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Political Economy (Political Science) Graduate School of Social Sciences MASTER Political Economy 2017-2018 (Political Science) WWW.UVA.NL/MSC-POLITICAL-ECONOMY How do global economic and political forces shape the FACTS & FIGURES lives and future of citizens, business, and civil society? Of political processes and government? This track focusses Degree MSc Political Science: Political Economy on the interaction of 'the economy' and 'politics', both Mode Full-time broadly conceived. It covers the ground from ‘economics Credits 60 ECTS credits for non-economists’ to understanding how the ‘rules of Duration 12 months the game’ are shaped, to thinking about how an open Language English Starts in September global economy gives rise to ‘new’ conflicts and to a surge Application deadline(s) 1 March, of new political movements. You will explore critical 3.00pm CET issues facing the developed and developing worlds - contemporary challenges such as migration, the struggle for development, or better financial market governance. GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION • A DIVERSE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT BODY • LOW TUITION FEES FOR EU STUDENTS • A CENTRAL LOCATION IN THE MULTICULTURAL CITY OF AMSTERDAM • UVA SOCIAL SCIENCES IS NUMBER 1 IN CONTINENTAL EUROPE Geoffrey Underhill "The causes and consequences of the on-going economic malaise have brought this Professor highly political ‘who-gets-what’ nature of ‘the economy’ back out into the open. These dynamics cut across a rich terrain of contemporary issues. We explore policy challenges with an ethical dimension such as social policies or corporate power and social inequalities, to understand how this plays out in different political environments. The starting point here is that the relationship between ‘politics’ and ‘the economy’ is a two-way street: political contestation shapes economic outcomes and their governance, while economic developments generate political conflicts." Political Economy The programme areas of study, from international relations to political Political economy taps into your interest in both the theory, from electoral politics to public administration. practical and the ‘big issue’ side of global affairs, crossing over with public policy expertise and business Course overview strategy. From these different perspectives we will take Specialisation course Political Economy 6 ects a look at intriguing issues, among them: Transnational Politics 6 ects Elective course 9 ects • How do markets work and how do they intersect Elective course 9 ects with the institutions and governance that have Research project 9 ects emerged over time, from the local to the global? Thesis 21 ects • What are the responsibilities of rich societies to the For more information: www.coursecatalogue.uva.nl poor, to the environment, to future generations? • Is the new radicalism of the ‘losers of globalisation’ Student Profile a revitalisation of or a threat to democracy? This track is above all a response to vocal demand from students. It draws on a long political economy We have an international student body and an tradition at the UvA that is second-to-none in Europe. international faculty. The Department is consistently Many who have taken economics, business, or law seek ranked among the World’s top-50, and is the largest in our programme’s ‘bringing of politics back in’. Many the Netherlands. This provides students with a broad from the humanities can bring their linguistic, cultural foundation in political economy and opportunities for and historical knowledge to the programme’s electives and thesis research in a wide variety of related exploration of political-economic interaction. AR Building B/C/D M Plantage MiddenlaanTIS Building L (LAB) Roetersstraat Plantage Muidergracht N E G Dr. E. Boekmanschool Roetersstraat H Plantage Lepellaan L (LAB) P D Nieuwe Nieuwe Achtergracht Achtergracht CREA Hoofdingang I Main entrance A C Roetersstraat J K Minder validen ingang Disabled entrance Weesperplein metro Valckenierstraat B legend Valckenierstraat building site (temporary) route Sarphatistraat tram 7 & 10 Geertje Haverkamp Application & Admission Study Advisor Applications will be carefully evaluated by the admissions committee. The committee determines whether or not all entry requirements as specified below are met and assesses the quality of each application compared to the other applications received. Entry requirements Bachelor's degree The MSc in Political Economy seeks students with an academic Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Political Science or in a closely related discipline, such as other social sciences, history, law and economics. All applicants are expected to have a solid basis in the field of Political Science / Political Economy, with a minimum of 60 ECTS credits earned during previous studies (including 20 ECTS on social sciences research method – see below – and preferably with a clear focus on Political Economy). Grade average Study results obtained in previous education should demonstrate that a 'I see many students with a strong student is able to attain and maintain a good to excellent level, especially in motivation to study political economy the field of Political Science / Political Economy. topics.' 