Elective courses

Overview

What are electives?

Electives are the 15 or 30 credits (based on your program) worth of courses that you take in your third term here at Graduate School, those which will eventually be included in your degree. Some of you may travel abroad for studies, fieldwork or an internship during this time, but many of you may choose to stay right here in Lund. Those of you who choose to keep it local during your elective period need not worry – there are plenty of elective courses you can study right here!

During your third term, you can apply for courses at Graduate School (profile or elective courses), at other departments at Lund University, or even at another Swedish university. Even if you are determined to do fieldwork, a study-abroad or an internship, we encourage all students to apply for electives as a back-up.

Your elective courses should be within the Social Sciences and/or relevant to your program/major. They can be Bachelor-level courses but should not overlap with any previously taken program courses. 

How do I apply?

All applications for courses at Lund University and other Swedish universities are made using Sweden’s national admissions site www.antagning.se. Courses for the Autumn term are usually open for application mid-March through mid-April. It is important that you apply on-time if you want to secure a seat in your chosen course. Some courses will open up again in mid-July for late application, but far from all will be available.

Before applying for courses, make sure to check:

• the course admission requirements to ensure that you are eligible for the course;
• the period in which the course runs to avoid potential scheduling problems, since no one wants to end up taking 30 credits in one single period;
• each course's study pace, so you are choosing full-time or part-time courses that fit well together;
• that English is the language of instruction, if you do not have proficiency in Swedish or other language of instruction;
• the way in which you have ranked your course selections in your application, as you will be admitted to courses based on your order of priority.

Need advice? Book an appointment

Do not hesitate to book a meeting with the study advisor Lucie Larssonova if you would like to discuss your options. Please book by sending an email to lucie [dot] larssonova [at] sam [dot] lu [dot] se.