Anthropology of Religion and Culture

What if you could see the world from different perspectives? What can we learn from cultural differences? How can these insights contribute to understanding local, regional and global challenges?

In a world of religious and cultural diversity, understanding cultural differences is key to addressing challenges like migration and climate change. This MA equips you with the skills to explore specific lifeworlds across various contexts in order to gain a thorough understanding of the role of religion and culture in different societies.

This MA in the anthropology of religion is unique in the Netherlands, and is characterised by its holistic, comparative and ethnographic approach. Holistic because it investigates themes as they are embedded within the totality of local lifeworlds, for example in the topics of food, sexuality and religion. Comparative research helps in understanding differences and similarities, and through ethnographic research you get a deep insight into the complex worlds of the people living them. It gives you a better understanding of the other, as well as of yourself. The ethnographic hands-on experience is an integral part of the programme. The MA also critically reflects on the 'traditional' anthropological method itself (i.e. from 'global north' to 'global south').

Anthropology challenges you by making the strange familiar, and the familiar strange.

Facts & Figures

Degree: MA in Theology & Religious Studies
Course type: Master
Duration: 12 months (60 ECTS)
Croho code: 60824
Language of instruction: English
Start: September
Faculty: Religion, Culture and Society

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Why study this programme in Groningen?

Globally, religion is an important factor in and between societies. ARC is the only MA programme in anthropology in the Netherlands that focusses on religion.
The MA programme is uniquely situated in a multi-disciplinary faculty devoted to the study of religion at a public university (thus non-confessional).
The Research Centers of the faculty provide students with crucial hubs of thematic expertise and global networks.
Possibility of a two-year Research Master's programme.

Programme

The Core Modules in the MA track Anthropology of Religion and Culture are taught by anthropologists who are experts in their fields. They will also supervise your research and thesis. Electives are taught by anthropologists, sociologists and religious studies scholars, all studying religion as a cultural and social phenomenon. In the course units, they will provide you with an up-to-date overview of the state of the art of the subjects you are studying, often drawing on their own research.

In the first semester you acquire the necessary analytical, theoretical and methodological skills, set up your research design and discuss relevant examples of different lifeworlds regarding particular topics such as gender and sexuality, religious and cultural change and human/environment relationships.
In the second semester you will conduct your empirical research (10-week period of ethnographic fieldwork), in the Netherlands or abroad, and write your thesis.

The MA-track comprises a total of 60 ECTS (for part-time options, please contact the study advisor).

Would you like to know more about the content of the programme? Then contact the study advisors , visit the information session on our next Master's Week , or contact the teachers of the programme:

Peter Berger, Associate Professor of Indian Religion and the Anthropology of Religion
Kim Knibbe, Associate Professor Anthropology and Sociology of Religion
Manoela Carpenedo Rodrigues, Assistant Professor in the Anthropology of Christianity and the Anthropology of Moralities

Under the section 'Research', you can read more about the teachers' expertise.

Please note: the course list below could slightly be subject to change.

