What if you could see the world through different perspectives? What can we learn from cultural differences? How can these insights contribute to understanding local, regional and global challenges?
The MA-track Anthropology of Religion and Culture comprises a total of 60 ECTS. For part-time options, please contact the study advisor.
Semesters | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Courses | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
Compulsory: Concepts and Debates in Anthropology of Religion and Culture I (5 EC) | ||||
Compulsory: Ethnographic Methods and Research Design I (5 EC) | ||||
Elective:: Religion, Gender and Sexuality (5 EC, optional) | ||||
Elective: Material Religion (5 EC, optional) | ||||
Elective: Regional Heritage (5 EC, optional) | ||||
Compulsory: Concepts and Debates in Anthropology of Religion and Culture II: Anthropology in Dialogue (5 EC) | ||||
Compulsory: Ethnographic Methods and Research Design II (5 EC) | ||||
Elective: Global Dynamics and Local Cosmologies (5 EC, optional) | ||||
Elective: Migration, Culture and Politics (5 EC, optional) | ||||
Elective: Religion and Sexual Nationalism (5 EC, optional) | ||||
Compulsory: Ethnographic Fieldwork (10 EC) | ||||
Thesis (20 EC) |
1 ECTS = 28 hrs. of study. One year contains of 60 ECTS.
We have various exchange contracts with universities both inside and outside Europe, enabling students to follow part of their degree programme at a foreign university. Another option is to take an internship or to do part of the research work abroad.
For an overview of our exchange partners, see: https://www.rug.nl/rcs/education/exchange-programme/partner-universities
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
previous education |
Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Arts, Philosophy, Social Sciences (e.g. Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology) or Spatial Sciences (specialization Cultural Geography). Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. Students with another bachelor's degree may be admitted via a pre-master's programme. |
grade list |
An overview of the courses from the bachelor's programme followed with an explanation of these courses. |
language test |
An English language test for Dutch students is only required if you do not have a VWO-diploma. IELTS: 6.5 (6.0 on each part); TOEFL: 90 internet (18 on Reading and Listening, 20 on Speaking and 21 on Writing). Exemption granted if:
If English was the medium of instruction during your previous education, but you do not meet any of the above mentioned requirements, you are still required to provide proof of your English language proficiency. |
other admission requirements |
Students who do not have a bachelor's degree in Arts/Humanities,
Behavioural and Social Sciences, or Spatial Sciences
(specialization: Cultural Geography) may be exempted from the
requirement to complete the pre-master programme under
certain
conditions.
|
International students and Dutch students with non-Dutch qualifications are not automatically admitted to a Master's degree programme at the University of Groningen. The full registration procedure will take longer than for Dutch students with regular Dutch qualifications and consists of three steps: application, admission and registration.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
previous education |
Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Arts, Philosophy, Social Sciences (e.g. Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology) or Spatial Sciences (specialization Cultural Geography). Depending on your former study and courses a reading package will be provided. We assume that you are aware of the concepts and theoretical discussions outlined in this literature. Students with another bachelor's degree may be admitted via a pre-master's programme. |
grade list |
An overview of the courses from the bachelor's programme followed with an explanation of these courses. |
language test |
An English language test for Dutch students is only required if you do not have a VWO-diploma. IELTS: 6.5 (6.0 on each part); TOEFL: 90 internet (18 on Reading and Listening, 20 on Speaking and 21 on Writing). Exemption granted if:
If English was the medium of instruction during your previous education, but you do not meet any of the above mentioned requirements, you are still required to provide proof of your English language proficiency. |
other admission requirements |
Students who do not have a bachelor's degree in
Arts/Humanities, Behavioural and Social Sciences, or Spatial
Sciences (specialization: Cultural Geography) may be exempted from
the requirement to complete the pre-master programme under
certain
conditions
.
|
Exam | Minimum score |
---|---|
IELTS overall band | 6.5 |
IELTS listening | 6 |
IELTS reading | 6 |
IELTS writing | 6 |
TOEFL internet based | 90 |
International students and Dutch students with non-Dutch qualifications are not automatically admitted to a Master's degree programme at the University of Groningen. The full registration procedure will take longer than for Dutch students with regular Dutch qualifications and consists of three steps: application, admission and registration.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
---|---|---|---|
EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 2530 | full-time |
non-EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 18700 | full-time |
Practical information for:
Like biodiversity is crucial for sustainability, cultural diversity is important for human survival.
Cultural difference is often considered as a problem or obstacle; just think about the public discussions on immigration and integration. Anthropology, however, recognizes cultural difference as a resource. As a positive and essential tool for understanding other lifeworlds, and thus as crucial for intercultural dialogue.
Topics that are on the edge of what people consider to be religious, such as 'almost, but not quite' religious phenomena, fascinate me.
I consider ethnographic research as an adventure. I think my research is exciting in practical terms because it often takes unexpected twists and turns. During my PhD research on sexuality and secularism, I taught embarrassing sex education lessons, had an interesting interview with Kees van der Staaij in The Hague, and once found myself totally lost in the middle of the night at an abandoned tram station in Amsterdam, searching for Roel van Duijn.
Thanks to anthropology, I have really established a new form of admiration for all the different ways of “being human”.
As an Archaeology student, I have always had a lot of interest in art, human cultures, and history. In the final year of my BA I really wanted to choose a minor programme that would compliment my own studies very well, and that would allow me to look at my own field from a new perspective.
If you are interested in a master's degree programme in religion, you might also be interested in:
This Master's track is intended for students who are interested in today's complex world and, above all, the role of human action and ideas in it. An anthropological perspective makes you look through various cultural lenses, which enables you to connect global challenges, for instance those regarding migration or food distribution, to local contexts, i.e. communities, individuals, and societies. You will gain insight into the motivations of individuals and groups of people.
Master's students are expected to show a large degree of independence. If necessary you can make use of various forms of study supervision and study support. For example, you can contact a mentor or your study advisor. While writing your thesis, you will receive personal supervision from one of the lecturers.