.a.m.evers@rug.nl interdisciplinary comparative and international depending on your interests co-operation with other programmes is possible i.e history of european education information technology economics of education field of research during the five-month specialization phase students can select from `majors specializations including curriculum theory design history of education comparative/international education didactics the theory of learning research analysis statistical techniques career prospects a career in educational policy research and practice at a senior level careers in all sectors of public and private education and training the programme is ideal for those who are already working as educational professionals and who would like to expand their knowledge base and research skills the programme is especially interesting for extending professional capacity in education for example in the areas of research learning and instructional design policy and curriculum development history of education educational management and accountability 0

[close]

p. 8

t dd jw pedagogic faculty of behavioural and social sciences key facts start programme september 200 duration in months 2 language english degree master of science msc in educational sciences this working group is aiming to develop knowledge by combining recent research with explorative interventions in the practical field of congenital deafblindness you will make important contributions to the development and stabilization of this knowledge based expertise programme content the programme starts with specialized theoretical themes introduction to communication with people with cdb 5 ects thematic constituents of fundamental communicative processes are explained assessment and population early symbolic communication dialogicality joint attention referential gestures subjectivity and inter subjectivity meaning-construction from cognitive semiotics narratives and the role of gestures in communication and thinking tactile communication and staff development this is followed by the masters project 50 ects consisting of 3 parts coaching and support in methodology 5 ects practical training and learners report 15 ects research and thesis 30 ects as part of the masters project you receive coaching in methodology you have to perform a practical training and write a learners report during that period the main part of you masters project is performing a research project and writing your thesis to complete the programme you have to link your master project to overall theories and models 5 ects dialogicality transactional model inter-subjectivity mind body and culture field of research domains for research are concentrated on the topic communication with people who are congenitally deafblind you can perform your research also in the field of people with deafblindness and additional disabilities or people with sensory and multiple disabilities research lines are meaning-creation tactile communication assessment communication and transition to a cultural language career prospects the programme provides you with enough knowledge and skills to enable you to obtain a position in the field of education related to deafblindness or other related fields including other related and complex disabilities in which communication is seen as an important aspect of the quality of life a sufficient base for consultant in education or for further research professionals who are already working in these fields with extra tools and skills that will help them to improve communicational insight and knowledge admission requirements a relevant bachelor s degree sufficient knowledge of methodology for students who do not fulfil these requirements quite yet there is the possibility to follow a pre-programme english language requirement toefl 580 or ielts 6.5 application you can apply online please go to www.rug.nl/howtoapply application deadline eu students 1 june 2010 application deadline non-eu students 1 march 2010 if you wish to apply for a scholarship the deadline for programme applications is two months before the scholarship deadline further information www.rug.nl/gmw/onderwijs/mastersopleidingen or www.rug.nl/pedok/onderwijs/masteropleidingen/internationalmastereduc contact details curriculum coordinator prof dr marleen janssen t +31 50 363 65 75 f +31 50 363 65 64 h.j.m.janssen@rug.nl which theoretical and methodological tools are useful to analyse communication between people who are congenitally deafblind and their communication partners which assessment procedures can be developed in order to evaluate cognition interaction and communication how can staff training improve intentional communication in practice general information these kind of questions are addressed in this master s degree programme in educational sciences communication and congenital deafblindness it is a unique programme with which you acquire theoretical and methodological skills enabling you to analyze communication in complex situations you will learn to apply this knowledge to the contexts of research and intervention this european master s programme is based on and inspired by the work of the dbi ecn 1 the deaf blind international european communication network started in 1988 this working group gathers knowledge about communication and congenital deafblindness combining recent research with examples of practical knowledge from the field this has resulted in the production of video s seminars and papers which continuously provide state-of-the-art reports five different countries are represented in the working group the members are marlene daelman k.m.p.i spermalie brugge belgium flemming ask larsen nordic staff training center aalborg denmark marleen janssen university of groningen the netherlands anne nafstad skådalen resource centre oslo norway inger rødbroe resource center on congenital deafblindness aalborg denmark jacques souriau cresam poitiers france ton visser viataal center for expertise sint-michielsgestel the netherlands only programme in the world focussing on communication with people who are congenitally deafblind aims at providing deafblind and hearing sighted persons with tools that help them communicate tools acquired in this programme are also applicable to other people with disabilities 2

