How to apply for our master's programmes

When to apply

The application period for programmes beginning in the autumn term 2025 is between October 15, 2024 and January 15, 2025. Before you apply, please check to make sure you understand and meet the admissions requirements specified below.

How to apply

Your application is to be submitted through University Admissions in Sweden, universityadmissions.se. Please follow the application instructions on their website.

If you are still unsure about how to apply, please visit Lund University's International Admissions pages to help you apply for our programmes.

General admissions requirements

All applicants are required to submit the following documents to University Admissions in Sweden:

• official transcripts
• Bachelor's degree certificate or proof of expected graduation
• passport/ID
• proof of English proficiency

Admission to our programmes requires English Level 6, which 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. Click here to learn about how to document your proficiency in English on the University Admissions website.

Programme-specific admissions requirements and supporting documents

For specific admissions requirements, please click on the name of the programme:

• MSc in Politics & Society of the Contemporary Middle East
• MSc in Development Studies
• MSc in Global Studies
• MSc in Social Scientific Data Analysis
• MSc in Social Studies of Gender

Master of Science in Politics and Society of the Contemporary Middle East

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the programme the applicant must have the equivalent of a Swedish Bachelor’s degree (a minimum of 180 ECTS credits or equivalent) with a major (i.e. at least 90 ECTS credits or equivalent) in a Social Sciences discipline or in History, Economic History, Economic Development, Area Studies, or equivalent. 

Supporting Documents

In addition to the general supporting documents specified on the University Admissions website, all applicants for the programme must submit the documents listed below. These documents should be submitted to University Admissions in Sweden.

Statement of Purpose: In addition to the general supporting documents specified on the University Admissions website, all applicants for the Master of Arts programme in Politics and Society of the Contemporary Middle East are asked to submit a statement of purpose written in English. It should not exceed 800 words. Be sure that your full name and the name of the Master's programme are included on the document.

What to include in your statement of purpose when applying for the programme in Politics and Society of the Contemporary Middle East:

• What are your reasons for applying for this programme? In what ways do you expect to contribute to the programme? What do you expect to get out of it?
• Which country(ies) of the Middle East are you interested in and what themes would you want to explore? How would you go about doing that empirically and theoretically?
• What previous experience do you have with the Middle East? Do you speak a regional language (Arabic, Farsi, Hebrew or Turkish)?

This document should be submitted to University Admissions in Sweden, in addition to the general supporting documents specified above. When applying for several programmes, please write a separate statement of purpose for each programme. 

For more information about the application process for the Master of Arts programme in Politics and Society of the Contemporary Middle East, tuition fees and scholarship and funding opportunities, please visit this page.

Master of Science in Development Studies

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Master of Science programme in Development Studies, you must have a Bachelor's degree in one of the following Social Sciences majors:

• Political Science
• Sociology
• Social Work
• Social Anthropology
• Gender Studies
• Sociology of Law
• Development Studies
• Human Geography

A major is defined as a minimum of 90 ECTS credits (or equivalent to that amount) within one of the social sciences disciplines listed above. 

Supporting Documents

Statement of Purpose: In addition to the general supporting documents specified on the University Admissions website, all applicants for the Master of Science in Development Studies must submit a statement of purpose, written in English. It should not exceed 3,500 characters including spaces. Be sure that your full name and the name of the Master's programme are included on the document.

What to include in your statement of purpose when applying for the Master of Science programme in Development Studies:

• What are your reasons for applying for this programme? In what ways do you expect to contribute to the programme?
• Which two development issues of global concern intrigue you, do you see them as interrelated (and if so, how), and how would you like to approach them (theoretically, methodologically, and/or empirically)?

This document should be submitted to University Admissions in Sweden, in addition to the general supporting documents specified above. When applying for several programmes, please write a separate statement of purpose for each programme. 

For more information about the application process for the Master of Science programme in Development Studies, tuition fees and scholarship and funding opportunities, please visit this page.

Master of Science in Global Studies

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Master of Science programme in Global Studies you must have a Bachelor's degree in one of the following Social Sciences majors:

• Political Science
• Sociology
• Social Work
• Social Anthropology
• Gender Studies
• Sociology of Law
• Development Studies
• Human Geography

A major is defined as a minimum of 90 ECTS credits (or equivalent to that amount) within one of the social sciences disciplines listed above. 

Supporting Documents

Statement of Purpose: All applicants for the Master of Science programme in Global Studies must submit a statement of purpose, written in English. It should not exceed 3,500 characters including spaces. This corresponds to approximately one page. Be sure that your full name and the name of the Master's programme are included on the document.

What to include in your statement of purpose when applying for the Master of Science programme in Global Studies:

• What are your reasons for applying for this programme? In what ways do you expect to contribute to the programme?
• Critically assess the contention that we are experiencing a time of deglobalization.

This document should be submitted to University Admissions in Sweden, in addition to the general supporting documents specified above. When applying for several programmes, please write a separate statement of purpose for each programme. 

For more information about the application process for the Master of Science programme in Global Studies, tuition fees and scholarship and funding opportunities, please visit this page.

Master of Science in Social Scientific Data Analysis

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Master of Science programme in Social Scientific Data Analysis, you must have a Bachelor's degree in one of the following Social Sciences majors:

• Political Science
• Sociology
• Social Work
• Social Anthropology
• Gender Studies
• Sociology of Law
• Development Studies
• Human Geography

A major is defined as a minimum of 90 ECTS credits (or equivalent to that amount) within one of the social sciences disciplines listed above. 

Supporting Documents

Statement of Purpose: In addition to the general supporting documents specified on the University Admissions website, all applicants for the Master of Science in Social Scientific Data Analysis must submit a statement of purpose, written in English. It should not exceed 3,500 characters including spaces. Be sure that your full name and the name of the Master's programme are included on the document.

What to include in your statement of purpose when applying for the Master of Science programme in Social Scientific Data Analysis:

• What are your reasons for applying for this programme? In what ways do you expect to contribute to the programme?
• Please describe your background and experience with social scientific research methods and methodology.

This document should be submitted to University Admissions in Sweden, in addition to the general supporting documents specified above. When applying for several programmes, please write a separate statement of purpose for each programme. 

For more information about the application process for the Master of Science programme in Social Scientific Data Analysis, tuition fees and scholarship and funding opportunities, please visit this page.

Master of Science in Social Studies of Gender

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Master of Science programme in Social Studies of Gender you must have a Bachelor's degree in one of the following Social Sciences majors:

• Political Science
• Sociology
• Social Work
• Social Anthropology
• Gender Studies
• Sociology of Law
• Development Studies
• Human Geography

A major is defined as a minimum of 90 ECTS credits (or equivalent to that amount) within one of the social sciences disciplines listed above. 

Supporting Documents

Statement of Purpose: In addition to the general supporting documents specified on the University Admissions website, all applicants for the Master of Science programme in Social Studies of Gender must submit a statement of purpose, written in English. It should not exceed 3,500 characters including spaces. Be sure that your full name and the name of the Master's programme are included on the document.

What to include in your statement of purpose when applying for the Master of Science programme in Social Studies of Gender:

• What are your reasons for applying for this programme? In what ways do you expect to contribute to the programme?
• Please consider the concept of gender in relation to social change. Why is it a useful concept in analyzing changes in the social and political sphere?

This document should be submitted to University Admissions in Sweden, in addition to the general supporting documents specified above. When applying for several programmes, please write a separate statement of purpose for each programme. 

For more information about the application process for the Master of Science programme in Social Studies of Gender, tuition fees and scholarship and funding opportunities, please visit this page.