Master's Consumer Studies
Why do consumers behave the way they do? What are their needs, desires and practices? How does this relate to society, where health and sustainability are seen as increasingly important?
Consumer Studies offers a unique approach to study consumers in an ever changing society. This two-year program provides you the knowledge and skills to analyse consumers. You will understand how consumers take rational and emotional decisions, in the short and the long-run. As a graduate in Consumer Studies you can find employment in businesses, NGO’s or governmental advisory roles or research and education.
Why this programme?
- Understanding consumers to improve quality of life is central to our programme.
- You learn to combine insights from psychology, economics, design, and sociology, in an interdisciplinary perspective.
- You study consumers in contexts relevant to the life sciences domain, integrating insights from a range of natural sciences such a food technology.
- Consumer studies prepares professionals to apply a consumer centered view in business, governmental and non-governmental organisations, and research.
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Study programme of Consumer Studies
This is a two years programme, including a hands-on Consultancy course, an Internship and a Major thesis. If you want to know more, check the Programme of Consumer Studies.
Application and admission
If you have a BSc in Psychology, Sociology, Economics, Communication Science, Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Product Design, Agricultural Sciences or Food Sciences and you have included Consumer Science courses in your programme, you might be eligible for this master. Check Admission requirements and application procedures for more information.
Key Facts
| Degree: | MSc in Consumer Studies | Study duration: | 2 years (120 ECTS) |
| Language of instruction: | English | Start: | September |
| Mode of study: | Full time | Contact hours: | 10 p/w + self study hours |
| Location: | On campus | Admission: | See 'admission page' |
Student experiences
The best way to get to know a place is by getting to know the people. Students share their experiences with you about the master's programme and student life in Wageningen on the page Student experiences.
I chose consumer studies because I believe that consumers play an integral role in the transition towards a more sustainable world. By understanding consumption behaviour, I hope to help consumers make pro-environmental decisions.
Future career
The diverse field of consumer studies is looking for academically trained consumer scientists who are able to work with people from different departments and backgrounds. This master will train you to become a multispecialist who is able to connect with the different parties in the field. You can work as consumer expert in marketing or communication departments of commercial business, at market research companies, in NGO’s or a government department. Or as a researcher or teacher at a university. For some examples see Career perspectives and opportunities.