MA European Studies on Society, Science and Technology
Maastricht University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Key Information
Campus location
Maastricht, Netherlands
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 2,209 / per year
Application deadline
01 Jun 2024
Earliest start date
01 Sep 2024
Introduction
Are you a socially conscious, critical thinker? Are you interested in politics and technology? And does the connection between innovation and society intrigue you? Then the master’s in European Studies on Society, Sciences, and Technology (ESST) might be what you are looking for. As an ESST student, you will investigate the relationship between science, technology, and society, from a cultural, political, economic, and historical point of view.
This programme is offered together with 12 partner universities across Europe. You will spend your first semester taking courses at Maastricht University. During the second semester, you will select a specialisation and write your thesis either at Maastricht University or at one of the programme's partner universities abroad.
Admissions
Curriculum
This programme is offered together with 12 partner universities across Europe. You will spend your first-semester taking courses at Maastricht University. During the second semester, you will select a specialization and write your thesis either at Maastricht University or at one of the program’s partner universities abroad.
Why this programme?
The emergence of new technologies – such as social media platforms, corona apps, robotics, and sustainable energy resources – opens up both opportunities and threats to modern societies and economies. Citizens, governments, businesses and universities face great challenges when trying to take advantage of the seemingly infinite opportunities of scientific and technological innovations, not least because of the unintended consequences that often accompany them.
Convinced that innovation cannot be captured by economics alone and that a purely technical approach is not enough to understand today’s knowledge society, ESST approaches scientific and technological development from a multidisciplinary perspective. The program explores the interrelated worlds of the scientist, engineer, politician, and citizen by examining the values, economics, history, and politics of modern innovation. Furthermore, its global, culturally sensitive, and environmentally conscious angles help you develop ethical awareness and public responsibility.
Programme highlights
The master's programme European Studies on Society, Science, and Technology:
- Looks at the complex interactions between society, science, and technology;
- Trains you as a problem definer, problem solver, and bridge builder;
- Prepares you for a career in government research institutes, policy institutions, NGOs, and private companies;
- Has truly international classes (average of 10 different nationalities);
- Is interdisciplinary (students training in science & engineering, and social sciences & humanities);
- Is a joint master's with 12 universities in 12 countries, and multiple specialization options;
- Offers exchange opportunities in the 2nd semester where you can conduct research abroad.
What will you learn?
In this programme, you will:
- Get insights into controversial areas and acquire knowledge of the research methodologies needed to study debates, policies, and the underlying assumptions about the relationships between science, technology, and society.
- Become adept at looking at issues from a variety of perspectives.
- Learn how to tackle complex ideas, which are indispensable to real-world problem-solving.
- Become a ‘systematic thinker’ so you can build bridges between different parties involved in a given situation.
Multidisciplinary approach
The ESST programme offers an integrated curriculum that is based on disciplines such as philosophy, anthropology, innovation studies, sociology, sustainability studies, history, feminist theory, risk analysis, evolutionary economics, and systems development and design. This approach is essential to the program because:
- Innovation and technological change are not merely technical or engineering matters; they're social processes.
- Political, economic, and cultural processes shape the evolution of technology.
- The application and spread of new innovations also involve social, economic, and political decisions.
- Scientific and technological innovations have an impact on society.
ESST will give you a broad theoretical foundation and will teach you how to build bridges between disciplines, something that will be valuable later on in your career.
International experience
From day one, you will be challenged with differing viewpoints and experiences as you interact with staff and students from all over the world. This kind of interaction brings you closer to the program’s goal of teaching students not only facts and concepts but also international accessibility and understanding. With an average of 10 nationalities in a 20-person classroom, this program offers a truly international experience, in which you are exposed to a variety of ideas, opinions, and perspectives.
Combine your thesis with an internship
Internships give you practical experience that enhances your studies and increases your employability. Most specializations of this programme allow you to combine research activities with an internship. For example, with Maastricht University, you can do an internship at the Rathenau Institute in The Hague. The Rathenau Institute promotes the formation of political and public opinion on science and technology by studying the organization and development of science and technology systems, publishing about the social impact of new technologies, and organizing debates on issues and dilemmas in science and technology.
Write your thesis abroad
The European Studies on Society, Science and Technology program is a joint master's with 12 universities in 12 countries. You can select a specialization offered by one of these universities and use the second semester to move to the corresponding university, follow a course on your specialization topic, and write your master’s thesis there.
