Population Studies
Master
Are you interested in studying contemporary population issues like ageing, migration and global population growth? In the master programme Population Studies students learn the theories, methods and skills required to become a versatile demographer.
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 programmesThe 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 a
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English
Title
Master of Science
Duration
1 year
ECTS credits
ECTS
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a student-centred system based on the student workload required to achieve the objectives of a programme of study. Its aim is to facilitate the recognition of study periods undertaken by mobile students through the transfer of credits. The ECTS is based on the principle that 60 credits are equivalent to the workload of full-time student during one academic year.
Accreditation
Tuition fee 2025/2026
EU/EEA
The EU/EEA rate is the regular fee for students from within the EU/EEA.
€ 2,601
Non-EU/EEA
The non-EU/EEA rate is the rate for students from outside the EU/EEA.
€ 21,400
Institutional
The institutional rate is for all students who have already obtained a bachelor’s or master’s degree and who want to start a second programme leading to a degree at the same level or at a lower level.
€ 20,500
Admission
Admission URL
Application requirements
Academic Bachelor degree with some background knowledge in Population Studies, incl. at least 10 ECTS in statistics or equivalent statistical knowledge, 5 ECTS in research method skills and 15 ECTS in demography-related thematic knowledge.
If you are not directly admissible you can follow a pre-master programme. See more information in the pre-master guide: https://www.rug.nl/frw/education/pre-master
Check when you can start and what you have to pay!
| Tuition fees | |
|---|---|
| € 2,601 | |
| € 21,400 | |
| € 20,500 |
| Start date | App. deadline EU/EEA | App. deadline Non-EU/EEA |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sep '25 | 15 Aug '25 | 1 May '25 |
| 1 Feb '26 | 15 Jan '26 | 1 Nov '25 |
| 1 Sep '26 | 15 Aug '26 | 1 May '26 |
| 1 Feb '27 | 15 Jan '27 | 1 Nov '26 |
| 1 Sep '27 | 15 Aug '27 | 1 May '27 |
Scholarships
You can check if you're eligible for scholarships that apply to this course.
StuNed Scholarship Programme
StuNed Scholarships for master studies, short courses and customised training programmes are available for Indonesian professionals with at least 2 years' work experience in a development-related organisation.
Contact
Main addressOude Boteringestraat 44
9712 GL Groningen
050 363 9011
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