Gender studies is a collaborative field of disciplines interconnected with each other where they explore the topics of gender and those related to it. The subtopics of men’s, women’s, and queer studies are also included in this field. By taking up this course, students will investigate how other identity factors are associated with the subject of gender. With the knowledge and skills, they will get to improve through studying this, they would be able to come up with innovative approaches for development in society. In this article, we will be looking at the best universities for gender studies in Europe!
Is Gender Studies Sociology?
Even though gender studies resorts to sociological theories in analyzing gender inequality, it remains its own established discipline. Gender studies goes beyond the conventional theories of sociology in examining political and gender issues throughout history. As opposed to sociology, gender studies is not just a descriptive study of society; it actually delves into all societal issues and explains why many things don’t change even though we really want them to; but since it draws on sociological theories, It is a common misconception for people to label gender studies as sociology. Unfortunately, we are yet to add Gender Studies Courses to our database, but we implore you to check out all the available courses on our Open Courses Page, and you will definitely find something that piques your interest.
Top Gender Studies Schools in Europe
1. London School of Economics and Political Science
The London School of Economics and Political Science, also known as the LSE, is a top global university and one of the best gender studies institutions in Europe that specializes in the social sciences and management courses. It has ranked first in the region of Europe and second all over the world. The school has quite several academic departments and research centers, which are also divided into units. Aside from this, they also have academic collaborations with other universities in the world.
The LSE has a Department of Gender Studies, which is also recognized as the largest department of the field in the region. Currently, there are seven master’s programs being offered that are focused on various subject areas, such as gender, sexuality, development and globalization, media and culture, and policy and inequalities. The courses provided will teach the students about the issues and research done in relation to gender in society. They will get to learn about how subjects, such as development and globalization, are interconnected with the subject of gender. There is also a PhD program offered that will help those in research or policymaking to further their expertise.
2. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford has been around for a long time, but it is still one of the leading universities in the world and among the top schools for gender studies in Europe. The school continues to rank high in various fields, with its excellence in both research and teaching. The field of gender studies is included in its expertise where it is being offered in the university’s Humanities Division.
There is only one offered a program for gender studies, which is the Master of Studies in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. It has a duration of nine months where students get to explore different disciplines that are related to gender studies. They will get to enhance their research and critical thinking that is needed to be engaged in the topics. Students are taught through lectures and seminars with the combination of theories and methods that they can apply to their research. This research is in the form of a dissertation, which serves as an assessment for the program. There are also optional courses made available, but it differs every year. Some of the choices include feminist perspectives, gender and development, and gendered bodies in visual art and culture.
3. University of Cambridge
Belonging to the list of oldest universities in the world, the University of Cambridge is another excellent university for gender studies in Europe that has made a reputation for itself with its achievements in academics and research. A part of this is the university’s Centre for Gender Studies, which has collaborations with other departments given the interdisciplinary nature of the subject. It is known for its exceptional delivery in teaching and research on the gender and sexuality of humans.
The Centre offers both a master’s and PhD program for Multidisciplinary Gender Studies. The curriculum for the master’s program is centered on research, and it is to be completed within nine months. For the initial two terms, there are three compulsory subjects given to the students. Some of the courses they would take up discuss the topics of gender and methods, controversy, and theories that will help in the formation of contemporary approaches. For completion of the program, students must come up with their dissertation. On the other hand, the PhD program has a duration of three years. Students are taught through lectures, seminars, event, along with supervision that will help them in creating their thesis as a final assessment for the program.
4. University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh has its own collection of achievements through the years, and with this, it is one of the most acclaimed schools for gender studies in the region of Europe and across the world. Their School of Literatures, Languages, and Cultures (LLC) consists of experts in their own fields, such as language and theater. The offered program for gender studies is also a part of the school’s LLC.
The university only offers a master’s program in Gender and Culture, which can be taken either part-time or full-time. The curriculum is research-oriented where the students will get to enhance their research, methods, and problem-solving skills. There are mandatory subjects for research methods which are also divided into units related to literature and culture. The courses included will touch on topics like critical theory, feminism, and queer theory. By the end of the study, the students must have completed their final dissertation focused on the specialization of their choice.
5. Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a distinguished school in the Netherlands and the world, and a recognized university for gender studies in Europe. Its programs give its students several opportunities to interact with lecturers, specialists, and other scholars that come from different parts of the world. In their Faculty of Humanities, the university has a program in gender studies that is one of the most renowned of the field in the region.
The degree being offered is a master’s in Gender Studies that has a duration of one year. There are two semesters which are further divided into study periods. In the earlier part of the curriculum, students take obligatory subjects tackling both theory and methods, along with elective courses. In the latter part of the program, there is an internship at the place of choice of the student and this should be done full-time. A thesis written on the chosen subject of the student is also part of the requirements for completion.
We hope that this article on Best Gender Studies Schools in Europe was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