	Semesters
Courses	1a	1b	2a	2b
Compulsory: Concepts and Debates in Anthropology of Religion 1: Understanding Lifeworlds (5 EC) This course aims to engage students with important concepts, approaches, questions and debates in the anthropology of religion and culture, especially those relevant to the understanding and research of local lifeworlds. In each session, these different aspects will be discussed in relation to selected, crucial themes of the field. In this way, analytical concepts, questions and debates are always discussed in relation to concrete ethnographic research and, in addition, the general societal relevance of dealing with these topics from an anthropological perspective becomes evident. Moreover, this theoretically informed discussion of relevant themes enables students to identify topics for their own research projects. The course starts with a discussion on the ethnographic research of “lifeworlds” and is followed by sessions on the body and materiality, non-human personhood(anthropology beyond the human), sex and gender, morality and development.
Compulsory: Ethnographic Methods: Researching Lifeworlds (5 EC) This course provides an introduction to the methods and techniques used in anthropological research. It explores the methods anthropologists employ to study human societies, cultures, and lifeworlds. It will also go into the history of these methods, including reflections on the 'traditional' north-south direction of anthropology and more recent developments such as anthropology at home, anthropology from the south and discussions on decolonisation. Students will learn about the ethical considerations of fieldwork, their own positionality, and the importance of reflexivity. Aside from methods, we will also discuss debates on representation, from the 'writing culture' turn to more contemporary developments.
Elective: Dark Heritage: Memorialising Death and Disaster (5 EC, optional) Many, perhaps most, of the items and phenomena we study as 'heritage' are death-related. This course offers the much-needed tools to analyse this important category of heritage. At the same time, the course offers students the opportunity to learn new skills, such as producing a documentary film or curating a 3D virtual exhibition.
Elective: Material Religion (5 EC, optional) What can things and their uses teach us about religion? This course focuses on material culture as a way of approaching religious heritage.
Elective: On the move: People(s), cultures, and religions (5 EC, optional) How does the movement of peoples, cultures and religions shape social, political and cultural change, historically and in the contemporary world? This course explores how change has occurred at micro, meso and macro levels, through lenses of culture, migration, and religion. Through engagement with various anthropological and political theories of change, students will analyse diverse processes of transformation across different cases and contexts. At the end of the course, students will be able to develop their own policy recommendations or original scholarly contribution, assessed through a policy paper or research essay and accompanying oral defense.
Compulsory: Concepts and Debates in Anthropology of Religion 2: Anthropology in Dialogue (5 EC) This course provides a deeper engagement with some of the concepts and debates of the first course, exploring how they have impacted other fields and disciplines, such as philosophy, international relations, and history and, conversely, how anthropology has been influenced by these fields. Thus, students in this track will be able to situate their interests and research foci in cross-disciplinary and post-disciplinary developments and conversations. In addition, by studying how anthropology intersects with these disciplines, students will better understand anthropological perspectives themselves and what they have to offer to other disciplines. In the final sessions, we invite people from various professional fields to discuss how anthropological approaches figure in their work environment. Thus, students will be able to gain insights into how anthropological knowledge relates to employability options.
Compulsory: Social Scientific Research Methods (5 EC) You will be prepared for researching and writing your thesis. You will be taken through the steps of designing your own research, in consultation with your supervisor and learn research methods and ethics at the same time.
Elective: Museums and Religion: Critical Approaches (5 EC, optional) How is religion addressed (or avoided) in museums? What is at stake in the “musealization” of religious sites, objects, and practices? Who has control over what is displayed, where? This course gives the skills to analyse the history of the relationship between museums and religion, museum theory, and contemporary practice.
Elective: Religion, Gender and Sexuality: from Politics to Everyday Life (5 EC, optional) You will learn to recognize and conceptualize the links between religion, politics, gender, and sexuality.
Keuzevak: Psychopathologie en Religie (in Dutch) (5 EC, optional) Je maakt kennis met de (godsdienst)psychologische theorievorming rond de verhouding van geestelijke gezondheid en religie, namelijk psychopathologie.
Compulsory: Ethnographic Fieldwork (10 EC) Below you can read more information about doing ethnographic fieldwork, under the heading 'What is ethnographic fieldwork'. Or read the fieldwork examples on this website, conducted by teachers and students.
Thesis (20 EC)

Study load

1 ECTS = 28 hrs. of study. One year contains of 60 ECTS.

Study abroad

Study abroad is optional

Studying abroad is not part of this program. However, the ethnographic fieldwork scheduled in the second semester can be conducted abroad or in the Netherlands.

Entry requirements

Admission requirements

Specific requirements	More information
previous education	Please note: a Bachelor's degree in Socio-Cultural Anthropology is not a necessary entry requirement to this MA programme. Enrollment in the MA is possible if you hold a Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies, Arts/Humanities, Philosophy, Theology, Socio-Cultural Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology, Spatial Sciences (specialization Cultural Geography) or other Social Sciences. 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. If you have completed a Bachelor's degree other than in one of the disciplines described above, you still have direct access to the MA if you: have completed the university minor Anthropology, Religion in the Modern World, or Art and Religion as well; or can demonstrate the completion of 30 ETCS worth of subjects in your previous degree programme that have introduced you to one of the following disciplines: Sociocultural Anthropology, Non-Western Anthropology, or Medical Anthropology. Students can also be admitted via a pre-master's programme. A selection of previous education programmes is shown below under 'Transfer options'. However, this list is not complete. If your study programme is not listed, this does not automatically mean that you will not be admitted to the Master's programme. In case of doubts or questions, feel free to contact the study advisor: studyadvice.rcs rug.nl
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: You are a native speaker of, and have completed your full secondary level education in: the USA, Canada (only when taught in English), the UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. You have completed a full-time Bachelor programme (nominal duration of at least three years) in: the USA, Canada (only when English taught), the UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. 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.

