Essential to understanding population dynamics is the study of people’s demographic behaviour, such as birth, health, migration, and death. The master programme focuses on these demographic events, on how decision-making regarding these life events is influenced by the economic, societal, cultural, and geographical context, and on how these demographic events have an impact on population-level trends.
You will learn about:
* Contemporary population issues as population ageing, integration of migrants, health inequalities and global population growth
* Individual decision-making processes behind demographic events, such as family formation, residential choices and health care use
* Collecting and interpreting demographic data
* Methods and techniques to analyse demographic data: life tables, population projections, advanced statistical analysis, and qualitative research methods
* Population policies and intervention programmes
The field of Population Studies reflects on and deals with contemporary demographic topics and related societal issues. The study is simultaneously concrete and broad.
The Master in Population Studies is also interesting for mid-career professionals working at, for example, statistical offices or demographic departments of government agencies.
For further information, watch a webinar with prof. Clara Mulder about Migration and Family, and the Master Population Studies or visit the web class Population Studies (https://www.rug.nl/nestor and log in with username frw-Webclasspopstudies and password webpopst@050).
We also offer two double degree programmes: with the University of Cologne in Germany (Demography and Social Inequality) and with the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain (Social Demography). You can also combine the Master in Population Studies with our top-rated Research Master in Spatial Sciences.