Testimonial Jasper Bosma

I have greatly enjoyed following the master’s programme Politics & Society. Positioned between sociology and political science, the programme offers different perspectives on the interaction between the political arena and society.  

Initially, we studied the political behaviour of societal groups and the contemporary sociological factors which influence it. Next, we shifted towards a more institutionally oriented view by analysing the interplay between society and politics, for instance by considering how different welfare systems influence the political preferences of different groups in society. For the last part of the programme, we focused on how political parties and governments can respond to changing circumstances, specifically globalisation and its implications for different societal groups.  

The diverse perspectives and broad scope of the programme help students in acquiring skills that are relevant for many professional directions. For me personally, the programme particularly inspired me to do research, which is why I am currently following a research master’s programme in sociology, also at the Erasmus University. Despite having no background in sociology, the master Politics & Society has served as excellent preparation for my next step.  

While following this programme, I particularly enjoyed how passionate and professional the staff was, which really boosted the value of both the lectures and the more interactive tutorial sessions, all of which took place in small groups. I had excellent and very involved supervision while writing my thesis, which really helped me unlock my potential and reach a level I otherwise never would have. I would recommend this programme for anyone who is interested in studying politics from different perspectives rather than the institutional focus of political sciences.