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Leiden University

University of Groningen

All Research universities

VU University Amsterdam

University of Amsterdam

Utrecht University

Radboud University Nijmegen

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology	Leiden University	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Political Science	Leiden University	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology	Leiden University	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Middle Eastern Studies	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
American Studies	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
History (part-time)	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Theology	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Psychology (NL)	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Sociology	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Psychology (EN)	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Global Responsibility & Leadership	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Liberal Arts and Sciences	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Religious Studies	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken.
Communication and Information Studies	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Liberal Arts and Sciences	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
International Relations and International Organization	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Philosophy	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
European Languages and Cultures	University of Groningen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Theology	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Cultural and Social Anthropology	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Sociology	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Philosophy	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Religious Studies	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Religious Studies	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Culturele Antropologie	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Latin American Studies	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Cultural Geography	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Philosophy, Politics and Economics	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Arts and Culture	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Humanistic Studies	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Interdisciplinary Social Science	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Psychology (EN)	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Sociology	All Research universities	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology	VU University Amsterdam	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Theology and Religious Studies	VU University Amsterdam	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Sociology	VU University Amsterdam	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Political Science	VU University Amsterdam	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Liberal Arts and Sciences (joint degree)	VU University Amsterdam	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Philosophy, Politics and Economics	VU University Amsterdam	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology	VU University Amsterdam	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Sociology	University of Amsterdam	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Political Science	University of Amsterdam	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology	University of Amsterdam	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology	University of Amsterdam	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Religiewetenschappen	University of Amsterdam	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Arabic Language and Culture	University of Amsterdam	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Religiewetenschappen	Utrecht University	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology	Utrecht University	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.

Study programme	Organization	Transition
Religiewetenschappen	Radboud University Nijmegen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.
Religiewetenschappen	Radboud University Nijmegen	Additional requirements More information: Een overzicht van de vakken uit de gevolgde Bacheloropleiding met een toelichting op deze vakken. Afhankelijk van de gevolgde opleiding en vakken wordt een leeslijst verstrekt ter bestudering. De kennis uit de leeslijst wordt voorondersteld bij aanvang van de opleiding.

Registration procedure

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.

After you submit your application in Studielink, you will receive a message from Studielink stating that the University of Groningen (UG) has to verify your educational background through the Progress Portal. You will receive a separate email with your login details (make sure to also check your spam folder).
Check the application guide for international students for more information about the admissions procedure.
Students with a Dutch bachelor's degree send all the documentation by mail to studentoffice.rcs@rug.nl .

Application deadlines

Type of student	Deadline	Start course
Dutch students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
Dutch students	01 May 2026	01 September 2026
EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
EU/EEA students	01 May 2026	01 September 2026
non-EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students	01 May 2026	01 September 2026

Admission requirements

Specific requirements	More information
previous education	Please note: a Bachelor's degree in Socio-Cultural Anthropology is not a necessary entry requirement to this MA programme. Enrollment in the MA is possible if you hold a Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies, Arts/Humanities, Philosophy, Theology, Socio-Cultural Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology, Spatial Sciences (specialization Cultural Geography) or other Social Sciences. 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. If you have completed a Bachelor's degree other than in one of the disciplines described above, you still have direct access to the MA if you: have completed the university minor Anthropology, Religion in the Modern World, or Art and Religion as well; or can demonstrate the completion of 30 ETCS worth of subjects in your previous degree programme that have introduced you to one of the following disciplines: Sociocultural Anthropology, Non-Western Anthropology, or Medical Anthropology. Students can also be admitted via a pre-master's programme. A selection of previous education programmes is shown below under 'Transfer options'. However, this list is not complete. If your study programme is not listed, this does not automatically mean that you will not be admitted to the Master's programme. In case of doubts or questions, feel free to contact the study advisor: studyadvice.rcs rug.nl
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: You are a native speaker of, and have completed your full secondary level education in: the USA, Canada (only when taught in English), the UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. You have completed a full-time Bachelor programme (nominal duration of at least three years) in: the USA, Canada (only when English taught), the UK, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. 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 .

