Master's Programme in Applied Social Research
The Master's Programme in Applied Social Research is a specialized and research-oriented Master's programme with the objective of training highly qualified sociologists with special skills in statistical and other quantitative methods. If you want to apply to one of our Master´s programmes starting autumn 2025 the deadline is January 15, 2025.
Meet us online
Join our webinar together with Student Services on December 17. Join us if you want to know more about our international master's programmes, the application process, scholarships, housing and more.
Last minute chat: Chat with us Monday January 13 if you have last minute questions about your application.
About the programme
Sociology is the science about human social behaviour and relations between people and societies. Frequent sociological issues deal with processes and patterns of the interaction of groups and individuals, forms of organization of social groups, relations between groups, influence of groups on the behaviour of individuals and differencies among people in terms of power resources and life chances.
We welcome students who want to attain an advanced knowledge of quantitative social research methods, and how these can be used to address problems where the empirical analysis of data is a crucial component. The programme is a specialized and research-oriented Master's programme with the objective of training highly qualified sociologists with special skills in statistical and other quantitative methods. The distinguishing feature of the programme is its combination of rigorous sociological theory with quantitative empirical methods to analyze and contribute to the solution of challenging problems in sociology and society. The programme meets an increasing demand in public authorities and firms for skills in research design, measurement, data collection and data analysis.
Teachers at the programme are researchers that are highly active in the international research community, in several of Stockholm University's leading research areas.
Sociology at Stockholm University is continuously ranked as top 50 in the world according to both the QS World University Rankings by subject, read more here, and the Shanghai ranking (Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, ARWU), read more here.
The language of instruction is English. The programme starts once a year, in autumn.
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Programme overview
The first three semesters consist of compulsory and elective courses (see below for details on the courses).
The compulsory courses provide the student with the skills and competences to critically analyze and use sociological theories, different types of evaluation methods and research designs and a wide range of methods of analysis.
The elective courses make it easier for students to specialize, either methodologically or subject-wise. The elective courses can, after consultation with the department, be taken at another Swedish university or a university abroad. During the fourth semester, the student writes a master's thesis in sociology.
Year 1
Semester 1
Introduction to Quantitative Research Design 7.5 credits
Basic Demographic Methods 7.5 credits
Social Network Analysis 7.5 credits - halftime period C-D
Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences 1, 7,5 hp - halftime period C-D
Semester 2
Modern sociological Theory 7.5 credits – halftime period A-B
Systematic Reviews 7.5 credits - halftime period A-B
Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences 2, 7.5 credits – halftime period C-D
Year 2
Semester 3
Elective courses, 22.5 credits
Research Methods 7.5 credits – halftime period C-D
Semester 4
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How to apply
Master’s programmes at Department of Sociology will only have one admission round for all applicants. This means that if you wish want to apply to one of our Master´s programmes starting autumn 2025, the application deadline is January 15, 2025.
When applying to our master's programmes, it is required that you also submit a motivation letter including your research ideas. You must use this web form to create your motivation letter.
Once completed you will receive an e-mail with a pdf to upload with your application at www.universityadmissions.se / www.antagning.se If you do not upload your motivation letter it will not be assessed. The last day to upload the motivation letter is 3 February 2025.
Any questions related to this can be directed to master@sociology.su.se
Selection process
Additional eligibility criteriaIn ranking the applicants for programmes at the Department of Sociology the following components are used to assess the merits of applicants:
• Grades of academic courses (1-50)
• Motivation letter (1-50)
• Relevance of previous studies in relation to the programme in question (1-100) -
More information
Meet us and our student
Watch the webinar to learn more about the two programmes in Sociology and meet our students.
Hear from one alumni from the programme.
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Career opportunities
The programme meets an increasing demand in public authorities and firms for skills in research design, measurement, data collection, and data analysis, and welcomes students who want to attain an advanced knowledge of quantitative social research methods, and how these can be used to address problems where the empirical analysis of data is a crucial component.
Read interviews with our alumni here!
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Contact
Questions about master's courses/programmes: master@sociology.su.se
Directors of studies, all levels
