Ageing and Social Change, Master's Programme

120 credits

Do you want to contribute to the sustainability of an ageing society and the well-being of an ageing population? Then this is your master’s programme. You can choose either on-campus learning or distance learning with on-campus periods each year. 

Ageing and Social Change, Master's Programme, 60-120 ECTS credits

Autumn 2022 / Full-time / Norrköping

Ageing and Social Change, Master's Programme, 60-120 ECTS credits, Distance

Autumn 2022 / Full-time / Norrköping

Ageing and Social Change, Master's Programme, Distance - First and main admission round

Autumn 2023 / Full-time / Norrköping

Closed for late application

Ageing and Social Change, Master's Programme, Distance - Second admission round (open only for Swedish/EU students)

Autumn 2023 / Full-time / Norrköping

Ageing and Social Change, Master's Programme, on Campus - First and main admission round

Autumn 2023 / Full-time / Norrköping

Closed for late application

Ageing and Social Change, Master's Programme, on Campus - Second admission round (open only for Swedish/EU students)

Autumn 2023 / Full-time / Norrköping

Population ageing and rising inequalities are marked trends around the world, while globalisation, digitalisation, urbanisation, migration and changing gender relations are having profound effects on our lives. A longer living population presents global challenges and opportunities that affect every aspect of our lives such as welfare, the environment, health, finance, housing, and employment. Gaining a profound understanding of the potentials and challenges of ageing, is crucial for the well-being of mankind and the sustainability of society. Skilled experts to tackle the global social, economic, health, political and cultural issues of ageing will be needed to support public agencies, civil society and private corporations in addressing the challenges of an ageing population.

Longevity, policies and social change

The interdependencies between policies, welfare institutions, populations’ dynamics and individual lives are at the heart of this programme. It offers a broad curriculum in policy-oriented ageing research and addresses several policy areas such as the welfare state, life- course policies, pensions, health and care, family, and intergenerational relations. Teachers from a range of academic backgrounds will enable you to acquire a globally attractive and unique education. Together we will seek answers to the complex questions facing society today with regards to both individual and population ageing. As a student on the new Ageing and Social Change master’s programme, you will gain a broad understanding of the relationships between longevity and social change through a truly interdisciplinary perspective, combining up-to-date research and methodology.

On-campus or distance learning

The approach taken during the programme emphasises interactive teaching and communication, based on a hybrid model of digital learning that includes simultaneous classroom teaching and distance learning. You can choose either on-campus learning or distance learning with a few on-campus periods. The programme is offered as a one-year option, 60 credits, and as a two-year option, 120 credits.

Generate social impact 

Regardless of whether you are about to start a career or to further develop your professional expertise, the programme will offer you the ability to generate social impact. You will be well-prepared for a professional career in either the public or the private sector, and for further studies and research at PhD level and beyond. The Ageing and Social Change master’s programme will lead you, and your fellow students, to become the next generation of managers, advisors, decision-makers, experts, and researchers.

Syllabus and course details

The programme runs over two years and encompasses 120 credits, including a thesis.

In the first and second semester, students will follow mandatory courses that contain an historical and theoretical introduction of the ageing societies. Moreover, the course content provides insight into policy-oriented ageing research and introduce students to data and methods for policy oriented social science research on Ageing and Social Change. The courses inform about increasing economic inequality and accelerated population ageing as key features of contemporary societies between regional and global perspectives by looking into intersections between gender, social class and ethnicity. Students that decide to take the one-year option, devote the second half of the second semester to the composition of the master’s thesis and participation in regular colloquium meetings.

In the third semester, the programme leads to individual specialisation through studies abroad, internships, intensive research and reading courses as well as elective courses on an advanced level in the field of ageing, policy analysis.

The fourth semester is devoted to the composition of the master’s thesis and to the participation in regular thesis colloquium meetings. The master’s thesis regularly involves a small-scale research study. In addition to their thesis and course work, students will follow a schedule of thematic seminars.

A hybrid learning model

Learn more about the hybrid learning model used in the programme!

Further information

A detailed syllabus, curriculum, and information on the courses you may take can be found in our study information database via the link below. Entry requirements and tuition information can be found by selecting the drop-down ”Admission requirements” available under the Autumn 2023 tab.

Webinar

This webinar covers the programme structure, the master’s thesis, examination forms, job opportunities, related research, and what it’s like to live in Sweden.

News on the programme

Research

Studying at LiU

Application and admission