Program Overview

Program Details

The course introduces students to the range of possible topics in social geography, using the term "social" to mean virtually all interactions among human beings. This includes political, economic, or cultural issues, as well as those more conventionally thought of as social. The course will range widely across issues such as health, migration, demography, rurality, and globalization, with a particular focus on Sweden and the Swedish welfare system.

About the Course

Social geography takes a spatial approach to understanding society, starting from the premise that geography and social relationships are inescapably linked. People are not floating randomly in some sort of detached ether, interacting with each other only based on class, or race, or gender. They are rooted in a real geography that has a profound influence on their social relationships. Understanding how society and geography interact is the central goal of this course.

Course Structure

• The course is given at a half speed study pace.
• The study location is Umeå.
• The type of studies is on campus.
• The course is taught in English.
• The course starts on 1 September 2025 and ends on 2 November 2025.
• The number of credits is 7.5 credits.

Eligibility and Application

• General entry requirements apply.
• Selection is based on results from the National university aptitude test and academic credits.
• The application deadline was 15 January 2025, and the application period is closed.
• As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, students are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
  • Application fee: SEK 900
  • Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 12,075
  • Total fee: SEK 12,075

Additional Information

• The course is part of the Department of Geography.
• Umeå University is certified as a Healthy Campus, with many initiatives that promote health and well-being.
• The university has a vibrant academic community where high-quality education meets groundbreaking research in science, technology, humanities, and the arts.