Language requirements

Exam	Minimum score
IELTS overall band	6.5
IELTS listening	6
IELTS reading	6
IELTS writing	6
TOEFL internet based	90

Registration procedure

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.

After you submit your application in Studielink, you will receive a message from Studielink stating that the University of Groningen (UG) has to verify your educational background through the Progress Portal. You will receive a separate email with your login details (make sure to also check your spam folder).
Check the application guide for international students for more information about the admissions procedure.
Students with a Dutch bachelor's degree send all the documentation by mail to studentoffice.rcs@rug.nl.

Application deadlines

Type of student	Deadline	Start course
Dutch students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
Dutch students	01 May 2026	01 September 2026
EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
EU/EEA students	01 May 2026	01 September 2026
non-EU/EEA students	01 May 2025	01 September 2025
non-EU/EEA students	01 May 2026	01 September 2026

Tuition fees

Nationality	Year	Fee	Programme form
EU/EEA	2024-2025	€ 2530	full-time
non-EU/EEA	2024-2025	€ 18700	full-time
EU/EEA	2025-2026	€ 2601	full-time
non-EU/EEA	2025-2026	€ 19200	full-time

Talent Grant available for non-EU students.

All applicants with a non-Dutch qualification will have to pay an application fee.

Practical information for:

Dutch students International students

After your studies

Job prospects

PhD research:

If research is your passion, you can continue with a PhD trajectory. You may want to consider switching to the 2-year Research Master but also the 1-year MA will prepare you for pursuing this track.

Education / teaching:

If you wish to become a teacher of religion in secondary education you can additionally follow the Educational Master's programme. This programme is taught in Dutch.

Beyond academia:

1. Cultural sector: journalism, museums, film-making, (other media)
2. Civil Society: NGOs, FBOs, international organizations, consultancy
3. Government: ministry, policy making
4. Health: Public health organizations

Check out our alumni page to see where our alumni of the one-year Master's in Theology & Religious Studies - within which the MA Anthropology of Religion and Culture is a track - end up after graduating.

Research

Teachers and their expertise

Peter Berger received his PhD in anthropology at the Free University of Berlin in 2004 and has been working at the UG since 2007. His regional focus lies in India where he has worked together especially with the Indigenous peoples (Adivasis) of highland Odisha, where he conducted more than two and a half years of ethnographic research in total since 1996. He has researched and written on a diversity of topics, among them ritual, death, personhood, food, values, economy, cultural change and the theory and history of the discipline of anthropology. He is also the coordinator (with Dr Sean Desjardins) of the interfaculty University Minor Anthropology: What it means to be human.
Kim Knibbe is Associate Professor Anthropology and Sociology of Religion. Her expertise encompasses anthropology of Christianity (in particular Catholicism and Pentecostalism), the secular, and contemporary spirituality. Recent research she led looked into religious and secular approaches to sexuality. Building on this she is now developing new comparative research into pregnancy and reproduction. Her research takes place in the Netherlands, transnational religious networks, Nigeria, the Philippines and Kenya. In addition, she publishes on theoretical and methodological issues in the anthropology of religion.
Manoela Carpenedo Rodrigues is an Assistant Professor specializing in the Anthropology of Christianity and the Anthropology of Moralities. She also works on themes related to religious violence and political mobilization. Her research examines grassroots Christian movements and their complex intersections with culture, identity, and politics, particularly in the context of the Global South. Her regional focus centers on Latin American societies and the connections between Latin America and Africa.

Research Centres

The Research Centers of our Faculty comprise networks of scholars who work on specific regions or themes. These centers are crucial resources for all students of the Faculty as they provide expertise on important topics in relation to religion, culture and society, offer international contacts and networks that can support students' research, and also possibilities for teaching and research assistantships.