'As study advisor of the master’s Research methodology programme Political Science, I see many Applicants should have a solid basis in both qualitative and quantitative students with a strong motivation to study social sciences research methodology reflected by the completion of at least political economy topics. These students (an equivalent of) 20 ECTS during previous study. often worry about inequality throughout Promising candidates with less than 20 ECTS of social sciences research the world and they assume that not only methodology may be admitted provided that they complete an intensive states but also, and increasingly, big research methodology module (in the four weeks prior to the Master's multinationals exert power in how programme) offered by the Graduate School of Social Sciences. resources are distributed. Financial crises, diverging income differences, English language proficiency microcredits, investments from states into All students must be able to read textbooks, understand lectures, take part businesses and from business into states, in classroom discussions and undertake written work in English. All politics and governance are hard to non-native speakers of English are required to demonstrate proficiency in understand without taking economics into the English language. Students with a Dutch degree in social sciences are account. Our students dive into the exempted from this condition, on the assumption that they followed a societal problems they encounter and help substantial amount of English taught courses during their bachelor’s to analyze them within their extensive programme. These students are still advised to do an English language thesis research. I am proud to say that skills test or take the Bachelor’s course Academic English, but this is not a with their studies they contribute both to necessity to be admitted into the programme. academics and to society.' Motivation and resume The master’s programme seeks students who are dedicated to the studies. A cover letter and resume are part of the evaluation criteria. Preparatory Programmes For some of the master’s tracks of Political Science we offer a Dutch taught preparatory programme to promising students who do not fully meet the entry requirements. A preparatory programme consists of a limited amount of undergraduate courses (taught in Dutch) at our department. For more detailed and up-to-date information, please visit our website: www.uva.nl/msc-political-economy/apply CONTACT T: +31 (0)20 525 3777 E: [email protected] gsss.uva.nl facebook.com/uva.gsss Office Hours Monday to Friday, 9:00 - 17:00 Visiting Address Education Desk Social Sciences Room B700 Nieuwe Achtergracht 166 1018 WV Amsterdam Postal address Grad. School of Social Sciences PO Box 15725 1001 NE Amsterdam The Netherlands Career prospects Political Economy will tap student interest in issues of practical concern in the economy, business, and policy worlds where expertise leads to elite job opportunities. Above all we help you to think and analyse critically and independently where others merely learn to follow. There is thus strong demand in the society at large for the training we offer. An intensive Political Economy programme permits graduates to successfully compete with management, public policy, and economics-trained students for relevant jobs in ministries, think-tanks or consultancy, companies, municipalities, International Organisations, and the media. There is little that a good political economist cannot do. GSSS Career Event Twice a year the GSSS hosts a Career Event, where you can meet organisation representatives and alumni, and receive helpful tips and feedback about searching for a job as a graduate. UvA Careers Centre (LAC) The career advisers at the UvA Student Careers Centre can help students CREDITS with information, workshops and individual vocational counselling to find out what you want, get insight into your capabilities and competencies, © 2016 University of Amsterdam make choices and improve your application skills in order to achieve your Design: Nancy Koot goals. Photography: Fred van Diem, Leonard Faustle, Monique Kooijmans With an increasing number of international students each year, the UvA is Editors: Bureau Communicatie truly an international university. UvA graduates from all over the world No rights may be derived from the find their way to interesting careers, whether in the Netherlands or abroad. content of this brochure. The Student Careers Centre is specialised in advising international (non-Dutch) UvA graduates about job seeking in the international labour market. For more information on career options: www.gsss.uva.nl/career.
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