Master
Social Sciences for a Digital Society (research)
★ StudyPath verdict
?/10
No verdict yet — the score, best-for / skip-if and match score are editorial signals we generate once the underlying outcome data is collected.
Tuition · Intl
↗€24,150
via SKDB 2025 ↗
Duration
2 years
Start
Sep 26
apply by May 26
Language
English
IELTS 7+
Accred.
NVAO
NVAO 2024
Admission
Open
no intake cap
Enrolled/yr
↗46
DUO ↑59% ↗
Intl. %
?
no data yet
S:F ratio
↗25:1
institution-wide ↗
Min. English
7
IELTS required
Entry route
↗Bachelor
191 bachelor routes ↗
Satisfaction
↗4.1/5
NSE 2026 ↗
Employment
↗97%
field est. ↗
Median salary
↗€3,149
/mo gross · field ↗
Alumni
?
no data yet
↗ Real values are sourced; tiles marked “?” aren’t collected yet · Enrolled/yr is live from DUO · Satisfaction/outcomes are live from StudiekeuzedatabaseLast sync: 9 Jun 2026
About this program
How do news reports frame disaster response after tragic events? What role do social media play in political polarisation? How can analysing data help us find solutions? And what are the ethical concerns in mining data? These are big questions that require big answers. The two-year Social Sciences for a Digital Society Master’s programme identifies, investigates and develops solutions for broad social challenges, using qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse data, both big and small.
Social Sciences for a Digital Society is a truly multi-disciplinary and multi-methodological approach to society’s most pressing challenges. And for that reason, it will appeal to students from a wide range of backgrounds. In this Master's programme, you will use computational social science to analyse the social issues of today and tomorrow. It covers different themes: diversity and inclusion, polarization, fake news, governance of algorithms and challenges in care and welfare.
The research master Social Sciences for a Digital Society at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam scores according to the Keuzegids Masters 2024 above average on the components 'content', 'teachers', 'testing' and 'atmosphere'.
Institution’s own description (HOVI via Studiekeuzedatabase)
EnglishMaster of ScienceField area: Behaviour & SocietySector: Gedrag en MaatschappijCode of Conduct (intl.)Full-timeMaster
Teaching formats
Case studyComputer assignmentsField tripExhibitionGroup assignmentGroup discussionIndividual assignmentInternship
About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) is a public research university founded in 1880. Known for its international outlook and innovative research, VU has over 30,000 students and offers programs across humanities, sciences, and social sciences.
Living in Amsterdam
Student cost of living
Rent · room
€700/mo
Monthly total
€1,000–€2,000
Cost of living
High
Population
873k
Bustling, international, and culturally rich. Amsterdam balances historic charm with modern innovation. The city is bike-friendly, walkable, and offers endless opportunities for exploration and networking.
View city guide →Specializations
Year 3 tracks
?No data yet
Curriculum
Course structure by year
?No curriculum data yet
Career outcomes
Graduate surveys · field-group level
Good job-market outlookfield: sociale wetenschappen
Median starting salary (field)€3,149/mo gross
Employed ~1.5y after graduating97%
Months to a substantial job6
Working in their own field61%
Permanent contract35%
Satisfied with their job3.4/5
Top graduate occupations (field)
Professoren en andere onderwijsgevenden in het hoger onderwijs29%
Field-group estimates from national graduate surveys via Studiekeuzedatabase — not measured per programme
Progression & cohort
Official register statistics
Complete this degree71%
Women among first-years75%
Say workload is “just right”54%
Official register statistics (1cijferHO · 2025) via Studiekeuzedatabase
Student voices
National Student Survey (NSE) — first-party reviews coming
4.1/5overall satisfaction · NSE 2026 · 13 respondents
Content & set-up3.9
Teachers4.3
Atmosphere4.4
Involvement & contact4.1
Study guidance4
Testing & assessment3.9
Career preparation3.8
Teachers' English4.5
Would choose again3.6
Source: Nationale Studenten Enquête via Studiekeuzedatabase (Studiekeuze123/LCSK)
Admissions
Minimum language scores · from StudyInNL
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English: C1
- IELTS overall band: 7
- TOEFL paper based: 100
- TOEFL computer based: 100
- TOEFL internet based: 100
Scholarships
VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP)Merit-based tuition fee waiver
NL ScholarshipContribution towards living costs
External scholarshipsVaries by provider/country
Internships
?No data yet
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