[close]

p. 9

t dd jw psychology faculty of behavioural and social sciences key facts start programme september 200 duration in months 2 language english degree master of science msc in psychology programme content the programme is a one-year programme 60 ects combining core courses with an individual master s thesis project the courses comprise foundation/specialization courses 10 ects integration brain and behaviour attitudes and behaviour environmental psychology skill acquisition and training cognition motivation emotion skills practica 5 ects social-psychological experimental techniques applying theories methods courses 5 ects experimental design and analyses of variance repeated measures causal inference electives 5 ects the master s thesis project 30 ects at a research institute in the netherlands or abroad an individual empirical study on a specific subject under the supervision of a senior staff member carried out internally or externally concise report of the research project often in the form of a pre publication career prospects a career in fundamental or applied research a consultant or policy advisor in a wide range of areas related to human behaviour in the public or private sector the master s degree also qualifies students to apply for a phd position admission requirements a bachelor s degree in psychology or an equivalent competence in terms of knowledge of disciplinary subjects in psychology and their applications skills in designing psychological research and reporting it knowledge of methods of data collection and analysis an analytical and critical attitude enabling you to assess scientific information motivation to acquire knowledge and skills at a postgraduate level english language requirement toefl 580 or ielts 6.5 a letter of motivation application you can apply online please go to www.rug.nl/howtoapply application deadline eu students 1 may 2010 application deadline non-eu students 1 march 2010 if you wish to apply for a scholarship the deadline for programme applications is two months before the scholarship deadline further information http www.rug.nl/gmw/onderwijs/mastersopleidingen or http www.rug.nl/psy/onderwijs/masteropleidingen/mastereng/index contact details academic advisor drs j.a.m evers t +31 50 363 64 80 f +31 50 363 65 21 j.a.m.evers@rug.nl the key questions addressed in the master s degree programme in psychology concern how people perform and function in task-related and interactive settings and what individual social and environmental factors influence their functioning and performance all is addressed theoretically and in an applied framework such as environmental or health psychology general information the aim of the master s degree programme is to teach you advanced knowledge and skills and to train you in fundamental and applied research in a specialized area within psychology with an emphasis on cognitive and social psychology the cultural context of human behaviour is a major focus of interest create your own programme by selecting courses and a master s thesis subject that fit your specific interests be this fundamental or applied freedom to design the programme in a manner that suits you i.e do all your course work in semester and write your thesis in semester 2 or carry out your project and your thesis concurrently with your course work 1 the programme offered in english normally does not provide students the opportunity of vocational training in clinical and developmental psychology as this requires proficiency in the dutch language field of research social psychology organizational psychology the emphasis with both is on individual differences and covers areas like cross-cultural psychology health psychology environmental psychology

[close]

p. 10

t dd jw `challenging captivating and enriching after visiting the romanian international university fair riuf i took the decision to study at the university of groningen it was a great decision in my life made with great expectations at the moment after one year as a student in the research master s programme in human behaviour in social contexts i know that studying and living in groningen is an experience that i ll never forget founded on a national and international reputation for excellence the research master s programme offers me a constant feeling of working at the frontiers of knowledge and for this reason i find it challenging captivating and enriching the research master s programme is demanding in its requirements but it provides me with an advanced training for my future research career in my opinion the highest expectation of the staff who supervise the students is for students to have high expectations of themselves this seems to be the key to excellent achievements for both the students and the university groningen is a vivid and young city with many students from various backgrounds beautiful landscapes and enjoyable opportunities to spend your free time and to join a wide variety of sports most of the dutch people speak english and i would say that this is just one way of being introduced to the dutch hospitality i would warmly recommend the university of groningen to others for the high quality of the education for the international atmosphere of the academic environment and for the great value attached to independence individual opinions and teamwork my future plans are to continue with a doctoral programme in order to become a specialist in social and organizational psychology the research master s programme optimally prepares me for a career in scientific research nicoleta balau ­ romania student of the research master s programme in human behaviour in social contexts groningen an ideal place to live and study no doubt that i made the right choice to do my master s degree at the university of groningen as one of senior universities in the netherlands it was my expectation that the university is equipped with the required human and material resources it can never be exaggerating that what i saw practically is more than what i expected a scholarship of nuffic gave me the opportunity to attend the one-year master s programme in education as an international programme the study environment was creating the possibilities of interacting with students from different countries from europe africa and south-east asia with different historical cultural and social backgrounds the courses which were imparted through various medium of communication and mostly research based gave me the chance to critically scrutinize the educational practices of various countries across the world due to this rich and multifarious educational environment and the professional contacts with the staff members i feel confident that i have acquired knowledge and research skills which enable me to competently accomplish my work and future career in the educational sciences in my home country ethiopia hailu legesse wubishet -ethiopia student of the master s programme in education 6

