Political Science: Fieldwork, Internship and Research Overview

This course gives you the opportunity to connect theory with practice through hands-on experience or in-depth research within the field of development studies. It can also serve as preparation for your Bachelor’s thesis in Political Science.

You can choose one of three tracks: Fieldwork, Internship, or Research Overview.

The fieldwork track allows you to collect data for your thesis through studies in a development context, often in a low- or middle-income country. The internship track offers experience from a development organisation in Sweden or abroad. The research overview track is for students who wish to remain at Lund University and conduct a structured literature review and analysis within their major subject.

Whichever track you choose, you will develop your analytical, communicative, and independent research skills. The course helps you apply political science perspectives to real-world development contexts.

Eden and the Paradis area: a central study environment in Lund

The social sciences programmes are based in the Paradis area. We are located right in the heart of Lund, a stone’s throw from the University Main Building and the cathedral, making it easier for commuters.

Here you’ll find the Department of Political Science in a building called Eden, with lecture theatres and plenty of space to sit and study on your own across several floors. In the leafy Paradis area, you’ll also find the Social Sciences Library (Sambib), and just around the corner is the University Library (UB), where you can borrow course literature and find a quiet place to study. Next to Eden, you’ll also find Samvetet, home to the student union for social science students.

The historic buildings in the area were formerly hospitals and have therefore been named Gamla kirurgen and Gamla barnsjukhuset. There are two cafés in the neighbourhood: Karnas Café at the School of Social Work, and Café Eden.

Welcome to your studies in Paradise in a classic university town!

Course components

• Fieldwork in a development context
• Internship within a development organisation
• Research overview and literature review
• Report writing and seminars

After completing the course, you will have gained valuable practical experience and insight into how development processes work in practice. You will also be well prepared for your Bachelor’s thesis and future professional or academic work in the development field.

Prerequisites

General and knowledge corresponding to 90 ECTS credits from the Bachelor's programme in Development Studies (SGUTV), of which at least 45 credits of first year courses and 45 credits of second year courses.

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to: The general average (GPA) of your higher secondary school leaving certificate: 20 %, The Swedish national university aptitude test: 10 %, number of previous ECTS at application deadline (up to 165): 70 %.

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 28,750
First payment: SEK 28,750

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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.