Human Geography: The Contemporary Geography of African Development I

This course introduces you to geographical perspectives on development in Africa. You learn how nature, politics, culture and the economy interact and influence how societies change. The course helps you understand both local and global processes that shape contemporary Africa – from postcolonial structures to shifts in work, trade and relations with other regions. 

The course focuses on central themes such as rural development, food security, economic transformation and social change. You also get an overview of how different development strategies have worked and which factors influence people’s living conditions across the continent. 

The aim is to give you a solid, research-based foundation for studying Africa’s development and diversity. The course is suitable for anyone who wants to understand today’s Africa from several perspectives – highlighting both challenges and possibilities. 

Course syllabus

The syllabus contains the formal and legal details of the entire course. It’s a legal document outlining the course structure and requirements, intended mainly for administrative use.

Course literature

The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.

The course begins with an introduction to Africa’s geography and how natural resources, the environment and place influence socioeconomic development. You then explore how African economies have developed since 1980, including Africa’s current role in the global economy and its growing ties to rapidly expanding Asian economies. The final part focuses on agricultural development and the challenges related to food security across the continent. 

Teaching consists of lectures and seminars. Lectures give you broad perspectives on Africa’s development. Seminars include critical discussions of the course literature and reflections on different ways of understanding development. Some course components require mandatory attendance. The course is assessed through both written and oral exams and seminar assignments. 

You will study at the Department of Human Geography at Geocentrum I in central Lund – a place that brings together lecturers, researchers and students from all over the world in a stimulating and international study environment.

After completing the course, you have a broad foundation in Africa’s contemporary development. You have learned to understand the continent’s historical background, its socioeconomic diversity and how current political and economic changes affect people and societies. 

The course can be included in a bachelor’s degree in human geography and offers a strong starting point for further studies in development issues, global processes or international relations. 

Prerequisites

General requirements for university studies in Sweden

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to the following: The general average (GPA) of your higher secondary school leaving certificate: 34 %, The Swedish national university aptitude test: 34 %, number of previous ECTS at application deadline (up to 165): 32 %. If students have equal credentials, seats are allocated based on their results on The Swedish National University Aptitude Test. If this too is equal, seats are allocated based on a draw.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 31,250
First payment: SEK 31,250

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

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