[close]

p. 11

t dd rm jw human behaviour in social contexts faculty of behavioural and social sciences key facts start programme september 200 duration in months 2 language english degree master of science msc in human behaviour in social contexts how do groups perceive themselves in relation to other groups what determines success and failure in achievement situations what is the influence of family neighbourhoods peers and school on the development of pro and antisocial behaviour among youth what are the effects of new approaches in junior and higher education which method of analysis is most appropriate to which data problem general information the four specializations represent the research programmes that are consistently evaluated as among the best in the netherlands each specialization emphasis the intgration of basic and applied research the philosophy is that basic research needs to have relevance for phenomena in society and that applied research needs to be directly theoretically relevant 4 specializations social and organizational psychology sociology education and development psychometrics and statistics together with your personal supervisor you determine the focus of your own individual programme of study so that it suits your specific ambitions talents and interests the programme is associated with the graduate school for behavioural and social sciences in which additional phd training is organized programme content the programme takes two years 120 ects the content is as follows general course that provides an overview of research within the graduate school for behavioural and social sciences 5 ects other courses 45 ects literature studies 15 ects traineeship 15 ects seminars 5 ects master s thesis research project which may be extended to a proposal for a phd project 35 ects highest student ranked research master s programme in the behavioural and social sciences in the netherlands work one-on-one with internationally acknowledged researchers determine the focus of your programme so that it suits your own ambitions and interests field of research and specializations social and organizational psychology combines and integrates personality social and organizational psychology focuses on intra-personal inter-personal and inter-group perceptions and comparisons how people perceive themselves in relation to their own standards in relation to other people and in relation to other groups has psychological and behavioural consequences we also study how these psychological processes play out over time in social interactions among individuals in small groups organizations and in society at large sociology strong emphasis on the `hands on approach in which you participate in ongoing research projects and research practicals in application areas such as research in organizations sociology of education intercultural integration social stratification or households you learn to apply advanced theories and methods that are key for a successful research career in modern sociology background knowledge is provided in courses that cover topics such as models of social rationality social capital theory social network analysis and statistical methods for complex multi-actor multi-level and multi-event data structures this specialization is offered jointly with the department of sociology in utrecht in the context of the interuniversity centre for social science theory and methodology ics education and development the specialization education and development focuses on the effectiveness of education and the improvement of developmental processes adaptive and inclusive education focuses on creating equitable and accessible education especially for students that are at risk socio-psychological precursors of school success studies how personality motivation meta-cognition social comparison processes and friendship ties affect students school careers instructional design focuses on the use and effect of new learning environments such as computer supported collaborative learning but also socio-constructivist inspired real life situations for learning developmental processes in the life span studies developmental processes with a dynamic systems view psychometrics and statistics focuses on a variety of advanced statistical data analysis methods and experimental techniques it is not only taught how the methods are to be applied but also background knowledge on these methods is given and relationships with other methods are indicated suitable for those of you wishing to build a solid basis in statistical data analysis methods and an ideal preparation for students aiming at a phd project on statistical data analysis methods career prospects the programme is designed primarily for highly talented motivated and ambitious students who are interested in pursuing a career in scientific research conduct fundamental and applied research in the social and behavioural sciences further study and training for a phd thesis employment in the public or private sector admission requirements high performance during the bachelor s degree programme knowledge of relevant theories and statistics including multiple regression and analysis of variance and experience with statistical software packages preference for one of the four research groups you may be invited for an interview with the admissions board in order to discuss your motivation and aspirations application you can apply online please go to www.rug.nl/howtoapply application deadline eu students 1 may 2010 application deadline non-eu students 1 march 2010 if you wish to apply for a scholarship the deadline for programme applications is two months before the scholarship deadline further information www.rug.nl/gmw/rema contact details drs j.a.m evers t +31 50 363 64 80 f +31 50 363 65 21 j.a.m.evers@rug.nl

