p. 1

department of child development and education educational sciences research master s programme 2011-2012

[close]

p. 2

cover photo giovanni piumatti from italy second year student educational sciences

[close]

p. 3

word of welcome are you interested in conducting challenging research in a multi-faceted field the research master is a selective two-year programme for prospective researchers in the broad field of parenting education and child development in addition to offering thorough training in methods and statistics the programme provides you with the opportunity to focus on a specific sub-discipline much of the programme is devoted to conducting research yourself in a subject of your choice enabling you to put your newly acquired knowledge and the associated research techniques into practice you will be working closely with one of the research groups of the graduate school of child development and education over the research master s programme has proved to be demanding students are expected to not only have strongly developed analytical and research skills but also to be highly motivated and committed and prepared to work very hard the rewards however are considerable this smallscale programme ­ with no more than 15 students annually ­ offers a stimulating research environment including the chance to work alongside lecturers all the lecturers involved in the programme are respected researchers thanks to their love for the subject and the challenges posed by their respective fields of research students and lecturers alike consider it a pleasure to find the time and energy required for this programme the research master s programme trains students to be researchers as such graduates will easily find employment either within or outside the university in addition the research master s is an excellent programme to help prospective phd students prepare for their subsequent studies you can be assured of two highly inspirational and agreeable years both from an academic and social point of view within the educational sciences programme dr frans oort director of the educational sciences research master s programme 3 university of amsterdam faculty of social and behavioural sciences

[close]

p. 4

contents university of amsterdam general information educational sciences practical matters 5 7 8 12 4 university of amsterdam faculty of social and behavioural sciences

[close]

p. 5

university of amsterdam university of amsterdam the university of amsterdam uva is a modern university with a rich history its roots trace back to 1632 when the amsterdam city council founded the athenaeum illustre to train students in trade and philosophy until the nineteenth century this remained a small institution with no more than 250 students and eight professors in 1877 it was renamed the university of amsterdam and granted the right to confer the highest educational degrees the uva is now one of the largest universities in europe with seven faculties and more than 30,000 students and 5,000 staff members it currently offers the highest number of bachelor s and master s degree programmes in the netherlands with master s programmes covering nearly every academic discipline partly because many of the master s programmes are taught in english the uva is able to attract a large number of international students it therefore has a student body in which countless nationalities are represented in addition the wide range of academic programmes and courses available to choose from means students can tailor their studies to suit their personal ambitions and talents the uva also ensures they get the best support both during and after their studies through academic and career counselling a research university the uva prides itself on being an excellent research university many of its master s programmes directly reflect leading research in a given field of study thus exposing students to groundbreaking research during their studies research master s programmes are offered in nearly every discipline the research master s programmes are designed specifically to prepare students for phd level research or a research based career the research activities significance at the uva extends beyond the confines of the academic community and their findings benefit society at large in fact the problems and issues affecting society often provide the impetus for the scientific studies the presence of cultural and scientific institutes such as the maison descartes the royal netherlands academy of arts and sciences knaw the goethe institute sara computing and alletta the international archive for the women s movement enriches research and independent study 5 university of amsterdam faculty of social and behavioural sciences

[close]