Teaching methods
ESST is taught using an advanced version of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method in which learning is achieved through active participation in academic discussions and by doing research. In all stages of the curriculum, you will be trained in formulating research questions, developing strategies for investigating those questions, evaluating the results of your inquiries, and presenting them in a media format suited to the subject of the module (essay, oral presentation of field data, historical analysis, etc.).
You will be taught through lectures, projects, skills training where you learn by doing, presentations from your fellow students on their work, and site visits to relevant institutions. You will also participate in seminars, which are guided by a tutor, where you discuss key questions related to the reading with your fellow students. Round table meetings where you can present your progress on your thesis as well as give and receive feedback from your fellow students will also provide valuable insights.
Teaching Staff:
- Geert Somsen, Programme Director
- Jessica Mesman
- Vincent Lagendijk
- Jens Lachmund
Premium honors programme
Want to gain that extra edge by getting real-world experience during your studies? The Premium honors program will help you gain the experience and develop the skills employers are looking for. As part of a team of students and under the guidance of our academic staff, you’ll spend about three months working on a real-world assignment for a company, NGO, or educational institution. You'll also work on a personal development plan, receive intensive individual coaching, and attend masterclasses and workshops. All of this will take about 250 hours, but it will give you a lifetime of benefits.
Courses & curriculum
The European Studies on Society, Science and Technology programme is divided into two semesters. The first semester is spent in Maastricht following a curriculum of intensive coursework. During the second semester, you will write a thesis in an area of specialization offered by Maastricht University or one of the partner universities in the European Inter-University Association on Society, Science, and Technology. In most cases, this will involve moving to one of the partner universities in Europe.
Semester 1
- Introduction in Society, Science and Technology Studies
- Science and Technology in the Making: Entering the World of the Laboratory
- Interpreting the History of Science and Technology
- Science and Technology Dynamics
- Politics of Knowledge
Semester 2
- Science and Public Policy
- Extern
- Thesis
Rankings
69% of the European Studies on Society, Science and Technology students would recommend this programme: Elsevier 2019
Here are some of the highlights from the European Studies on Society, Science and Technology programme:
- 69% of the students recommend this programme to others
- 90% of the students are satisfied or very satisfied with the tutors
- 75% of the students are satisfied or very satisfied with the set-up of the programme
Gallery
Program Outcome
The programme will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary for understanding and managing the complex issues of modern innovation. The master's ESST approaches these problems from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, such as history, sociology, ethics, and political science.
Career Opportunities
Your future
Governmental, non-governmental, and private organizations are increasingly faced with rapidly changing decision-making conditions. In a period where the information society is becoming more and more complex, there is an increasing need for generalists who are able to deal with innovation in a reflexive and politically conscious way.
Career prospects
Practically all ESST graduates find employment at the intersection of science, technology, and society. Approximately one-third continues in academic research, some forty percent in the private sector, and one quarter in the public sector. Some 10-20% of the MA ESST students every year enter the program from a working situation. These are typically professionals advanced in a particular career path (e.g. finance or web design) seeking to broaden their scope and deepen their understanding of the sectors they were working in. These students typically do not return to their old jobs but find new opportunities. It is not unusual for MA ESST students to find jobs immediately after graduation – or even before.
Many ESST graduates find work in non-academic institutes, such as:
- Governmental agencies and NGOs (Analyst, Parliamentary Assistant);
- Advisory bodies, e.g. think tanks, health councils (Advisor);
- Private research institutes, e.g. sustainability centers (Policy Analyst, Research Assistant);
- Commercial companies or consultancies specializing in science and technology and innovation (Marketing and Communications, Business consultant).
Examples of companies and institutes where our graduates work:
- Energy Centre Netherlands
- University of Edinburgh
- Moscow Urban Forum
- Accenture Indonesia
- American Chamber of Commerce Italy
- Bioforum biological famers' association
- Global Wind Energy Council
- Rathenau Institute, The Hague
Scholarships and Funding
As an open and accessible academic community, UM offers several scholarships to support top-performing undergraduate and graduate students with personal development potential that are experiencing financial difficulties to pursue a degree at UM. UM scholarship students function as important ambassadors of the university during and after their studies.UM scholarship students are selected on the basis of their academic excellence, extracurricular engagement, active citizenship and financial need. As the number of scholarships is limited, the selection process is highly competitive.