Today’s complex challenges call us to work together and integrate many fields and perspectives.

The question is… how?

Collective Futures connects your academic journey with real-world impact and a meaningful career. Join an open learning environment where you collaborate with impactful organizations and researchers, discover your talents and apply them directly to today’s pressing issues.

Apply now for our 2026 cohort (Feb 9 - Jul 3).

Why study Collective Futures at UvA?

  • Real-world Impact

    Work on pressing societal issues in hands-on projects that truly matter.

  • Transdisciplinary Learning

    Collaborate across fields and cultures, supported by workshops, coaching, and creative practices that broaden your horizon and deepen your understanding.

  • Future-Ready Skills

    Strengthen teamwork, creative problem-solving and project management to navigate complexity with confidence — valuable in any career.

  • Supportive Community

    Join a close-knit group, with space to experiment, reflect and grow. All while making a tangible difference.

Current projects

  • Strengthening Democracies in Europe - The School for Moral Ambition

    Researching and creating interventions for reinforcing democratic stability and mitigating democratic backsliding in countries in the European Union.

    More information

  • Reducing Urban Heat Stress - GasTerug, Gemeente Amsterdam

    Piloting energy-efficient, sustainable cooling techniques to reduce heat stress in Amsterdam's community buildings, in line with the city's climate adaptation goals. 

    More information

  • Transitioning away from PFAS - DoMoreForWater

    Addressing PFAS contamination by analysing industry lobbying strategies and regulatory frameworks. 

    More information

  • Tackling Food Addiction - TNO

    Reducing the overconsumption and dependency of Ultra Processed Foods (UPFs) in the Netherlands, researching current systems and developing educational interventions to break overconsumption behaviours.

    More information

  • Refugee Mental Wellbeing - People for People

    Mapping a typical journey of unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs), conducting a scientific literature review on their mental well-being needs, validating findings with URMs, and mapping to stakeholder to ensure comprehensive insights and targeted support.  

    More information
Go to all projects

About Collective Futures

Many people and organizations are struggling with today’s complex challenges. To make a difference, we need to integrate many fields and perspectives. And, to sustainably feel and do good, we need connection with others.  

We need futures that are more collective. This means there is a growing need for people with the ability to shape and navigate those futures. People who can work across boundaries, with creativity, compassion and scientific rigor. 

This is what Collective Futures is about. We offer a learning environment where you gain real-world professional experience, while also getting space and guidance to develop your unique qualities and passions. Together, we combine holistic understanding with scientific rigor, personal development with social connection, and imagination with practical action. 

How does it work?

Collective Futures is a five 30EC minor program at University of Amsterdam, open to students from any Dutch university enrolled in a two-year MSc program. It runs each year in the second semester (Feb-Jul). 

In this full-time program, you will join an interdisciplinary team of students and work on a project with collaborators from different fields, such as researchers, public organizations and social enterprises. You will work on a societal challenge, combining methods from science, systems thinking, social innovation and consulting.  

Additionally, you will participate in other learning activities, such as workshops, lectures, coaching, theater and sports, and you will join a committee with budget to co-organize parts of the program. These activities support your personal and professional development, and prepare you for a career that matters. 

What is included in the program?

  • Project work

  • Workshops & lectures

  • Career orientation

  • Coaching & reflection

  • Sports & theater

  • Excursions & team building

What will you learn?

  • Making Systemic Change

    • Form a holistic understanding of societal challenges using methods from science, systems thinking and social design

    • Learn to identify opportunities for making long-term meaningful change

    • Link global perspectives with local action

  • Collaborating Across Boundaries

    • Develop an empathetic and inclusive approach to working with diverse groups of people, including those from different cultures, backgrounds, and disciplines

    • Build networks and relationships across sectors to help address societal challenges

  • Project and information management

    • Learn to combine, structure and analyze complex information from a diverse range of (academic and non-academic) sources

    • Develop project management skills to coordinate and evaluate initiatives aimed at addressing societal challenges

    • Learn to use modern tools to collaborate and manage information

  • Career navigation

    • Explore which career directions help you do your most meaningful work

    • Learn to balance your different needs and passions in work and life

    • Learn the skills to find and navigate a career that matters

  • Creativity and imagination in action

    • Connect with your imagination and develop a well-founded and creative vision

    • Learn to translate your vision to practical action

  • Self-actualization

    • Explore your values, qualities and what you need to flourish

    • Explore how you can use your talent to help others

    • Build resilience and adaptability to navigate uncertainty and overcome challenges in complex and dynamic environments

More information about the curriculum

Is Collective Futures for me?