Research Centres of the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society most relevant to students of ARC:

Apply now Brochure Events Contact

Dutch diploma International diploma

Contact

Kees van den Ende MA
Email: studyadvice.rcs rug.nl
Telephone: 050-363 9382
Dr. Peter Berger (MA coordinator)
Email: p.berger rug.nl
ambassadors (our student ambassadors are happy to tell you more about the MA programme)
Email: prospectives.rcs rug.nl

Testimonial of Dr. Peter Berger (Germany)

Like biodiversity is crucial for sustainability, cultural diversity is important for human survival.
– Dr. Peter Berger (Germany)

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.

In anthropology, you look at the world through different eyes. In fact, you actually enter different life-worlds with your whole being, mind, body and emotions. In addition to this, cultures all over the world, in the present and in the past, are repositories of knowledge and wisdom. By making an effort to understand different life-worlds and by taking them seriously, we also open up the possibilities to encounter novel and alternative solutions for global problems.

Anthropology shows that there are many alternative ways of viewing the world and living in the world, and that it is important to be able to change perspectives. It challenges our common sense, because our common sense may be nonsense in other places in the world, or in other times in history. The central idea of anthropology and its ethnographic research is understanding through difference. By learning to understand other cultures, you also learn more about yourself. And just like biodiversity is crucial for sustainability, cultural diversity is important for human survival. Anthropology puts those aspects of difference and diversity on the agenda, in a positive, constructive sense.

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 or groups of people.

Dr. Peter Berger is Associate Professor of Indian Religions and the Anthropology of Religion, coordinator of the MA Anthropology of Religion and Culture, and - together with Dr Sean Desjardins - coordinator of the University minor: Anthropology: What it means to be human . He is also a staff member of the Institute of Indian Studies , as well as the interdisciplinary research network Cereal Cultures . He has been conducting ethnographic research for many years in the state of Odisha, eastern India, on the religion, society and culture of the so-called Adivasis, the indigenous people of the region. Since 1996, he has lived with them for about three years.

Read more about his life als an anthropologist in Odisha.

Testimonial of Dr. Kim Knibbe (The Netherlands)

Gender and sexuality are topics that are constantly being politicized. How can we understand this in a way that goes beyond the madness of the day?
– Dr. Kim Knibbe (The Netherlands)

I conduct research into how religious and secular approaches to sexuality and gender differ, converge and sometimes clash. This grew out of other research, which ran from 2007 to 2016 on the spread of Nigerian Pentecostal churches in Europe.

This research focused primarily on the leaders: how did they come to leave behind sometimes successful careers and go plant a church somewhere in Europe? Or, in other cases, to lead churches alongside their successful careers? This can be quite labor-intensive. It involves not only the Sunday service, but also the pastoral care during the week. In my research, I saw that these highly educated professionals often struggled with the patronizing way in which they were addressed by policymakers and well-meaning organizations. This became particularly apparent during a controversy that arose over so-called HIV healings, in which Dutch media wrote that African churches promised to be able to cure people of HIV. There were all sorts of quite sensitive issues underlying this, such as the taboo on homosexuality, but one thing was very clear: these people do not lack medical knowledge, as was suggested in the media. There was much more to it: a complex clash between different views on sexuality, embedded in broader notions of modernity, the role of religion in society, sexual morality, education and relationships. These are the kinds of complex issues that fascinate me.

As we can read in the newspapers every day, gender and sexuality are topics that are constantly being politicized. How can we understand this in a way that goes beyond the madness of the day? This is also what I aim to do in the course ‘Religion, Gender and Sexuality: between politics and everyday life’. One of the findings that I have continued with together with a colleague and colleagues in Kenya and the Philippines is the theme of pregnancy. Despite the strict sexual morality (or, as some would say, because of it), it is more common for women to become pregnant unintentionally. What happens then? How do people react to this, how are religious leaders involved in this process? By seeking collaboration with colleagues in the Philippines and Kenya, we want to further investigate this topic in an international comparative perspective.

I became fascinated by the field of anthropology when I lived with family in the US for a while as a 13-year-old. My aunt often took me to public lectures by anthropologists at the University of Charlottesville. I find it particularly fascinating how differently people experience the world. So not only have a different perspective on it, but also experience it physically differently than others. Also methodologically: how do you gain access to this as a researcher? Participant observation is the anthropological method par excellence, in which you gain insight over a longer period into how people live their lives in all daily and banal details. The difference between what people say they do and what they actually do, you get a picture of. A new methodological challenge is that people nowadays live half online, via their smartphones and other screens. Getting that into focus is a whole new challenge, where I am more in the role of student than teacher: students and PhD candidates have much more insight and knowledge about this than I do. I really want to develop this further. In terms of themes, I think I will continue to focus on gender and sexuality in the coming years.

