Spatial Sciences (Research)
Are you interested in a career as a researcher of spatial subjects? This programme allows the study of Spatial Sciences in the broadest possible way and it trains students to become good researchers.
The two-year Research Master in Spatial Sciences has two key features. First, it allows students maximum scientific freedom to learn and discover. Second, it lets students develop serious scientific research skills. Throughout the programme we take inspiration from Einstein's words: 'I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious'. Research Master students don't have to be extraordinarily talented or gifted. But students need to have a passionate curiosity about people and places. With this driving curiosity the research master Spatial Sciences is a good choice.
Maximum scientific freedom to learn and discover
Students can design their own programme by choosing courses according to their own interests. They can choose courses from all Spatial Sciences master programmes: environmental and infrastructure planning, economic geography, population studies, socio-spatial planning, or real estate studies and they may also include courses from other faculties.
Serious development of research skills
Students become a good researcher by experiencing a series of carefully designed research settings. They will participate in a joint multidisciplinary research challenge with other ReMa students. They will receive one-to-one individual research training from an URSI staff member involved in the tWIST research programme of our faculty. They will do a research internship at an outstanding research institute. The research experiences will be both big and small: they will range from the final master thesis taking several months to small half an hour researches as part of the scientific diary. Students will be trained in a wide array of research methods.
Track
If you want to combine thorough training in scientific research with a thematic specialization on islands and sustainability, we offer a track in Islands and Sustainability
Specializations
The Research Master offers a specialization option. Students combine the courses of a one-year FSS master within the two-year Research Master programme. They receive a formal specialization on their diploma supplement. Check all of our master's programmes to find your specialization.
Cambridge C1/C2 certificate: overall score 180
IELTS Academic: overall score 6.5 (min. 6.5 in all categories)
TOEFL iBT*: overall score 90 (min. 21 in Reading, Listening and for Speaking, 24 in Writing)
TOEFL iBT*: overall score 4.5 (min. 4 in Reading and Speaking, 4.5 in Listening, 5 in Writing)
Academic bachelor degree in human geography and/or urban and regional planning or comparable qualifications, including at least 10 ECTS in statistics or equivalent statistical knowledge.
Excellent study results and high grades at university level (A range, typically top 10%); Comparable to Dutch grading system: average grade of at least 7.0, for Bachelor thesis of at least 7.5.
Generally, an interview with the applicant, in which attitude, motivation, orientation and competence for a career in (scientific) research are evaluated, forms part of the admission procedure. The interview is scheduled after the required documents have been received and evaluated by the Admissions Board.
Curriculum Vitae
Motivation Letter
Two academic letters of reference
Academic writing sample
A list of relevant course descriptions: This list should include statistics courses, research methods courses and demographic content knowledge courses. The list needs to include info on the content of each course, literature used, learning outcomes, and details of how each course was assessed.
Job prospects
The graduates from the programme are well trained for 1) a PhD position 2) a research position in organisations such as government ministries, non-governmental organisations or research-based consultancies or 3) any other professional job in which scientific solidness and creativity is an asset.
The close contacts with URSI researchers and PhD students (as mentors or teachers) in the graduate school allow an easy transition to a PhD position. The Research Internship at a Research Institute is specifically introduced to let the student experience the work atmosphere at a research institute.