You:

  • Are enrolled in a two-year MSc program at UvA or any other Dutch university

  • Seek opportunities to apply your academic background and make a tangible difference

  • Are excited to collaborate with a partner organization on a real-world societal challenge

  • Want to embrace the opportunity to go beyond your comfort zone and learn from both successes and failures

  • Are motivated to collaborate in a strong community and make the program a memorable, educative and impactful experience

  • Are prepared to commit to a full-time 5-month program and have a relevant track record in both your academic and extracurricular experiences

Frequently Asked Questions

Collective Futures Compared to Other Paths

  • Unlike an internship within a company or professional setting, Collective Futures is first and foremost a learning environment. Its structure and funding are designed to place your personal and professional development at the center. You’ll be challenged to balance your own interests with the needs of your project team, but with dedicated guidance that helps you grow in ways aligned with your intrinsic motivation. Rather than preparing you for one specific role or sector, the program supports you in developing skills and qualities you can carry into any field you choose after graduation.

  • Not at all. While many students do use the program as a bridge to careers beyond academia, others go on to pursue academic research. In fact, research groups often tell us that our students excel in research positions because they bring essential skills: working effectively in transdisciplinary teams, managing complex projects, and developing their own compass for navigating uncertainty. These are qualities that serve you well both inside and outside academia.

Time Commitment and Flexibility

  • In a university context, five months may feel long. But in a professional setting, it’s already short. Collective Futures projects are not simple classroom assignments -- they are real societal challenges with multiple dimensions, collaborators, and stakeholders. It takes time to understand the complexity of a project, build trust with partners, and find your way into the work. A shorter program would not allow for this depth. 

    There’s also something powerful about collaborating with your peers over an extended period. In shorter courses, teamwork can sometimes mean dividing tasks and stitching the results together at the end. Sounds familiar? In Collective Futures, that’s not possible. Over five months, you are challenged to truly integrate your insights, co-create solutions, and grow as a team. Learning how to work through differences and create synergy is one of the most valuable skills you can carry into any future career. 

  • The Collective Futures program runs daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, making it a full-time commitment. But don't worry, it's not as intense as it sounds! Despite the intensive schedule, students generally do not find this to be an obstacle. The structured timetable ensures that all coursework and assignments can be completed within these hours, leaving evenings and weekends free. Additionally, the program includes various activities such as sports, theatre, and lunch breaks, which provide a balanced mix of work, fun, and relaxation. As a bonus, you get 3 additional free days that you can use whenever you want.

  • Because the program is full-time and intensive, it’s not realistic to combine it with major commitments such as another intensive course or a substantial job. That said, there is room for small responsibilities on the side -- like a side job of just a few hours a week, tutoring, sports or joining a committee. How much is manageable really depends on the person. When in doubt, feel free to reach out to us so we can together explore what is possible.

    Students have said:

    • “You can have a job next to it, but that would require good time management skills. I wouldn’t recommend working more than 8 hours a week.”

    • “I tutor students, but that’s only two hours per week. More than that would be too much for me.”

  • This mostly depends on your own preferences and energy levels.

    One student shared:

    • “I have to travel for 1.5 hours every day. It was a bit hard at first, but because the program starts at the same time every day, I got into a rhythm, and it wasn’t so bad anymore.”

Enrollment and Prerequisites

  • Collective Futures takes place in Semester 2 (February – July). It depends on your Master’s program whether CF fits better in your first or second year. Check the Teaching and Examination Regulations of your Master’s program for more details, or contact your program/track coordinator or study advisor.

