Study location	Belgium, Brussels
Type	Master courses, full-time
Nominal duration	2 years
Study language	English
Awards	MRes

Tuition fee	To be confirmed

Entry qualification

Undergraduate diploma (or higher) Bachelor of Political Sciences and Sociology specialization Sociology Minor Management, Care and Policy in Gerontology (VUB); Bachelor in a field relevant to Gerontology (Social Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Psychology, Physical Education and Kinesiology, Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, …); Preparatory Programme in Management, Care and Policy in Gerontology (VUB) The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original. If your documents are not in English, French or Dutch they have to be officially tranlsated (by a sworn translator) into one of these 3 languages It is required that you send verified copies of the entry qualification documents directly to the university by postal mail. Important! Never send original documents by post! Registrar’s Office Vrije Universiteit Brussel Pleinlaan 2 BE-1050 Brussel BELGIE

Language requirements	English IELTS: minimum level academic module 6.5

Other requirements

At least 2 reference(s) must be provided. A motivation letter must be added to your application. Prospective students will be selected by the programme director on the basis of a well-justified application and an interview. The following criteria will be used to rank and select candidates: - Motivation for starting the Research Master of Gerontological Sciences - Interest in at least one of the following research areas within the Gerontology: Biological and Biomedical Gerontology Social Gerontology Psychological Gerontology Organization of health care in an ageing and intercultural society NB! Please note that you must pay a 50 EURO application fee if you have a non Flemish diploma. University will process your application as soon as the fee has been deposited into their account. You will receive an email with payment instructions. Please read them carefully and use the correct payment reference! If you are accepted and enrol, the application you paid for that specific programme will be deducted from your tuition fees. For example: if you submit four applications, you should pay a total of four individual application fees: 200 EURO. Once you are enrolled in that programme, only 50 EURO will be deducted from your tuition fees.

More information	Expenses, accommodation, working etc. vub.be/..ter-gerontological-sciences#about

Overview

The Research Master in Gerontological Sciences offers a specific training trajectory to those excellent students who want to build up an academic career in the field of Gerontology. The program also provides an ideal preparation for starting a PhD in the domain of Gerontology.

The world population is ageing. International organizations, such as the World Health Organization, consider the ageing population as one of the major topics that need immediate and thorough attention. The Research Master in Gerontological Sciences offers a specific training trajectory to those excellent students who want to build up an academic career in the field of Gerontology. It also provides an ideal preparation for starting a PhD in the domain of Gerontology.

Career opportunities

The Research Master in Gerontological Sciences paves the way for a successful doctorate in Gerontology by providing theoretical, but also methodological knowledge and skills for research into ageing and older people. Highly educated people can transfer pertinent knowledge about ageing and the older people to different settings/environments from a multidisciplinary perspective.

PhD holders in Gerontology can be engaged in the various universities as a postdoc fellow or a senior academic staff. The university is obviously not the only place where research is conducted. In addition, PhD holders in Gerontology can be engaged in policy functions and doctorate holders are desired in services from the welfare and health care that focus on innovation, quality, development and implementation of clinical pathways and guidelines and / or research.

Furthermore, the employment opportunities can also be found in various centres of excellence (for example, centre of excellence in dementia care), policy support centres, umbrella organizations and private research centres. These less traditional sectors require tasks such as data analysis as well as advisers, consultants, etc. to function. Besides the universities and scientific institutions, industries are also an increasingly important market for PhD holders. It is considered, therefore, that PhD holders in Gerontology would fit perfectly in R&D departments of large companies.