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Social Policy Analysis (IMPALLA)

Leerdoel

The International Master Programme in Social Policy Analysis (IMPALLA) is an advanced academic degree in International Comparative Social Policy Analysis and will provide you with:

• A deepening of your statistical skills by using statistical methods and real data
• A widening of your knowledge and interest in the implementation and evaluation of social policies
• A way to apply theoretical knowledge to empirical analysis
• A constructive and scientific environment
• A congenial family atmosphere
• Professors of international renown
• An enthusiastic guiding team of Assistant Professors
• Contacts with students coming from all over the world

What to expect from the IMPALLA programme in general?

You will be offered a solid theoretical foundation in comparative socio-economic policies, at the European level and beyond.

You will be provided with a thorough training in advanced research methodology.

You will be given a well-grounded expertise in policy evaluation, while developing the corresponding technical skills.

Academic approach

You will be introduced to contemporary social and political theories which aim at explaining societal change. These subjects in the programme stimulate an interactive learning process, with an emphasis on applied approaches to the subjects under study. You also learn to define and formulate research questions, problems and issues. You acquire a thorough understanding of rationale and range of various research methods, and a good knowledge about the sources where documented data are available. As a consequence, you will be able to make your own choices in dealing with social policy issues and you will be able to present your choices in a critical and reflexive way.

The dissertation, with its link to the seminar, figures largely in this IMPALLA educational project. The dissertation is an opportunity for students to apply what they learnt in the courses and the seminars into their own research project on a social policy related issue with the use of real data.

The programme offers the participants many opportunities to get or to stay in touch with the «outside» world through conferences, social activities, academic and cultural events, as well as visits to European institutions and centres.

Qualifications after completing IMPALLA

After IMPALLA you will be a qualified analyst in comparative Social Policy. You will

Programma

The programme starts by late August / early September with an intensive levelling up period for all participants. By mid-October all students should be ready for the main courses. These main courses cover theoretical aspects that are complemented by exercises. In addition, students are encouraged to further their knowledge and skills by attending expert meetings, and by doing group and individual assignments.

Toelatingseisen

A university degree of minimum four years in Social Sciences or Behavioural Sciences is required. Students currently enrolled in their last year may apply upon the condition that they provide their diploma by the end of August.

Knowledge of Social Sciences Research Methods and Statistics

The main emphasis of the IMPALLA programme is to train students in social sciences research methods and statistical techniques used for analyzing social policy issues. Therefore, it is crucial that applicants have completed some research methods and

statistics course work. In order to check this, the IMPALLA programme requires all applicants to take a self-test in research methods and statistics.

English Proficiency

The IMPALLA programme expects all students to demonstrate the ability to understand and communicate in English, both orally and in written form. If your university training was in English, you do not need to submit an English proficiency test. If your university training was not in English, then the IMPALLA programme requires a TOEFL or IELTS test to be taken as part of your application.

The IMPALLA programme recommends that the applicant achieves

Beroepsperspectief en arbeidsmarkt

In an expanding European Union, social-policy issues and challenges are of central importance. New jobs are constantly created in the fields of implementation and evaluation of social policies. After completing IMPALLA, you could become a staff member or a consultant to ministries and administrations or to an academic institute, advanced centre, or firm specializing in auditing and in impact assessment in Europe or beyond.

The programme qualifies for a top level career as a social researcher in the public and in the private sector. Moreover, the IMPALLA programme is an excellent preparation for a Ph.D. in Social Policy.