Understand the world from within

Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology

Why does the gap between rich and poor continue to grow?

How do communities deal with major change? Why do conflicts over land, water, or religion escalate? As an anthropologist, you look beyond the surface. You learn how people make sense of their world, what drives their choices, and how those relate to broader social issues.

At VU Amsterdam, you don’t just study in classrooms. You go out to do research, locally or across the world. You’ll learn to observe, listen, interview, and analyse. The programme is international and diverse: you’ll work with students from different backgrounds and learn from each other. At the same time, you’ll reflect on your own perspective: how your background, beliefs, and position shape what you see and understand.

The start date of Cultural Anthropology is September 1^st. Prefer to study in Dutch? In that case, opt for Culturele Antropologie en Ontwikkelingssociologie.

More facts and figures: studiekeuze123

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1st year
2nd year
3rd year

First year Cultural Anthropology

In the first year of the Anthropology programme you discover important topics in anthropology, such as culture, ethnicity, nationalism, power, religion and inequality. You will work on techniques that you will use throughout your studies, such as (open) interviews, observation and academic writing.

Subjects

Academic Skills Lab
Core Themes in Anthropology
English Language Test
Masterclass Anthropology 1
Social Research Methodology
History and Theory of Anthropology
Challenges of the 21st Century
Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
Masterclass Anthropology 2
History of Social Sciences
Ethnographic Research Methodology 1

Please consult the Study Guide from Cultural Anthropology for more information

Second year Cultural Anthropology

In the second year of the Anthropology programme you take an in-depth look at topics like economics, politics and migration. You will work on two research projects on issues relating to big cities and organisations. In the second semester, with students from other disciplines, you take the Social Sciences for Society course. In each period you choose one course that interests you, such as in the field of gender inequality, healthcare and wellness, commodity chains, sustainability or artificial intelligence. At lectures and in seminar groups you will look for solutions to social challenges.

Subjects

Anthropology of Development: Decolonial Perspectives
Political and Economic Anthropology
Masterclass Anthropology 3
Nation and Migration
Urban Studies
Masterclass Anthropology 4
Philosophy of Science
Global Religion in the Digital Age
Masterclass Anthropology 5

Please consult the Study Guide from Cultural Anthropology for more information

Third year Cultural Anthropology

In the first semester of the Cultural Anthropology programme you yourself decide the composition of your programme. You can go on a work placement, study abroad or take a minor. In the second semester you learn more about digital anthropology, you form part of a team in which you conduct practical research and you write a Bachelor’s thesis on the basis of your own ethnographic research.

Subjects

Ethnographic Research Methodology 2
Anthropology for Society
Bachelor's Project Anthropology

Please consult the Study Guide from Cultural Anthropology for more information

1st year
First year Cultural Anthropology

In the first year of the Anthropology programme you discover important topics in anthropology, such as culture, ethnicity, nationalism, power, religion and inequality. You will work on techniques that you will use throughout your studies, such as (open) interviews, observation and academic writing.

Subjects
Academic Skills Lab

Core Themes in Anthropology

English Language Test

Masterclass Anthropology 1

Social Research Methodology

History and Theory of Anthropology

Challenges of the 21st Century

Descriptive and Inferential Statistics

Masterclass Anthropology 2

History of Social Sciences

Ethnographic Research Methodology 1

Please consult the Study Guide from Cultural Anthropology for more information
2nd year
Second year Cultural Anthropology

In the second year of the Anthropology programme you take an in-depth look at topics like economics, politics and migration. You will work on two research projects on issues relating to big cities and organisations. In the second semester, with students from other disciplines, you take the Social Sciences for Society course. In each period you choose one course that interests you, such as in the field of gender inequality, healthcare and wellness, commodity chains, sustainability or artificial intelligence. At lectures and in seminar groups you will look for solutions to social challenges.

Subjects
Anthropology of Development: Decolonial Perspectives

Political and Economic Anthropology

Masterclass Anthropology 3

Nation and Migration

Urban Studies

Masterclass Anthropology 4

Philosophy of Science

Global Religion in the Digital Age

Masterclass Anthropology 5

Please consult the Study Guide from Cultural Anthropology for more information
3rd year
Third year Cultural Anthropology

In the first semester of the Cultural Anthropology programme you yourself decide the composition of your programme. You can go on a work placement, study abroad or take a minor. In the second semester you learn more about digital anthropology, you form part of a team in which you conduct practical research and you write a Bachelor’s thesis on the basis of your own ethnographic research.

Subjects
Ethnographic Research Methodology 2

Anthropology for Society

Bachelor's Project Anthropology

Please consult the Study Guide from Cultural Anthropology for more information

After the study Anthropology, you can further specialise by following a master's programme.

When you graduate as an anthropologist, you could work as a researcher at a civil society organisation, as a cultural specialist in the public or private sector, as a journalist, or as a policy advisor at a national or international institute.

Discover your future prospects