  • Yes, it is possible to follow CF in your first year.

    Some Master’s programs have some requirements before you can follow CF. You would then need to ask for approval from the Examination Board to follow the minor in your first year.

  • Yes, you can already apply. Please ensure that you meet the requirements before you start CF.

  • Prior knowledge and skills – although useful – are not required to enroll in Collective Futures. The only prerequisite is that you follow a 2-year Master’s program. Please note that your Master’s program might have additional requirements. Check the Teaching and Examination Regulations of your Master’s program for more details, or contact your program/track coordinator or study advisor.

Program Structure and Content

  • Collective Futures does not have separate courses or modules. It’s one comprehensive, integrated program, consisting of six interrelated learning tracks. This allows us to build up knowledge and skills in a flexible and holistic way, and tailor the program each year to the needs of the students and projects.

  • By successfully completing Collective Futures, you earn 30 ECTS. Some Master’s programs only allow part of these credits to be included in your study plan. Check the Teaching and Examination Regulations of your Master’s program for more details, or contact your program/track coordinator or study advisor.

  • For an overview of workshops, see our curriculum page.

  • Working on complex societal challenges requires more than sharp intellect and research skills. It also asks for creativity, presence, collaboration, and the ability to stay grounded under pressure.

    That’s where these activities come in. Sports help you stay energized, build resilience, and create bonds with your peers outside the project context. Theater opens space for imagination, self-expression, and experimenting with new perspectives. Together, they contribute to the community spirit of the program, while supporting your holistic development—mind, body, and creativity.

    By weaving them into the rhythm of the program, we make sure that learning is not only about projects and outcomes, but also about who you are becoming as a person and professional.

  • For an overview of the weekly schedule, see our curriculum page.

  • See our curriculum page.

Projects and Collaboration

  • You will work on a single project for 5 months, together with 2-3 fellow students. You will collaborate closely together with your core team and your Collective Futures mentor. You will also collaborate with researchers, the project partner(s) and other stakeholders.

    Because we work on real societal projects, we work on different projects each year. To get an impression of the projects we have previously worked on, see Projects — Collective Futures. The total amount of projects depend on the size of the student group, usually between 4 and 8 projects.

  • The minor hosts a maximum of 24 students, though the exact number varies each year. Students join us from a wide range of academic fields — physics, AI, ecology, brain and cognitive sciences, psychobiology, mathematics, and more. The group generally has diverse cultural backgrounds, which enriches the collaborative atmosphere.

    Starting with the 2026 cohort, the program is also open to Research Master students from disciplines beyond the natural sciences, adding even more diversity and transdisciplinarity to the group.

  • Just before Collective Futures begins, you’ll receive the full list of projects. You can share your preferences, and we’ll do our best to match you with a project that fits your interests, background, and the project’s needs.

    Although final matches depend on the choices of other students and project availability, most students end up working on a project within their top two preferences.

Support and Resources

  • Support is available on several levels. The two Collective Futures teachers each dedicate 3.5 days per week to teaching and coordinating the program, and guiding project groups. Every project group is guided by both a daily mentor (one of the Collective Futures teachers) and an academic mentor (a researcher at UvA in a field relevant to the project). To help you reflect on your personal learning journey, you will also have access to 1-1 coaching sessions (three in total with one of the teachers), team coaching, and peer coaching throughout the program.

    Beyond the program itself, you can access all the regular support offered to UvA students, including the study advisor, student psychologist, and other university resources.

  • All mandatory activities and project related costs and travels will be paid out of the Collective Futures budget. As a student group, you also receive a budget for activities and trainings to tailor the program to your needs. For food/drink consumed during these activities, and for additional activities organized by the group, a (small) contribution may be asked

Interested in collaborating with us?

Join hands with the University of Amsterdam and a team of second-year MSc students to help your organization make meaningful change. We seek project collaborators who share our vision and support our students' development. For ideas or more information contact us below.

Previous collaborators