[close]

p. 12

t dd jw artificial intelligence faculty of mathematics and social sciences key facts start programme september 200 february 20 duration in months 2 language english degree master of science msc institute artificial intelligence and cognitive engineering a possible research topic is how to get one aibo robot dog to recognize another aibo an example of a multi-agent system is a team of robots playing football these robots have to communicate and cooperate with each other when designing these types of systems knowledge of thinking and acting of humans and animals is necessary this is combined with techniques from computing science and logic the university of groningen student robocup team is among the best in the world and has beaten many other teams consisting of phd students programme content there is a specific emphasis on the understanding of natural cognition we want to explore and understand the behaviour of humans and animals by simulating it in robots and computer simulations the emphasis here is on the more `complicated forms of cognition like cooperation communication social interaction and predictive perception the master s programme artificial intelligence is a two-year programme and it is part of the school of computing and cognition the programme consists of six compulsory core courses 30 ects optional courses 45 ects and a master s thesis 45 ects within the master s programme artificial intelligence there are two main themes autonomous perceptive systems and multi-agent systems in the study programme there is a theoretical as well as an applied approach to these two themes compulsory courses perception machine learning research skills cognitive robotics multi-agent systems topics in cognitive science some optional courses language modelling self-organization in biological systems computer vision pattern recognition sound recognition using the optional courses you can choose to specialize in one of the two main themes or choose your own specialization through the optional courses you decided whether to take a more theoretical approach or an applied approach for your master s thesis you work on your own research project the choice of subject is up to you you can choose from a broad range of subjects examples are self-organization in groups of penguins simulation of co-evolutions in robot crickets modelling of crowds strategy evolution in diplomacy more theses and their summaries can be found at www.rug.nl/ai/nieuws/colloquia scripties.fwn.eldoc.ub.rug.nl field of research most of the teachers in the master s programme also participate as researcher in the research institute alice artificial intelligence and cognitive engineering the content of the courses taught are closely linked to the research themes of the teachers career prospects once you have obtained your master s degree in artificial intelligence you can apply your skills in a industrial research development for instance air traffic and space labs where you make sure intelligent and innovative technologies are used during the design process work as a researcher at a university phd or a private research institute like tno about 50 of our students choose a career as a scientist mostly phd what is intelligent behaviour how can robots communicate with each other how to design a system that negotiates in this programme you will learn how to design and implement intelligent systems humans and animals are important sources of inspiration in this area general information the master s programme artificial intelligence ai focuses on the development of intelligent systems the core topics in this master are autonomous perceptive systems cognitive robotics and multi-agent systems autonomous systems are systems that can operate and carry out missions independently for example robots driving around on the moon taking samples and collecting information even in unpredictable surroundings these robots respond with a certain intelligence and take decisions about what to do at the university of groningen we concentrate on autonomous perceptive systems i.e robots that can find and read a sign in an unknown environment or systems that detect verbal aggression from the complex sounds of busy streets while traditional ai focuses on cognition and reasoning as isolated abilties we strongly believe in perception as an active behavior which is seamlessly integrated into general cognition cognitive robotics is also an important part of this master s programme the courses taught in this area are connected to research in social robotics the origin of communication and recognizing movements of other robots research is conducted at the alice admission requirements a bachelor s degree in the field of artificial intelligence providing you have completed certain specific courses such as variance analysis during your bachelor s programme if you have a bachelor s degree from a different field the admissions board will decide whether you can be admitted to the master s degree programme in the admission procedure we will check if your bachelor s degree gives you sufficient foreknowledge to get to the level of a bachelor s degree artificial intelligence within six months sufficient english proficiency ielts 6.5 or toefl 580/237/92 application you can apply online please go to www.rug.nl/howtoapply if you wish to start the programme on 1 september 2010 application deadline eu students 1 june 2010 application deadline non-eu students 15 april 2010 if you wish to start the programme on 1 february 2011 application deadline eu students 1 december 2010 application deadline non-eu students 15 october 2010 further information www.rug.nl/ai/masters contact details for application information admissions@rug.nl for programme information voorlichter@ai.rug.nl 20 2

