Global-MINDS is a two-year joint master’s degree in the psychology of global mobility, inclusion and diversity, taught in English by a consortium that includes SWPS University in Warsaw. Students spend their semesters at no fewer than two partner universities in Poland, Ireland, Norway or Portugal, take part in a summer school, complete an internship and write a research-based thesis — and at the end you can check whether this international path in psychology suits you.
Global-MINDS, in full the Joint Master’s Degree in Psychology of Global Mobility, Inclusion and Diversity in Society, is run by a consortium of four universities. The University of Limerick in Ireland acts as the coordinating institution, and the other partners are ISCTE – Lisbon University Institute in Portugal, the University of Oslo in Norway and SWPS University in Warsaw. At SWPS the programme is offered as part of its English-taught master’s studies in psychology.
The studies last two years and are full-time, with classes from Monday to Friday. Everything is taught in English. The university describes the programme as unique among social science programmes worldwide, pointing to three things: its international component, the breadth of topics and the way it combines theory with practice.
The academic core is social and cultural psychology. Courses deal with themes that are increasingly visible in workplaces, schools and public services:
The aim is to prepare graduates to deal with the complexity of interactions between people from different cultures, ethnic backgrounds and social groups, and to use cultural competence and expertise in social psychology in practice.
Mobility is built into the structure of the degree. Students must spend the first and second semesters at two different universities, and the fourth semester has to take place at one of the two institutions chosen for the first year. The SWPS page describes two paths.
In the first path, students begin with social and cultural psychology courses at SWPS University in Warsaw. In the second semester they move either to the University of Oslo, where the focus is ‘Mobility and Society’, or to the University of Limerick, where it is ‘Inclusion & Health’. The third and fourth semesters, devoted to the internship and the master’s thesis, can be completed at SWPS, in Oslo or in Limerick.
In the second path, the first semester takes place at ISCTE-IUL in Lisbon, and the second at the University of Limerick, with a choice between ‘Culture and Diversity’ and ‘Inclusion & Health’. The internship and thesis semesters are then spent in Limerick or Lisbon. In both paths there is also a summer school in Limerick called ‘Cross-Cultural Methods and Interventions’.
The second year combines practice with research. Internships are organised with the help of associate partners: private companies, civil society organisations, public service providers, practitioners, policy makers, governmental organisations and NGOs. According to the university, these partners also help graduates find jobs. The degree ends with a research-based M.A. thesis.
The programme is aimed at graduates who hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology or an equivalent qualification and who want international training in social and cultural psychology. Candidates also need to document their English skills with a recognised certificate. The university mentions that funding opportunities are available. Current admission rules and fees are worth checking on the university’s admissions website, as they vary between intakes.
The list of possible workplaces is long, which reflects how many sectors deal with cultural diversity and migration. The university names, among others:
Graduates can also work in research, diplomacy and foreign relations, counselling and cultural consultancy, cultural training, and mediation and negotiation. Another area mentioned is evaluating diversity programmes in communities.
Global-MINDS is a two-year, English-taught joint master’s degree in social and cultural psychology, delivered by SWPS University together with the University of Limerick, ISCTE – Lisbon University Institute and the University of Oslo. Students study at a minimum of two partner universities, attend a summer school in Limerick, complete an internship and write a research-based thesis. The programme is designed for psychology graduates interested in culture, diversity, inclusion and migration, and it leads to careers in business, health care, NGOs, public administration, international organisations and research.
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