Programme overview

The Master of Science Programme in Sociology of Law is an interdisciplinary programme aimed at introducing students to the study of law, legal institutions and legal behaviour in a social context. It offers an advanced overview of sociology of law. During  semesters 3 and 4 there are possibilities for specialization in socio-legal areas, such as::

• Criminal Justice and Criminology
• Legal Cultures and Comparative Law
• Human Rights
• The Legal Profession
• Policy and Regulation at National and International Levels
• Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility
• Law from a Gender Perspective

Read more details about the above socio-legal areas.

The objective of the programme is to increase the students’ knowledge of how the law and legal institutions work at the national and transnational levels and how they impact upon the everyday life of ordinary citizens. The programme will provide the students with the skills they need to critically examine, analyse and evaluate the interplay between socio-legal theory and practice, explore legal developments, and study implementation problems at the national, international and global levels.

Alternative courses and going abroad

The programme offers a wide range of alternative courses within the Faculty of Social Science, which will allow students to further develop their interests in related fields of study. Students can also choose from several courses in research methods to adapt the programme to their particular interests. In addition, there are good opportunities to go abroad and take courses at one of the universities with which we have exchange agreements. Our partner universities in Denmark, Norway and the Basque Country offer courses which can be attended to as part of the programme. The University of South Denmark offers distance courses in sociology of law which are of interest to our programme.

Programme modules/courses

Courses and number of credits.

The programme includes the following courses/modules:

• Introduction to Sociology of Law, SOLP01 (15 ECTS),
• Theory of Science and/or Research Methods (30 ECTS),
• Contemporary Sociology of Law, SOLP04 (15 ECTS),
• Elective courses offered in Sweden or abroad, or internship (30 ECTS),
• Master’s degree thesis (30 ECTS).

Read more about the content and structure of the programme on the page SASOL Structure of the Programme

Career prospects

The skills provided within this programme will help students to gain the deeper social scientific understanding that is required of those who seek to continue their studies at the PhD level. They will also enable students to pursue careers within fields which deal with public and private inquiries, project assessments, and policy evaluation.

Read more about career prospects.

Admission requirements

At least a Bachelor’s degree including three semesters (90 credits) of studies in sociology of law or another subject of relevance to the programme, such as sociology, anthropology, criminology, political science, social work, or the equivalent. English 6/English Course B. See www.lunduniversity.lu.se for details on English proficiency levels.

Read more about admission requirements.

How to apply

You find clear instructions about how to apply on the Lund University central website.

In addition to the documents mentioned in that checklist, you must also submit a letter of intent (or statement of purpose) when you apply to this programme.

IMPORTANT! Swedish citizens and non-citizens with a bachelor's degree from a Swedish university are also obliged to submit a letter of intent.

Read more about letter of internt under the heading Supporting documents on the page Admission & Applications.

English language requirements

The general English language proficiency requirement for programmes offered at Lund University is English 6 (English B). However, some programmes may have a higher requirement, if so, this will be stated on this page. For more information about English language requirements and documents to submit, please read here

Read more on lunduniversity.lu.se/international-admissions

Selection criteria/additional information

The applicant's estimated capacity to complete the programme is the primary criterion for selection. Students who fulfil the special eligibility requirements are selected based on their previous study results (grades on courses and Bachelor's degree essay), proficiency in English and letter of intent. 

Read about the selection criteria.

Tuition fees

There are no tuition fees for EU/EEA citizens. For non-EU/EEA citizens the tuition fee for this programme is SEK 100 000 per year. Details on tuition fees on the Lund University central website: lunduniversity.lu.se/international-admissions/bachelors-masters-studies/applying-for-studies/tuition-fees.

Read more about tuition fees.