[close]

p. 13

t dd jw i learn about topics ranging from robotics to handwriting recognition multi-agent systems and computer vision something with computers was about the only thing i knew for sure about what i wanted to do with my career no surprise since i had been interacting with these machines since the age of four this combined with a deep interest in the world around us and more specifically the question of how we are able to perceive and make sense of it has guided me right into the field of artificial intelligence first stumbling upon this field of research in groningen i immediately felt at home at this department with its friendly and informal atmosphere i learn about topics ranging from robotics to handwriting recognition multi-agent systems and computer vision more importantly together with my fellow students i can do research every day i also learned a lot from being an active member of our student association cover which ultimately led to being chairman of its board a great experience besides these intellectual challenges i also enjoy sports luckily there is a lot of choice here from traditional athletics to underwater hockey groningen is also famous for its social life rightly so but words can only describe that much so come and see for yourself stefan renkema student of the master s degree programme in artificial intelligence it is good to see that already as a student i can play a role in research and business the master human-machine communication appealed to me due to its combined practical and fundamental programme by studying the human mind and formalizing theories in computer models you can test theories on a lot of aspects relatively easy it combines different theories and makes the combination testable just like you can test how the sails and the rudder of a model boat work together while sailing in different weather conditions wouldn t it be great if we had just one overall theory of the human mind just like there is a finite set of laws to describe physics at the moment i work on a project to create a computer game in which players learn social skills my role is to develop a digital teacher who can assess your level of skill for different training objectives and uses this to dynamically personalize the training besides the interesting topic of digital learning the project is also very interesting as it is done together with a lot of companies knowing both some psychology and technology helps me to play a bridging role between the different partners chris janssen student of the master s degree programme in human-machine communication 22 2 2

[close]

p. 14

t dd jw human-machine communication faculty of mathematics and social sciences key facts start programme september 200 february 20 duration 2 months language english degree master of science msc in human-machine communication programme is unique in its combination of artificial intelligence cognitive psychology language speech technology field of research most of the teachers in the master s programme also participate as researcher in the research institute alice artificial intelligence and cognitive engineering the content of the courses taught are closely linked to the research themes of the teachers career prospects industrial research development departments or usability labs companies where computer software and new media applications are made user interface design experts usability testers interaction designers if you specialized in speech and language technology you can find a job at a telecommunication company work as a researcher at a university phd or a private research institute like tno about 50 of our students choose a career as a scientist mostly phd admission requirements a bachelor s degree in the field of artificial intelligence or psychology providing you have completed certain specific courses such as variance analysis if you have a bachelor s degree from a different field the admissions board will decide whether you can be admitted to the master s degree programme in the admission procedure we will check if your bachelor s degree gives you sufficient foreknowledge to get to the level of a bachelor s degree artificial intelligence within six months sufficient english proficiency ielts 6.5 or toefl 580/237/92 application you can apply online please go to www.rug.nl/howtoapply if you wish to start the programme on 1 september 2010 application deadline eu students 1 june 2010 application deadline non-eu students 15 april 2010 if you wish to start the programme on 1 february 2011 application deadline eu students 1 december 2010 application deadline non-eu students 15 october 2010 further information www.rug.nl/ai/masters contact details for application admissions@rug.nl for programme information voorlichter@ai.rug.nl how can we model human task performance how do our brains combine visual and auditory information what is the ideal interface for a tired air traffic controller in this programme you will try to find answers to fundamental questions in cognitive science and use these answers to design applications general information the master s degree programme in human-machine communication focuses on cognitive science and its applications by knowing more about cognition you can for example improve the communication between humans and complex computer systems by using language and speech technology or by developing simulation models of users human-machine communication hmc is aimed at providing you with fundamental insights into human cognition and at teaching you how to use this knowledge in applied settings such as tutoring systems speech technology and human-computer and human-robot interaction two questions form the basis for this programme how does human cognition work and how can we use that knowledge in applied settings to answer these questions you have to know how humans perform specific tasks and how characteristics of and limitations affect task performance we need to know about learning how do humans acquire new skills and how do they learn to adapt to a new task finally it is important to know in which way information is transferred the most natural way of human communication is through language can machines communicate in this way too or are other means of communication such as keyboard choice menu or multi-touch screen better suited programme content in this 2-year master s programme the focus is on understanding natural cognition and cognitive modelling simulation models of brain processes on the computer other courses are on communication linguistics and linguistic applications the programme is a cooperation between the artificial intelligence and psychology programmes at the university of groningen you can also attend lectures of information science computer science linguistic science and philosophy the master s programme consists of about seven compulsory core courses 35 ects optional courses 40 ects and a master s thesis 45 ects part of the master s thesis can consist of an internship compulsory courses language modelling user models experimental design and variance analysis or repeated measures cognitive modelling advanced experimental skills or advanced research skills usability engineering analysis neuro-ergonomics some optional courses perception multi-agent systems machine learning skill acquisition and learning computational discourse handwriting recognition for your master s thesis you work on your own research project the choice of subject is up to you examples are digital reporting during surgery an intelligent tutor system for learning arithmetic user interest modelling multimodal affective human-machine interaction icat the caring robot more theses and their summaries can be found at www.rug.nl/ai/nieuws/colloquia scripties.fwn.eldoc.ub.rug.nl 2 2