p. 6

city of amsterdam the capital of the netherlands amsterdam is an exuberant small scale metropolis where you quickly feel safe and welcome famous for its historical buildings and canals amsterdam is a multi-faceted city bustling with knowledge commerce creativity and innovation the tolerant atmosphere and the open mindedness of its inhabitants form an inviting setting for scientists entrepreneurs and artists alike they frequently work together inspiring and stimulating one another with surprising discoveries enterprises and creations as the result amid a modern climate of forward thinking professionalism education plays a vital role in the dutch culture the uva as one of the largest centres of study and research in the netherlands continues to be one of the key players many of the uva s facilities such as the university library and the student cultural organisation crea are located in the heart of amsterdam many of the faculties are housed in characteristic old buildings in the heart of the city in fact with the university spread across the city in this way the uva s campus is amsterdam itself the faculty the faculty of social and behavioural sciences faculteit der maatschappijen gedragswetenschapen fmg enjoys a prominent reputation within the social sciences sector in europe and is the largest educational and research institution in the social and behavioural sciences in the netherlands it offers an attractive study research and working environment for students researchers and staff members as well as a broad international perspective both in research and education the faculty has 8,000 students in bachelor s and master s programmes in political science sociology and anthropology communication science psychology social geography planning and international development studies and educational sciences the bachelor degree programmes are organised within various colleges graduate schools organise the master s programmes several phd programmes and interdisciplinary courses at master s and phd levels the faculty offers a large number of programmes and courses taught in english at both the graduate and undergraduate levels courses and programmes are open to fee-paying and exchange students the approximately 1,100 staff members of the faculty can be found in several buildings in the centre of amsterdam the academic staff works in education as well as research the faculty has several research institutes with a strong international focus and works hard to attract talented students and researchers faculty members are stimulated to be actively involved in different research projects and international research programmes studying and working at the faculty of social and behavioural sciences means benefiting from a knowledgeintensive internationally oriented academic environment where students and researchers alike have the opportunity to develop their abilities and fulfil their ambitions 6 university of amsterdam faculty of social and behavioural sciences

[close]

p. 7

general information duration the duration of the master s programme in educational sciences is two years to complete and is worth 120 ects credits accreditation and degree the master s programme in educational sciences is accredited by the accreditation organisation of the netherlands and flanders nvao this means that upon successful completion of the programme students receive a master s degree in social sciences and the title of master of science msc the academic year the academic year of the uva is from 1 september to mid-july and is divided into two semesters of 21 weeks the first semester runs from september to the end of january the second from early february to early july during the first semester students are involved in different courses during the second semester students will be involved in one or two more courses and a supporting course skills and they will work on their research project and thesis english language proficiency non-native english speakers must pass an english-language proficiency test english speakers are exempted from taking the test provided they have earned their degrees in australia canada ireland new zealand the united kingdom or the united states the following tests are accepted n toefl students must have an official copy of the results sent directly by the toefl institute to the programme they are applying for n ielts academic module n cambridge international examinations for more information visit www.uva.nl/isp see `application and accreditation or `study programmes dutch students need at least a preuniversity vwo level of english credit system semesters are composed of units called courses each course yields a specific number of credits in accordance with the european credit transfer system ects this makes it possible to transfer credits more easily between european academic institutions a full-time study for one academic year yields 60 ects credits corresponding to 1,680 hours of study 7 university of amsterdam faculty of social and behavioural sciences

[close]

p. 8

educational sciences title master of science msc duration 2 years credits 120 ects credits language english programme coordinator dr f.j oort the research master educational sciences focuses on many aspects of child development and education socio-economic behavioural and learning problems rearing children in families child care and schools learning training and the organisation of schools as a member of this master s programme you can put together your personal curriculum allowing you to focus on research and learn about those specific areas of the discipline you are most interested in you also get to work in one of the department s research groups for excellent students motivated to conduct research and intending to pursue academic research careers in pedagogical or educational sciences research master s students acquire in-depth disciplinary knowledge familiarity with relevant research methodology and practical experience in carrying out research curriculum introduction the research master educational sciences trains students to conceive design conduct and report highquality research in the field of pedagogical and educational sciences the programme has been developed the curriculum consists of an introductory course several disciplinary courses that give an overview of the research conducted by the four research groups in the graduate school of child development and education 8 university of amsterdam faculty of social and behavioural sciences