Testimonial of Dr. Manoela Carpenedo Rodrigues (Brazil)

Ethnographic research is incredibly exciting, enlightening, and rewarding. But it's also a demanding journey.
– Dr. Manoela Carpenedo Rodrigues (Brazil)

I am an ethnographer dedicated to understanding grassroots Christian movements and their intersections with culture, identity, and politics, especially within the Global South. My work delves into how Christian cultures increasingly shape identity, politics, and policy. In this picture, I am doing fieldwork with a conservative religious community.

I focus on themes such as the rise of Christian Zionism, the spread of Judaizing forms of Christianity, Christian activism and political mobilization, and emerging forms of Christian religious extremism. Trained in traditional ethnographic methods, I have recently expanded my focus to include the anthropology of media and digital anthropology. By analyzing social media through digital anthropological methods, I have explored how celebrity pastors have been influencing behavior, fashion, and even electoral politics in virtual spheres.

I’m from Brazil, where religion plays an incredibly important role in people’s lives — far more so than in much of Europe. When I came to study in Europe, I quickly realized that many of the theories I was being taught didn’t quite resonate well with the realities I had experienced back home. This disconnect made me uncomfortable, as it felt like these frameworks weren’t capturing the depth or complexity of grassroots life in the Global South. That’s what drives my research: creating a more meaningful framework that truly reflects the lived experiences and cultural realities of communities in the Global South.

I ended up in the anthropology of religion by accident. While working on my master’s research about undocumented Latina women in the domestic sector, as carers and cleaners in Paris and London, I found that the best place to connect with these women was actually in the churches they would go to every week. These migrant churches were not only a place where they practiced their religiosity, but also where they built social and support networks. It quickly became clear that, to fully understand their lives as undocumented migrants, I also needed to understand the central role that religion played for them. While religion’s role might seem diminished in much of Europe, it remains a powerful force in other parts of the world. I believe that to truly understand the political landscape in these areas, we must take religion seriously.

I believe that by understanding the complex intersections of religion and everyday politics, we can work toward more nuanced and effective policies that reflect the grassroots realities of the Global South. Engaging in ethnographic research can be incredibly exciting and enlightening, but it’s also a demanding journey. It requires us to spend days, weeks, and sometimes even months fully immersed in a different culture, navigating unfamiliar customs and ways of thinking. While it can be challenging, it’s also immensely rewarding. Ethnographic work encourages us to step outside of our own identities and attune ourselves to cultural norms that may initially feel foreign or surprising.

Through ethnographic training and fieldwork, I believe students develop a broad set of valuable skills. They learn to observe keenly, pay attention to detail, communicate effectively, and, perhaps most importantly, empathize by stepping into others’ shoes. One of my primary aims when training future ethnographers is to equip them with the skills to conduct rigorous research, while also fostering their growth into global citizens — individuals who feel comfortable and fluent in diverse cultural settings. I want them to leave with not only a deeper understanding of the cultures they study but also the empathy and tools to navigate and appreciate our interconnected world.

Testimonial of Tessa Rongen (The Netherlands)

Thanks to anthropology, I have really established a new form of admiration for all the different ways of “being human”.
– Tessa Rongen (The Netherlands)

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.

Because of this, I followed the minor Anthropology in the third year of my BA at the RUG. I found this very interesting: I did not only learn how I could implement anthropology in my own academic field, but I suddenly also understood the modern world around me a lot better. It was really valuable for me to see how and why certain cultures are so different from each other, and I have learnt to look at things that I had always considered to be very normal in my own Dutch culture in a different way. I have really established a new form of admiration for all the different ways of “being human”. Of course, that is also the special thing about anthropology: we are all human!

By learning about anthropology I was able to develop my own archaeological knowledge, especially since there was a lot of room for me to research the things I found interesting. Unfortunately, the MA in Anthropology of Religion and Culture didn't yet exist in 2024; otherwise I would definitely have considered this programme after completing my BA. Now, I am a Research Master's student in Archaeology, and here my anthropological knowledge is still useful: I have a better understanding of what I like within archaeology, I can still apply the anthropological theory that I learnt in my own research, and I can approach my own research from multiple different perspectives!

