Space, City, Culture
The course focuses on planning practises in cities and regions in an international comparative perspective partly through meetings with various invited actors.
The course requires a Bachelor degree incl. 90 HECs in Human Geography, Urban and Regional Planning or equivalent, or accepted to a master programme in Urban and Regional Planning, Human Geography or Globalization, Environment and Social Change. English 6.
Information for admitted students spring 2025
Congratulations! You have been admitted at Stockholm University and we hope that you will enjoy your studies with us.
In order to ensure that your studies begin as smoothly as possible we have compiled a short checklist for the beginning of the semester.
Follow the instructions on whether you have to reply to your offer or not.
universityadmissions.se
Checklist for admitted students
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Activate your university account
The first step in being able to register and gain access to all the university's IT services.
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Register at your department
Registration can be done in different ways. Read the instructions from your department below.
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Read all the information on this page
Here you will find what you need to know before your course or programme starts.
IMPORTANT
Your seat may be withdrawn if you do not register according to the instructions provided by your department.
Information from the department - courses
Welcome to the Department of Human Geography at Stockholm University! Here is important information for those who are going to start one course (or more) in the spring semester 2025.
Before the semester starts, you must activate your university account and register. You should also familiarize yourself with the education by looking through the first course's schedule and reading list and by visiting the course's page on the learning platform Athena, where there may be additional important information.
Registration
You who have been accepted and have accepted the place at universityadmissions.se or antagning.se are welcome to register. To keep your place, you must register during the January 7–15 registration period. Please note that January 15 is the last registration day for all courses given in the spring semester 2025. In order to register online, you must first activate your university account. It is no roll-call. You only need to confirm your course selection by registering.
Activate your university account
Register
If you need help activating your university account or encounter technical problems, you can contact IT support via Serviceportalen.
If you have problems registering, contact our student affairs office before the last day of registration at studentexpedition@humangeo.su.se. Include your full namne (or your Swedish personal identity number) and which course or courses you are accepted to.
Learning platform
Log in to the learning platform Athena and go to the page for your first course. But first you need to activate your university account and register, see above.
Course start and education
After registration, you are welcome to the course introduction. Exact time and place can be found in the coure schedule. At the introduction, you meet the course coordinator(s) and all other students on the course. You also receive information about the course's goals, content, form, examination and practicalities, such as possible group division.
Teaching starts immediately at the start of the semester.
In the course description for the first course there are links to the reading list and the schedule. The description can be found in the course catalogue.
On the course page on the Athena learning platform, there may be more information before the start of the course. You will receive a course guide and more at the course introduction.
Conditionally admitted
If you are conditionally admitted, you must show that you meet the programme's eligibility requirements before you can register. If you have questions, please contact student affairs office.
Studying with a disability
Do you need special study support? Don't forget to apply in Nais in time! Read more about it at su.se/english/education/student-support/studying-with-a-disability.
Contact in the Department of Human Geography is Veronica Hohl, e-mail studievagledare@humangeo.su.se, phone +46 8 16 48 37.
More information and contact
Welcome activities
Stockholm University organises a series of welcome activities that stretch over a few weeks at the beginning of each semester. The programme is voluntary (attendance is optional) and includes Arrival Service at the airport and an Orientation Day, see more details about these events below.
Your department may also organise activities for welcoming international students. More information will be provided by your specific department.
Find your way on campus
Stockholm University's main campus is in the Frescati area, north of the city centre. While most of our departments and offices are located here, there are also campus areas in other parts of the city.
Read more
For new international students
The course requires a Bachelor degree incl. 90 HECs in Human Geography, Urban and Regional Planning or equivalent, or accepted to a master programme in Urban and Regional Planning, Human Geography or Globalization, Environment and Social Change. English 6.
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Course structure
What is the role of culture in urban development? What role does for example artists play? In both research on innovation-driven economies and globalized, knowledge-intensive communities as in practical work with urban strategy and development, culture have a prominent role when cities and places compete and positions themselves against each other.
At the same time, culture plays a major role in local planning and social development - How, for example, is a public space like a square or a park designed with art? What role play local art galleries or music scenes? Large resources are invested by society on culture and understanding for aesthetic skills of different kinds, is becoming increasingly important in planning and other parts of the labor market. Internationally there is extensive research on the issues of culture and creativity on which this course is based.
The course thus deals with theory and practice regarding the role of culture in urban development and planning, internationally and in Sweden, with particular regard to urban policy and strategic planning on the one hand, and cultural producers (as artists, film makers and others) and cultural institutions on the other.
The focus is on the spatial, social, political and economic relations between different actors in the field and its urban geographical and social science significance. For these reasons, the course fulfils an important role for all interested in the field of space, city and culture.
Agendas for planning, the institutional structure of planning, as well as normative planning concepts (eg, sustainability, multicore, densification, territorial cohesion) and its applications will be analysed. External planning and response to these plans are discussed, e.g. climate change, economic development, migration and social segregation. The invited planning actors tell and reflect on work and roles in the planning process and how they address the above challenges, institutional structures and various planning objectives.
Teaching format
Obligatory education is introduction, lectures, seminars and exercises and an excursion.
Detailed information, including grading criteria, is presented at the course introduction and via the collaboration and learning environment Athena.
Learning objectives
After completing the course, the student is expected to be able to:
- in writing and verbally conduct a scientific discussion on different aspects and perspectives on the role of culture in urban development.
- analyze the positions and relationships of actors, and other stakeholders in culture and urban development.
Assessment
Examination takes place through home examination and assignments.
Examiner
Several teachers assess and grade within the course.
Examiner: Peter Schmitt, Department of Human Geography
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Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course. -
Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course. -
Course reports
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Contact
Course coordinator
- Visiting address
The Geo-Science Building, room X315
Svante Arrhenius väg 8, Frescati
Academic Counselling
- Visiting address
The Geo-Science Building, room X331
Svante Arrhenius väg 8, Frescati
Student Affairs Office
- Visiting address
The Geo-Science Building, room X326
Svante Arrhenius väg 8, Frescati
- Office hours
Tuesday and Thursday at 10.00–12.00.
- Phone hours
Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10.00–12.00.