[close]

p. 9

loes van gelderen alumna educational sciences `my name is loes van gelderen and i am working as a phd student now i was one of the very first research master s students since we were in a group of only five students it was almost like getting private instruction this was a great aspect of the programme because it meant that we really interacted in seminars we also had a lot of freedom in choosing our courses so you can shape a curriculum that is tailored to your specific interests it also gives you the possibility to study abroad for example one semester i went to san francisco and it was great for anyone who wants to go beyond a one-year master s programme and is also interested in conducting research i would say apply for a place in the research master in education sciences in addition students take courses in methods and statistics and a supporting course in writing and presentation skills introductory course n bioecological research practice each student carries out two research projects the topic of the first research project is chosen halfway through the first year of study preparations for the more extensive second research project may begin as early as the start of the second year students participate in one of the department s research groups where they contribute to ongoing research prepare reports and write a paper that can be submitted to an international peerreviewed journal these activities are designed to strengthen every area of the student s research skills including theoretical reflection the formation of hypotheses planning data collection and analysis report writing and presentation the department has extensive experimental research facilities including video-monitored observation rooms a baby lab and an erp-research lab equipped with facilities for taking electrophysiological measurements it is also possible to conduct observational and interventional research in families or classrooms to participate in large-scale skillstesting research on children and adults or to conduct educational surveys using questionnaires for different target groups personal programme the general programme allows some freedom of choice in terms of course selection but students may also tailor the programme their specific interests when submitting the proposal for a personal programme to the examination committee at the beginning of every year the examination committee may allow the student to replace a limited number of courses with courses offered by other graduate schools or universities they may also opt to do their research in another graduate school or university or even abroad taking advantage of the national and international contacts of the programme s academic staff models state-of-the-art disciplinary courses choose four out of eight n childhood education family support and development n learning and social-emotional disorders in educational contexts n developmental and rearing problems aetiology and intervention n micro-processes at school and learning n foundations and philosophy of education n criminal behaviour of juveniles and the juvenile justice system n dyslexia n distal and proximal processes in educational research courses in methodology and statistics career prospects after successful completion of the programme the student will receive a research master s degree in educational sciences and the title master of science msc students are then qualified to apply for a vacancy within a phd project or create their own by submitting a grant application phd project or to create their own phd project by submitting a grant application students can also apply for positions in applied research in both the public and private sectors and statistics in educational research n structural equation modelling in educational research n multilevel data analysis n longitudinal data analysis supporting course n writing n methods and presenting skills research projects n thesis 1 ­ first year research project n thesis 2 ­ second year research project 9 university of amsterdam faculty of social and behavioural sciences

[close]

p. 10

application applicants should submit an application file comprising the documents listed as early as possible certainly no later than june 1st n a completed application form download on website n a copy of your passport identity page or birth certificate n a letter of motivation about 500 words in english n academic transcript and list of courses in research methods and statistics provide a description of the courses n written academic work in english n curriculum vitae n one or more letters of reference at least one letter should be from an academic staff member n english test results non-native english speakers n students whose application is based on a diploma from a university in a non-eu/eea country have to pay an application fee of 100 euro refundable upon acceptance if the application file is received before the first of the month the admissions committee will invite the applicant to meet them and decide on their application before the month ends suzan bruns second year student educational sciences `i chose the master s programme educational sciences because it offers me the best opportunity to fully develop my knowledge on a chosen field of expertise i like the fact that you can make your personal programme studying in a small and international group entry requirements applicants must have a bachelor s degree in pedagogical sciences educational sciences developmental psychology or a related field e.g within psychology or sociology additional entry requirements include n basic knowledge of research methods and applied statistics in social and behavioural science research n excellent study results n good writing skills as indicated by written academic work n sufficient proficiency in english n an active interest in research and the ambition to become a researcher 10 university of amsterdam faculty of social and behavioural sciences

