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Division of Ageing and Social Change (ASC)

The Division of Ageing and Social Change, ASC, conducts leading-edge research on key social, political and cultural issues of ageing. While providing basic and advanced academic training within these fields, ASC also contributes to the proliferation of knowledge about ageing within society.

Research on Ageing and Social Change aims at integrating analyses of changing societies in Sweden and Europe with the study of individual ageing processes within the theoretical framework of life-course research.

Issues of ageing and social change are conceptualised and analysed in terms of structural and institutional shifts (life-course policies, labour markets, welfare and legal systems, social inequality, integration and exclusion), in terms of changes inwork, social networks, everyday life and health of older people (employment, life-long learning, retirement transitions, health behaviours, ageing with morbidities and disabilities, support needs and care systems) and regarding new societal and technological frameworks of ageing.

Staff from sociology, (social) psychology, gerontology, economy, methodology, communication sciences, journalism, anthropology, social policy and other disciplines are operating in ASC within the Department of Culture and Society.

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Research

The Ageing and Social Change research environment

A genuinely internationalized and well-integrated research environment. Research is largely conducted in collaboration within international networks. The majority of the staff at ASC are internationally recruited.

ASC is involved in national and international training and co-supervision of PhD researchers within a H2020 Marie-Skłodowska-Curie Action to encourage transnational, intersectoral and interdisciplinary mobility. ASC is also involved within the International Association for Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG), and within the Swedish National Graduate School on Ageing and Health (SWEAH). Ageing and Social Change is supported by a scientific advisory and stakeholder group of European and national experts, and project advisory groups add to these advice capacities.

Interdisciplinary ageing research

While committed to interdisciplinarity as a key issue in ageing research, ASC emphasises the integration of perspectives from the social, behavioural, and political sciences. Researchers from a variety of academic disciplines within these fields integrate their views when examining issues related to welfare systems, social structures, technology, the economy, migration, gender, health, disability, care, geography and architecture, among others. In order to address this broad scope effectively, ASC establishes scientific partnerships with numerous national and international stakeholders in the field of ageing and encourages additional collaboration.

Main perspectives

The principal focus of ASC's research on ageing and later life is the relationship between the life course and social change in three broad areas: ‘Ageing and social structure’, ‘Ageing between health and disease’, and ‘Ageing in context’.

The Ageing and Social Change research environment

The Ageing and Social Change research environment conducts leading-edge research on key social, political and cultural issues of ageing.

Education

Doctoral and postdoctoral studies 

Postgraduate education includes a PhD programme on Ageing and Social Change and postdoctoral studies that are embedded in the research activities within the local, national, European and international networks of ASC.

The aim of postgraduate studies at ASC is to extend and deepen the student’s theoretical and methodological knowledge and understanding of ageing and later life as a research area.

Doctoral Programme

Doctoral studies are primarily connected to ongoing research projects at ASC and the university’s formal regulations for dissertations apply.

Postdoc research

Apart from the promotion of doctoral fellows and the supervision of doctoral studies, ASC also offers postdoctoral researchers the opportunity to develop their academic career within an inspiring and encouraging research context after receiving their PhD at a university in Sweden or abroad.

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The Doctoral Programme in Ageing and Social Change

The doctoral programme in Ageing and Social Change aims to give doctoral students in-depth knowledge in this field. Students shall independently plan and carry out a qualified research project and present and disseminate its results.

Master's Programme

Master’s Programme

If you want to contribute to the sustainability of an ageing society and the well-being of an ageing population - this is your master’s programme.

You can choose either on-campus learning or distance learning with on-campus periods each year.

The Ageing and Social Change master’s programme focuses on the interplay between policies, welfare systems, and individual life courses, offering interdisciplinary training in areas like pensions, health, and intergenerational relations. It uses a hybrid teaching model, combining on-campus and distance learning formats.

Graduates will be equipped to create social impact and pursue careers or further research in both public and private sectors.

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Ageing and Social Change, Master's Programme, 120 credits

Let’s build a sustainable society for an ageing population. A population that lives longer presents global challenges and opportunities that affect every aspect of our lives such as welfare, the environment, health, finance, housing, and employment.

