Can we continue to travel responsibly amid the climate crisis? Can tourism positively impact communities and destinations? Is sustainable tourism achievable? What are the consequences of overtourism?
✔️
Study the interaction between tourists, visitors,
local communities, and the natural and built environment around
them
✔️ Learn
about sustainable tourism development from local, regional,
national and global perspectives
✔️
Build your network
while tackling
real-life challenges together with regional and
international stakeholders
Consider studying this programme because:
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Critical Approaches to Cultural Heritage and Identity (5 EC) | ||||
| Critical Tourism Studies (5 EC) Tourism is one of the biggest industries worldwide and has major impacts on the socio-economic development and on the natural environment of destinations. During this course we analyse the modern culture of tourism through classic theories and key concepts, discussing questions such as why people travel, what being a tourist exactly means, and how the growth (a temporary decline due to COVID-19) impacts liveability locally and globally. We connect the classic theories and core concepts to state of the art research in the field of sustainable tourism, discussing specific cases involving both culture tourism (e.g. indigenous, ethnic and minority tourism; media tourism; arts, festivals and creative tourism) and nature tourism (e.g. natural heritage and eco-tourism). Students will explore the theories and concepts offered through their own qualitative research project, reflecting on what tourism experience means in current socio-cultural practice. | ||||
| Field Work and Community Engagement (5 EC) | ||||
| Critical Tourism and Regional Planning (5 EC) | ||||
| Gendered Geographies (5 EC) | ||||
| Research Design (5 EC) | ||||
| Geographies of Migration (5 EC) The Geographies of Migration course offers a deep dive into global migration discussions, focusing on human geography and worldwide population movements. It encourages critical thinking about prevailing migration narratives, analysis of global migration trends, and questioning of common assumptions. Students engage in examining societal phenomena linked to migration, borders, migration categorization, political identity, and place attachment. They analyze these topics through various socio-economic and cultural lenses within the context of global structures and power hierarchies. | ||||
| Nature Based Solutions (5 EC) | ||||
| Social Impact Assessment - Data and Representation (5 EC) | ||||
| Master Thesis Cultural Geography (15 EC) | ||||
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Academic Bachelor degree in geography, social sciences or tourism studies, with some background knowledge in Geography, including at least 10 ECTS in statistics and research methods. |
| language test |
Sufficient English language proficiency is required, except for native speakers of the English language from the following countries: United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and The Netherlands. The following documents are valid:
An exemption can be given by the Admission Board. |
| other admission requirements |
Please use the step-by-step guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 July 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
The programme is open to students with an academic bachelor degree in geography, or social sciences with some background knowledge in geography, including at least 10 ECTS in statistics and research methods. |
| language test |
Sufficient English language proficiency is required, except for native speakers of the English language from the following countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, The Netherlands, United States, United Kingdom. To prove your English language proficiency, you can provide one of the following documents:
An exemption can be given by the Admission Board. |
| other admission requirements |
Please use this step-by-step guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure. |
| Exam | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| C1 Advanced (formerly CAE) | C1 |
| C2 Proficiency (formerly CPE) | C2 |
| IELTS overall band | 6.5 |
| IELTS listening | 6 |
| IELTS reading | 6 |
| IELTS writing | 6 |
| IELTS speaking | 6 |
| TOEFL internet based | 90 |
The programme is open to students with an academic bachelor degree in geography, or social sciences with some background knowledge in geography, including at least 10 ECTS in statistics and research methods.
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 01 July 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 2530 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 20800 | full-time |
Practical information for:
Cultural Geography equips you with the necessary theoretical and practical tools to contribute to place-related liveability in society, improve local livelihoods, invest in community futures, and work towards tourism that improves tourists' and residents' health and well-being. Guest lectures, field trips, community lectures, and empirical research in the community prepare you to develop a working knowledge of the field and also network with local stakeholders and employers.
Graduates of the Sustainable Tourism & Society track can apply their theoretical and practical research and problem-solving skills and knowledge internationally and locally as:
During the programme, we offer support for your career preparation with workshops, networking events, and career advice.
The research at the Department of Cultural Geography is strongly embedded in the research programmes of Campus Fryslân.
Topics of recent research projects are:
- Rural citizenship and
youth;
- Hidden urban spaces;
- Gender & tourism livelihoods
(post-)COVID-19;
- Community
participation;
- Ageing and
well-being;
- Innovation and rural
transformation;
- Socio-spatial consequences of
population decline;
- Heritage; evolution of the
historical landscape;
- Nature and health;
- Social impact
assessment;
- Social aspects of natural resource
management;
- Tourism and (cross-border)
regional development
The research
projects deal with the relations between people and place. Knowing
your own 'place' is of fundamental importance for the formation of
human identity and well-being. Cultural expressions such as art,
architecture, rituals and language, and our knowledge and
appreciation of nature and landscape interact with the physical
environment to shape our life stories and the liveability of
places. Therefore, the ways in which we construct space and place
are physical manifestations of both our imaginations and our
self-awareness. This perspective allows you to understand and
explain the differences between places, communities, and the
spatial behaviours of humans.
Our research
is strongly empirical. Students will become familiar with
qualitative and quantitative research methods during the Master's.
Innovative research methods such as visual methodologies and
location-based applications (social or soft GIS) can be used for
the Master’s Thesis.
What drew me to it was its focus on the qualitative aspects of tourism, particularly from the perspective of local communities. This resonated with me because it aligns with the ethos of the company I created, where inclusivity and equality are paramount
Because of the small-size of classes, here you don't feel like a number. You are seen as an actual person and can connect with your professors.
In Leeuwarden, I really had the time to focus on myself and my experience, and how I can contribute to the community while also studying and having a great student life.
