Master's Programme in Demography
Our one-year master’s programme in Demography gives you strong skills in quantitative methods, instruction from internationally renowned professors and a solid base for a career in various types of organizations. If you want to apply to this programmes starting autumn 2025 the application 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 program
You will learn about major future challenges related to the changing structure of future populations including fertility, mortality and migration from internationally renowned professors. Our researchers specialize in various fields in population studies, including: social change and demographic outcomes, gender equality, immigrant integration, fertility and family dynamics, social policy and work life.
This Master’s Programme has a strong link to the interdisciplinary research conducted at the Stockholm University Demography Unit, which is an international site for cutting-edge demographic research. Demography as a discipline at Stockholm University is continuously ranked high in Europe and in the world according to the SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR). It shows that Demography is ranked third in Europe 2024 (up from place four in 2023). We are also ranked as number eight worldwide 2024 (up from place nine in 2023).
Learn quantitative methods and data science
Quantitative methods and data science are crucial parts of the programme, but we also welcome students with limited background in statistics. You will learn practical skills in the management of quantitative data, planning of statistical analyses and working knowledge of basic statistics.
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Programme overview
Year 1
The programme teaches the skills to describe, analyze and explain population development in its various aspects. Courses in the so-called demography block of 22.5 credits are compulsory, 22.5 credits are elective (one of the elective courses has to be a course within demography) and the programme ends with a 15-credits thesis with demographic implications.
Semester 1
Population Development and Social Change, 7.5 credits
Basic Demographic Methods 7.5 credits
Population Processes 7.5 credits half time periods C-D
Elective course 7.5 creditsSemester 2
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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 want to apply to one of our Master´s programmes starting autumn 2025, the application opens October 15 2024 and the 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
Research based on unique population data
Research at the Stockholm University Demography Unit is based on unique Swedish population data, allowing us to draw conclusions from our studies with high accuracy. Sweden, along with other Nordic countries, is also known to be a fore-runner in emerging family forms and behaviors like divorce, childbearing and family reconstitution. Studies on Swedish population data is therefore relevant for policy makers in many countries.
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Meet us
Meet our students
Watch the webinar to learn more about the two programmes in Sociology and meet our students.
Meet our teachers
Meet Siddartha Aradhya, a post-doctoral researcher and a teacher at the Department of Sociology, home to the Stockholm University Demography Unit (SUDA).
“Exposing students to timely research encourages them to produce unique ideas”
Meet our researchers
Our researchers, who become your teachers, are often interviewed as experts in the media to comment on topics such as divorce, childbirth, migration and parental leave. Read more about our research here!
Faculty members are highly active in the international research community, by leading and coordinating large-scale national and international research programs, and participating in networks and conferences. We maintain a strong publication record in international peer-review journals with high impact.
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Career opportunities
Skills in quantitative methods and data science are sought after in many fields. As a demographer, you can apply for a variety of jobs, including as a researcher for governments, ministries, municipalities, charities and international organizations; or as a community planner, forecaster or analyst at organizations like Statistics Sweden, SIDA, and the UN. Demographers can also apply for positions at insurance companies, investment organizations, and a range of other businesses.
Some of our former students continue to study a PhD programme after the Master's programme.
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Contact
Questions about this master's programme – please contact Eleonora Mussino or Sven Drefahl.
Questions about all master's courses/programmes at the Department of Sociology: master@sociology.su.se
Directors of studies, all levels