Courses

The following programme courses are also available to choose as single-subject courses (distance and on-campus)

Ageing, Welfare, and the Sustainability of Societies, 7.5 credits

Explore the link between aging, social change, and sustainability! Gain insights into how demographic shifts impact society, the labor market, welfare, and future political and economic challenges.

Researching the Ageing Society I - Methods in Ageing and Social Change, 7.5 credits

In this course, accelerating social change, population ageing, and improved methodological tools are discussed in how they have allowed for extended knowledge, through the empirical examination of individual dynamics and societal shifts. In the...

Social Structure, Inequality, and Exclusion in an Ageing World, 7.5 credits

Foundations of Ageing Policies, 7.5 credits

Future Perspectives of Ageing and Social Change, 7.5 credits

Policies and Policy Consulting in the Ageing Society, 7.5 credits

Explore how to shape ageing policy in this interdisciplinary, hands-on course designed for international students and available online. Learn to craft impactful policy recommendations and engage with real-world actors through a unique learning...

Single-subject course

The single-subject course on BA level (distance and on-campus)

The Sociology of the Ageing Society – An introduction to the social, cultural, and economic analysis of ageing and social change, 7.5 credits

Longevity symbolizes the success of modernity but is above all negotiated as a menace to societies. Population ageing poses one of the most important long-term individual, institutional and socio-political challenges of our time. It interacts with

Seminars and conferences

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ASC-ISAR – Interdisciplinary Seminars on Ageing Research

ASC-ISAR provides outstanding lectures on ageing of interdisciplinary significance for all those interested in ageing research.
A pink springshape.

Aging, Intergenerational Solidarity and the Polycrisis

Aging & Social Change: Fifteenth Interdisciplinary Conference takes place October 22-24, 2025, in Norrköping, Sweden + Online.

Conference information

News

Bianca Suanet.

How we can reduce loneliness among older adults

"We need to understand why some individuals become lonely and provide them with support at various levels in society before it happens," says Bianca Suanet, professor at LiU who researches an inclusive society for the elderly.
Students at workshop.

Digitalisation, Discrimination, and Technology

To categorise every person over 60 as someone who neither wants nor can understand new digital technology is discriminatory. This was one of the topics discussed at a doctoral course in Norrköping.
Anna Olaison, senior associate professor at the division of social work at Linköping University.

New research programme looking for solutions for dementia care

By 2050, the number of older people diagnosed with dementia in Sweden may have doubled compared to today. Providing care to everyone will be a big challenge. A new research programme will be launched at LiU to find solutions for the future.

Contact us

Head of Division

Photo of Susanne Kelfve

Susanne Kelfve

Senior Associate Professor, Head of Division

Head of Research

Photo of Andreas Motel-Klingebiel

Andreas Motel-Klingebiel

Professor

Coordinator

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Camilla Rosén

Coordinator

Staff

Placeholder for missing image of Mattias Antar
Mattias Antar
PhD student
Photo of Helena Bjurbäck
Helena Bjurbäck
Photo of Landry Botokou
Landry Botokou
PhD student
Photo of Elisabet Cedersund
Elisabet Cedersund
Professor Emerita
Photo of Indre Genelyte
Indre Genelyte
Assistant Professor
Photo of Cecilia Heijkants
Cecilia Heijkants
Postdoc
Photo of Annika Heuer
Annika Heuer
PhD student
Photo of Lars-Christer Hydén
Lars-Christer Hydén
Professor Emeritus
Photo of Susanne Kelfve
Susanne Kelfve
Senior Associate Professor, Head of Division
Placeholder for missing image of Milos Milovanovic
Milos Milovanovic
PhD student
Photo of Nico Mira
Nico Mira
PhD student
Photo of Andreas Motel-Klingebiel
Andreas Motel-Klingebiel
Professor
Photo of George Pavlidis
George Pavlidis
Assistant Professor
Photo of Lijun Peng
Lijun Peng
Research Assistant
Photo of Arianna Poli
Arianna Poli
Postdoc
Photo of Gülin Öylü
Gülin Öylü
Assistant Professor

Organisation

Department of Culture and Society (IKOS)

At the Department of Culture and Society (IKOS), social sciences and the humanities gather in environments where research and education work together.
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Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FILFAK)

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences provides education and research in humanities, social- and behavioral sciences, commercial law, art disciplines and thematic science.

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