Testimonial of Meike Numeijer (The Netherlands)

Studying anthropology of religion broadens your perspective beyond your own surroundings, allowing you to see the practice of faith beyond what is familiar to you.
– Meike Numeijer (The Netherlands)

People often claim that religion or the study of religion is outdated and irrelevant. However, by studying the anthropology of religion and examining its role in diverse social contexts, you really see how religion is embedded in the way humans have structured society. It is present in everything we do: how we see human relations, how our legal systems are structured, and how we respond to questions such as gender equality, cultural diversity, and living together in a globalized world.

In Western Europe, we often assume that religion has lost its relevance due to our exposure to secular societies, but this is far from true here and in many other parts of the world. And studying the anthropology of religion broadens your perspective beyond your own surroundings, allowing you to see the practice of faith beyond what is familiar to you. It enables you to learn about global customs, norms, and legal systems, which is not only fascinating but also crucial for thriving in a multicultural society.

One of the modules I’ve taken this year is Religion, Gender and Sexuality, where we explored various topics at the intersection of religion and gender. This included discussions on gender inequality within religious traditions, but also different perspectives on theorising gender is and how it operates across the globe.
We engaged in fascinating debates on the Western view of gender and its representation in religion, society, and politics. The courses offered by this faculty are unique; I found myself enthusiastic to attend every class, especially when addressing important and thought-provoking topics.

The lecturers at the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society genuinely take the time to understand students’ interests. They have been instrumental in helping me identify the right steps to pursue my goals. In addition to broadening my knowledge, the course is equipping me with skills, connections, and networks to actively work towards my aspirations.

What is ethnographic fieldwork?

Anthropologists are not the only ones studying different lifeworlds. Archaeologists try to unearth them through studying ancient artefacts, historians study them by investigating documents of the past, philologists by analyzing, often bygone, languages.

The difference lies here: anthropologists immerse themselves in different lifeworlds by inhabiting them. The aims of anthropology are very similar to those of the other disciplines, but the method is different.

This method, which essentially is a process, is called ethnographic fieldwork and is first of all characterized by its openness and unpredictability, which implies that the researcher is also vulnerable. Moreover, it requires a high degree of methodological flexibility, reflexivity and ethical responsibility. As questions of ethics and methods can never definitely be settled beforehand, they are part of the process in every step.

'Doing fieldwork' also means to immerse yourself in the lifeworld you want to understand. This photograph captures a situation in which the anthropologist (Dr. Peter Berger, in the centre of the picture) became the focus of ritual action.

American anthropologist Sherry B. Ortner nicely formulated the central features of the ethnographic method:

“Ethnography of course means many things. Minimally, however, it has always meant the attempt to understand another life world using the self-as much of it as possible-as the instrument of knowing. (…) Classically, this kind of understanding has been closely linked with field work, in which the whole self physically and in every other way enters the space of the world the researcher seeks to understand. (…) the ethnographic stance (as we may call it) is as much an intellectual (and moral) positionality, a constructive and interpretive mode, as it is a bodily process in space and time. (…) What, then, is the ethnographic stance, whether based in field work or not? It is first and foremost a commitment to what Geertz has called "thickness," to producing understanding through richness, texture, and detail, rather than parsimony, refinement, and (in the sense used by mathematicians) elegance.” (Ortner 1995, 173f)

Significantly, the 'ethnographic stance' can be adapted to the study of other sources such as texts and (other) objects as well. Ortner herself has demonstrated this by reading ethnographically the novels of Philip Roth (in her Reading America). Likewise, students following the Anthropology of Religion and Culture program might choose to apply the ethnographic stance to novel fields. Digital ethnography and at-home ethnography are two examples of how the classical method of fieldwork has been extended.

Approaches such as digital ethnography and at-home ethnography can also be very useful as they have been expanding the scope of anthropological research. Digital ethnography focuses on online communities and digital cultures, providing valuable insights into virtual interactions and the dynamics of online spaces, which are so crucial to us now. At-home ethnography, on the other hand, emphasizes studying familiar or local contexts, uncovering rich cultural practices and social dynamics close to home. These approaches demonstrate how ethnography can adapt to contemporary realities while maintaining its depth and rigor as a research method.

