Sociology: Sociological Perspectives on Sustainability Transitions
Course · 7.5 credits
Description
Sociological Perspectives on Sustainability Transitions
NEW COURSE!
Course name: SOCN10, Sociology: Sociological Perspectives on Sustainability Transitions (Swedish name: Sociologiska perspektiv på hållbarhetsomställningar). Advanced level master course (Second Cycle). 7.5 credits. Autumn semester. Language of instruction: English. This course is offered as a stand-alone course and is also compulsory within the Master´s Programme in Sociology SASCO.
How are the transitions needed to cope with climate change affecting people and our society today?
Sustainability is more important than ever in today's world, with many countries working to lessen their environmental impact. The shift from current systems and practices to more sustainable ones is known as “sustainability transitions”.
This course will help you understand the social impact of sustainability transitions. It covers key topics such as extreme events, innovations, and social movements. We will explore the different aspects of sustainability, and what drives social change, using both classic and modern sociological theories.
You will study socio-technical systems, which recognize that technology and society are deeply intertwined, and that changes in one can affect the other.
You will also investigate the complex challenges of sustainability, including the concept of path dependency, which shows how our current decisions are not independent, but very much shaped by past choices and events. By combining experimental research and knowledge from several fields of study, we will explore how sociology can help tackle these challenges.
This course will give you a thorough understanding of sustainability transitions and the role of sociology in explaining related challenges as well as possibilities.
Teaching will consist of lectures and seminars, and you will be assessed via an individual on-campus exam.
Join us to gain a deep understanding of the sociological aspects of sustainability and valuable skills as society moves towards a more sustainable future.
How to apply for this course
Application for this course is open from mid-March to mid-April each year (Swedish national application dates). Apply via the Lund University Swedish website: lu.se/lubas/i-uoh-lu-socn10. If you are on this page already, please look for the brown "anmälan" button.
Contact the department Study Advisers if you need assistance: studievagledare [at] soc [dot] lu [dot] se
Course literature, syllabus and more
Find out more about the Department of Sociology, where you will study this course:
- "About us" on the Department of Sociology website.
- "For current students" on the Department of Sociology website. A collection of pages for current students at the Department of Sociology.
Course documents
Closed for applications
Application opportunitiesContact
Study Adviser at the Department of Sociology
Josefina Backman
Email: studievagledare [at] soc [dot] lu [dot] se
This course is given by the Department of Sociology. Visit our website here.
Requirements and selection
Entry requirements
Admission to the course requires 90 credits in a social sciences subject comprising sequential courses. English 6.
Selection criteria
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 document 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
3 November 2025 - 2 December 2025
Application
You can only apply for this course in the 'Swedish student' application round. Find out more: Applying for studies – when to apply
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.
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
Tuition fees
Non-EU/EEA citizens
Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 15 625
First payment: SEK 15 625
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.
- Paying your application fee – universityadmissions.se
- Exemptions from paying the application fee – universityadmissions.se
- Convert currency – xe.com
*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
Within the framework of the Lund University Global Scholarship programme, the University also offers the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Scholarship targeted at top academic students from selected African research universities.
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.