[close]

p. 11

11 university of amsterdam faculty of social and behavioural sciences

[close]

p. 12

practical matters international office of the graduate school of child development and education the international office is the students first port of call when they choose to study at the graduate school of child development and education the international office organises the international student exchanges it processes applications and attempts to answer any questions students may have if necessary it helps students to arrange a visa where possible it also assists students who are moving to amsterdam in finding accommodation www.studeren.uva.nl exchange_educationstudies living expenses a rough estimate of living costs is as follows n accommodation 375 550 per month n living expenses 400 500 per month n insurance 50 per month n books 75 per month 800-1000 per year n public transport 70 100 per month maximum unless you live outside of amsterdam for more information on finances see www.uva/isp or www.student.uva.nl/eco working during your studies students from eu countries or norway liechtenstein and iceland are not required to have a work permit in order to work in the netherlands exceptions are the following eu countries czech republic estonia hungary latvia lithuania poland slovakia and slovenia the same requirements apply to students from these countries as to students from non eu countries students from non-eu countries require a work permit and may work either 10 hours a week year round or a maximum of 520 hours in a seasonal job during june july and august visa and residence permit the uva helps students who need to apply for a visa or residence permit the coordinator international office or your programme manager will be able to assist you further housing rent for single rooms in amsterdam varies from approximately 350 to 600 a month rent for shared accomodation is approximately 310 a month www.studeren.uva.nl/housing 12 university of amsterdam faculty of social and behavioural sciences

[close]

p. 13

giovanni piumatti italy second year student educational sciences `before really thinking about studying to be a researcher in the field of educational sciences i was already convinced what the role of a researcher should be to work and live in a wide multicultural environment without feeling any cultural or national restriction to approach a topic as challenging as education when i had the opportunity to come and study at this international master in amsterdam i suddenly saw the chance for me to achieve those goals i believed part of the role of a researcher the high level of the courses and teachers together with the vivid amsterdam s environment make my choice to be here the best i could have made insurance every resident of the netherlands is required to have appropriate health insurance this includes international students general liability insurance is also recommended before you come to the netherlands please make sure your health insurance will cover the entire period of your stay if your current healthcare insurance will not cover your stay abroad you can choose to apply for either private student insurance or `basic dutch healthcare insurance basisverzekering depending on your situation www.uva.nl/insurance student organisations most faculty departments have their own student organisations these organisations advocate the protection and promotion of student interests and organise such things as excursions social activities and book discounts they also play an important role in departmental and faculty committees student facilities the uva provides students with access to a range of online services including student email storage space blackboard and studyweb students also receive a personal email account a homepage free internet dial-up access and discounts on uva-dsl cable internet access and various software products students have access to the extensive library collections free of charge the uva also has a large digital library that is accessible to all uva students and staff the uva has two university restaurants atrium and agora both restaurants also have a bar the university sports centre usc offers fitness facilities and a wide range of fitness classes for students covering everything from aikido to swimming crea the cultural organisation of the uva and the hva organises courses and workshops in theatre music dance literature the visual arts video radio multimedia and photography www.student.uva.nl/english/facilities.cfm www.uba.uva.nl www.usc.uva.nl www.crea.uva.nl international student network amsterdam the international student network amsterdam isn-a takes care of the social and cultural integration of international students studying at the uva to this end it organises a wide variety of activities including movie nights weekly drinks cultural outings and excursions introductory programme health and well-being the uva has its own medical and general health and welfare services students with medical or dental complaints can see a university doctor or dentist a reduced fee applies in most cases student psychologists are available to help uva students with psychological social problems www.uva.nl/isp at the beginning of each semester the isn-a also organises a four-day introductory programme to help newly arrived students familiarise themselves with amsterdam and the netherlands and to give them the opportunity to meet other dutch and international students mentoring service in addition the isn-a provides a mentoring service for international students dutch isn-a mentors assist new international students by for example picking them up at the airport taking them to their residences and introducing them to amsterdam and university life www.isn-amsterdam.nl 13 university of amsterdam faculty of social and behavioural sciences

[close]

p. 14

[close]

p. 15

colophon edition university of amsterdam august 2010 photos dirk gillissen duwo studenten huisvesting hollandse hoogte maarten schuth marian haringsma design crasborn grafisch ontwerpers bno valkenburg aan de geul 10307 disclaimer wherever commercial organisations are mentioned by name in this brochure this is not because the university of amsterdam favours or benefits for mentioning them in any way no rights can be derived from the contents of this brochure © university of amsterdam

[close]