References:
- Ortner, Sherry B. 1995. “Resistance and the Problem of Ethnographic Refusal.” Comparative Studies in Society and History 37 (1): 173–93.
- Ortner, Sherry B. 2006 “Reading America: Preliminary Notes on Class and Culture”. In: Anthropology and Social Theory: Culture, Power, and the Acting Subject. Durham and London: Duke University Press.

Student experience: fieldwork in Barcelona

Over the course of nine months of ethnographic fieldwork for her MA thesis 'From Incarnated Faith to Jesus' Lifestyle', Berta Escolà i Parra immersed herself in the complexities of religion, culture, and activism in the Christian Worker's Youth organisation in Barcelona.

The aim of her investigation was to understand how ‘Catholic cultural values’ including altruism, siblinghood, and salvation were adapted by different generations of the organisation, spanning from the Francoist era to the present day. Berta utilised a range of techniques to understand these two important periods in history and collect intergenerational data with participants, who were between the ages of 19 and 76. These included archival work and life story interviews, as well as in-depth ethnographic observation of events and group meetings coupled with unstructured interviews.

For Berta, this deep engagement with the field brought an unexpected connection to her own spirituality. She shares that “to gain meaningful insights from the field, you also need to give a part of yourself. Defining that boundary is often very challenging.”

She recalls fieldwork challenges such as building rapport with the youth community. She details her involvement in group meetings was initially constrained, as some participants felt uncomfortable with the presence of a researcher: “I offered to leave the room, and from that day, it just switched. He trusted me. It taught me that sometimes pushing isn't the answer. It’s important to give people space and be honest about why you’re there.”

Berta’s thesis emphasises how aspects like socio-economic, political, and moral justifications play a role in shaping how the Catholic cultural values are adopted within the Christian Worker’s Youth culture. She shares that “Religion is a collection of ideas and practices that people can adapt and make their own. Those who were once oppressed can reclaim these ideas and practices, transforming them into means of emancipation and resistance.” Berta’s findings contribute to a better understanding of the role of religion in shaping social and political change.

Berta’s advice for other Master's students choosing their thesis topic is to “choose something that truly drives you because it will enhance the quality of your fieldwork and make the process much easier.”

Pre-master's Programme

If you do not have a bachelor's degree in either the Humanities, Arts, Behavioural and Social Sciences or Spatial Sciences (see the section 'entry requirements' above), generally speaking you will first need to complete a pre-master's programme before you can enter this master's programme. However, there are exemptions. For example, if you have completed one of the university minors of the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society.

See our website for more information about the pre-master's programme, and the excemptions for following a pre-master's programme.

Other degree programmes in religion

If you are interested in a master's degree programme in religion, you might also be interested in:

Study associations

Gerardus van der Leeuw

Gerardus van der Leeuw is the study association of the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society at the University of Groningen.

Besides broadening activities (for example, lectures or career events) for both the Religious Studies and Theology programs, they organize relaxing activities such as get-togethers and trips abroad.

http://www.gerardusvanderleeuw.nl/

Student profile

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.

Study support

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.

Immediately after arrival, students who gained their Bachelor's degree at a different faculty or university as well as international students will be allocated a mentor who will help them get to know the Faculty. You can also go to the study advisor if you have doubts about your abilities or for whatever reason run the risk of study delay. You will receive intensive supervision while writing your thesis. The Master's programme includes a thesis seminar, where attention is paid to how to tackle writing a Master's thesis, and where the progress of the process is monitored closely. You will also receive structural supervision from the lecturer who is the specialist in the field of your thesis.

Anthropology of Religion and Culture

Why study this programme in Groningen?

Programme

Study load

Study abroad

Entry requirements

Admission requirements

Transfer options

Registration procedure

Application deadlines

Admission requirements

Language requirements

Registration procedure

Application deadlines

Tuition fees

After your studies

Job prospects

Research

Contact

What is ethnographic fieldwork?

Student experience: fieldwork in Barcelona

Pre-master's Programme

Other degree programmes in religion

Study associations

Gerardus van der Leeuw

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