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Social Anthropology - Master of Science programme

Master's programme · 2 years · 120 credits

Three students laughing on the grass near the Main University Building

Description

The Master’s programme in Social Anthropology applies deep and broad perspectives to an understanding of social communities and culture as a coherent whole.

Social anthropologists seek to understand how people live in societies and how they make their lives meaningful. We investigate the assumptions on which society and culture are based; solid but mostly implicit ideas about the world and its human and non-human inhabitants that vary between social and cultural contexts. The discipline’s holistic and relational perspective provides unique tools not only to unveil different ways of perceiving and communicating the world, but also to relate them to each other at a more abstract and conceptual level.

The MSc in Social Anthropology develops your theoretical knowledge and understanding of the discipline’s topical debates and theoretical approaches. It advances your ability to formulate anthropological research questions and to design a feasible research project. It provides training in relevant research methods (ethnographic fieldwork in particular), in addition to more general skills in creative problem-solving, critical assessment of academic work, and how to communicate these
insights to a wider audience.

The programme leads to a Master’s degree in Social Anthropology. It allows a certain freedom to tailor your studies to your own interests during the third semester, when you choose between a two-month fieldwork for the thesis, internship, and/or courses in other disciplines, in Sweden or abroad.

The programme is given on Campus in Lund at the Department of Sociology: http://www.soc.lu.se/en

The language of instruction is English.

In the programme, you will gain:

  • Advanced knowledge and understanding of social anthropology, including both broad knowledge of the field as well as specialised knowledge of certain areas and insight into current research.
  • Specialised knowledge of research methods in social anthropology.
  • The ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, even with limited information.
  • The ability to identify and formulate research questions critically, autonomously and creatively as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and so contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work.
  • The skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.

The programme also offers you the possibility to apply for a double degree with Fudan University in Shanghai. A double degree means that you get two degrees within the two years of studies, one degree from Lund University and one from Fudan University. For more information please contact our Study Advisers: studievagledare [at] soc [dot] lu [dot] se.

Courses and number of credits

  • Semester 1: Contemporary social anthropological debates (15 credits), Ethnography in Social Science (15 credits).
  • Semester 2: Engaging with social anthropological theory (15 credits), elective courses in anthropological project design and social scientific research methods (15 credits).
  • Semester 3: Elective courses, fieldwork, and/or internship, in Sweden or abroad (totalling 30 credits).
  • Semester 4: Master’s thesis (30 credits)

Career prospects

Social anthropological competence is based on an inside perspective and on holistic thinking. The programme provides you with both the background knowledge and the practical skills needed to work in a broad range of fields, including governmental, non-governmental and the private sector.

You will be prepared for a future career as a policy maker, a leader or a practitioner working in government agencies, private companies or NGOs, or, alternatively, for doctoral studies and a continued academic career.

Applications will open on the
2024-10-15

Application opportunities

This programme will be open for applications from 15 October 2024 to 15 January 2025.

Contact

Study Advisers at the Department of Sociology

Josefina Backman

Email: studievagledare [at] soc [dot] lu [dot] se

The Department of Sociology website

Requirements and selection

Entry requirements

To be admitted to the programme, the student must have the equivalent of a Swedish Bachelor’s degree with social sciences as the main field of study, including at least 60 credits in Social Anthropology. Oral and written English language proficiency equivalent to English 6 from Swedish upper-secondary school is a requirement.

Selection criteria

The applicant’s estimated capacity to complete the programme is the primary criterion for selection. The selection process takes into consideration previous grades awarded (grades on courses and degree project for Bachelor’s degree) and a statement of purpose (according to the template). A particular emphasis is given to previous grades awarded.

English language requirements

Most of Lund University’s programmes require English Level 6 (unless otherwise stated under 'Entry requirements'). This is the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 90. There are several ways to prove your English language proficiency – check which proof is accepted at the University Admissions in Sweden website. All students must prove they meet English language requirements by the deadline, in order to be considered for admission.

How to prove your English proficiency – universityadmissions.se

Country-specific requirements

Check if there are any country-specific eligibility rules for you to study Bachelor's or Master's studies in Sweden:

Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se

Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se

Apply

Start Autumn Semester 2025

Day-time Lund, full time 100%

In English

Study period

1 September 2025 - 6 June 2027

Application

Will open for applications 2024-10-15

How to apply

Lund University uses a national application system run by University Admissions in Sweden. It is only possible to apply during the application periods.

When to apply for studies

Step 1: Apply online

  • Check that you meet the entry requirements of the programme or course you are interested in (refer to the section above on this webpage).
  • Start your application – go to the University Admissions in Sweden website where you create an account and select programmes/courses during the application period.
    Visit the University Admissions in Sweden website
  • Rank your programme/course choices in order of preference and submit them before the application deadline.

Step 2: Submit documents

  • Read about how to document your eligibility and how to submit your documents at the University Admissions in Sweden website. Follow any country-specific document rules for Master's studies or Bachelor's studies
    Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se
    Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se
     
  • Get all your documents ready:
    - official transcripts and high school diploma (Bachelor's applicants)
    - official transcripts and degree certificate or proof that you are in the final year of your Bachelor's (Master's applicants)
    - passport/ID (all applicants) and
    - proof of English proficiency (all applicants).
     
  • Prepare programme-specific documents if stated in the next paragraph on this webpage.
  • Upload or send all required documents to University Admissions before the document deadline.
  • Pay the application fee (if applicable – refer to the section below on this webpage) before the document deadline.

* Note that the process is different if you are applying as an exchange student or as a part of a cooperation programme (such as Erasmus+).
* If you have studied your entire Bachelor's programme in Sweden and all of your academic credits are in Ladok, you do not have to submit transcripts or your diploma when applying for a Master's programme. However, there may still be other documents you need to submit! See the link below. 

Svensk student? 
Läs instruktionerna om att söka till ett internationellt masterprogram på lu.se

Programme-specific documents

In addition to the documents mentioned under Step 2, you must also submit a statement of purpose (of around one page) when you apply for this programme.

The statement of purpose should give precise but brief information concerning:

  • your main interests within the field of social anthropology
  • your reasons for applying to the programme
  • how you hope to benefit from the programme
  • what future plans you have after completion of the programme.

An application without a statement of purpose will not be considered.
 

Watch on YouTube: How to apply for a Master's programme

Tuition fees

Non-EU/EEA citizens

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 250 000

First payment: SEK 62 500

Convert currency – xe.com

Citizens of a country outside of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are required to pay tuition fees. You pay one instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

EU/EEA citizens and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

Application fee

If you are required to pay tuition fees, you are generally also required to pay an application fee of SEK 900 when you apply at the University Admissions in Sweden website. You pay one application fee regardless of how many programmes or courses you apply to.


*Note that there are no tuition or application fees for exchange students or doctoral/PhD students, regardless of their nationality.

Scholarships & funding

Lund University Global Scholarship programme

The Lund University Global Scholarship programme is a merit-based and selective scholarship targeted at top academic students from countries outside the EU/EEA.

Lund University Global Scholarship

Swedish Institute Scholarships

The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students applying for studies in Sweden at Master's level.

Scholarship information on the Swedish Institute website

Country-specific scholarships and funding options

Lund University has agreements with scholarship organisations and funding bodies in different countries, which may allow applicants to apply for funding or scholarships in their home countries for their studies at Lund University.

External scholarships

Information about scholarships from external organisations

Testimonials about the Master's in Social Anthropology