[close]

p. 15

central university services and facilities studying at the university of groningen goes beyond lectures and research we also offer a wide range of services to international students international service desk a helping hand at the university of groningen you can be sure you will receive personal and professional help and support from both the international service desk isd and the international offices of the faculty you study at they will inform you about general matters relating to studying at our university or living in the netherlands i.e visa procedures registration medical care housing travel information university facilities www.rug.nl/isd introduction and orientation the most welcoming university to help you get used to your new academic surroundings and social life several introduction programmes and social events are organized right before or during the first week of the new semester welcoming ceremony and information market at the welcoming ceremony organized twice a year new students researchers and staff members will be introduced officially to the university of groningen the programme includes short speeches by representatives of the university and the city a lunch an information market workshops and drinks and dinner www.rug.nl/welcomingceremony introduction week esn-groningen the student organization for all international students organizes an introduction week starting immediately after the welcoming ceremony it includes social and cultural events tours of the city sports parties dinners and workshops on dutch culture and history www.esn-groningen.nl faculty programmes many faculties and degree programmes organize their own introduction for international students during these activities you can get to know eachother the faculty or department staff and receive further information about courses procedures schedules and facilities a game of rugby in the park after a picnic organized by esn-groningen university library academic meetingpoint located in downtown groningen across from the academy building you can find the university library ub this student meetingpoint with over a thousand visitors a day is a popular place to study and to meet with other students the ub owns three million books and periodicals and has the largest university film collection in the netherlands www.rug.nl/bibliotheek student advisors 1001 questions student advisors are there for 1001 questions like study delays study methods career prospects but also about studying with a disability illness or other personal circumstances these meetings are strictly confidential they are there to listen and give information advice and support each degree programme has a student advisor student support courses stuck with you studies every year hundreds of students participate in one of the courses offered by centre for study support and academic skills covering study skills communication skills giving a presentation successfully time management how to deal with stress dutch teaching and examination modes www.rug.nl/so student counsellors bad patches and getting back on track although studying abroad is exciting and adventurous not everyone will have an easy time adjusting to a new environment strange customs and a different language this does not necessarily mean that you will need professional help but if problems begin to affect your studies and your personal life you can always ask the psychological counsellors for help this help is available to all students at the university and is free of charge www.rug.nl/so talent and career center after your studies once you have started your studies it is important to assess your employment opportunities especially when you are about to graduate the talent and career center will give you advice on how to prepare yourself for your future career the tcc offers courses weekly office hours workshops and an information library www.talentcareercenter.nl language courses become truly international whether you want to improve your english language skills learn dutch or wish to study any other foreign language french german japanese spanish etc the language centre at the university offers various possibilities at different levels www.rug.nl/languagecentre computer and online facilities state-of-the-art the university has state-of-the-art computer facilities high-speed access to e-mail and the internet and an online student support system while registered at the university you have a university computer account and e-mail address with access to the wireless internet computer rooms and other online educational services of the university www.rug.nl/cit/helpdesk 26 2

[close]