Sociology of Law - Master of Science programme
Master's programme · 2 years · 120 credits
Description
When you are deciding whether to follow a law or not, you think in socio-legal terms. The law’s authority depends on the relationship between legal norms and other kinds of norms in a society. When a law is frequently disobeyed, a sociologist of law investigates if norms – social, religious, or otherwise – are conflicting with the law.
The Master’s Programme in Sociology of Law will give you knowledge about social norms and the origin and application of laws, their effects and their functions. You will gain an understanding of the legal system's possibilities, limitations and dependence on the surrounding community.
Programme overview
The Master of Science in Sociology of Law is an interdisciplinary programme that introduces you to the study of law, legal institutions and legal behaviour in a social context. It offers an advanced overview of sociology of law with the possibility of specialisation in socio-legal areas, such as:
- Criminal Justice and Criminology
- Legal Cultures and Comparative Law
- Human Rights
- The Legal Profession
- Policy and Regulation at National and International Levels
- Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility
- Law from a Gender Perspective
The programme will increase your knowledge of how the law and legal institutions work at the national and transnational levels and how they affect the lives of ordinary citizens. The programme provides you with the skills you need to critically examine, analyse and evaluate the interplay between socio-legal theory and practice, explore legal developments, and study implementation problems at the national, international and global levels.
After graduation
The skills provided within this programme will help you to gain the deeper social scientific understanding that is required of those seeking to continue their studies at the PhD level. They will also enable you to pursue a career within fields dealing with public and private inquiries, project assessments, and policy evaluation.
Furthermore, the programme will provide you with the vital knowledge required to work as a policy-maker, instructor and practitioner who works with issues related to law and legal institutions, the criminal justice system, the EU and EU regulation. You can work for regional authorities and government agencies, as well as within the private sector (businesses and firms) and for NGOs at both national and international levels.
Please note that all applicants must fill out our Statement of Purpose form as part of the application. See information about admission and application below.
Open for applications
Application opportunitiesThis programme is open for applications from 15 October 2024 to 15 January 2025.
Contact
Programme Administrator
Helena Edberg
Phone: +46 72-531 45 74
Email: helena [dot] edberg [at] soclaw [dot] lu [dot] se
Requirements and selection
Entry requirements
To be eligible for the programme the applicant must have the equivalent of a Swedish Bachelor’s degree with a major (i.e. at least 90 ECTS credits) in one of the following social sciences disciplines: Sociology of Law, Sociology, Law, Criminology, Political Science, Social Work or equivalent.
English course 6 (advanced proficiency)
Selection criteria
The applicants estimated capacity to complete the programme is the primary criterion for selection. Students are selected on the basis of their previous study results (grades on courses and Bachelor’s degree essay), proficiency in English and statement of purpose.
English language requirements
Most of Lund University’s programmes require English Level 6 (unless otherwise stated under 'Entry requirements'). This is the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 90. There are several ways to prove your English language proficiency – check which proof is accepted at the University Admissions in Sweden website. All students must prove they meet English language requirements by the deadline, in order to be considered for admission.
How to prove your English proficiency – universityadmissions.se
Country-specific requirements
Check if there are any country-specific eligibility rules for you to study Bachelor's or Master's studies in Sweden:
Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se
Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se
Apply
Start Autumn Semester 2025
Day-time Lund, full time 100%
In English
Study period
1 September 2025 - 6 June 2027
Application
Last application date 2025-01-15
How to apply
Lund University uses a national application system run by University Admissions in Sweden. It is only possible to apply during the application periods.
Step 1: Apply online
- Check that you meet the entry requirements of the programme or course you are interested in (refer to the section above on this webpage).
- Start your application – go to the University Admissions in Sweden website where you create an account and select programmes/courses during the application period.
Visit the University Admissions in Sweden website - Rank your programme/course choices in order of preference and submit them before the application deadline.
Step 2: Submit documents
- Read about how to document your eligibility and how to submit your documents at the University Admissions in Sweden website. Follow any country-specific document rules for Master's studies or Bachelor's studies
Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se
Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se
- Get all your documents ready:
- official transcripts and high school diploma (Bachelor's applicants)
- official transcripts and degree certificate or proof that you are in the final year of your Bachelor's (Master's applicants)
- passport/ID (all applicants) and
- proof of English proficiency (all applicants).
- Prepare programme-specific documents if stated in the next paragraph on this webpage.
- Upload or send all required documents to University Admissions before the document deadline.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable – refer to the section below on this webpage) before the document deadline.
* Note that the process is different if you are applying as an exchange student or as a part of a cooperation programme (such as Erasmus+).
* If you have studied your entire Bachelor's programme in Sweden and all of your academic credits are in Ladok, you do not have to submit transcripts or your diploma when applying for a Master's programme. However, there may still be other documents you need to submit! See the link below.
* Svensk student?
Läs instruktionerna om att söka till ett internationellt masterprogram på lu.se
Programme-specific documents
In addition to the documents mentioned under Step 2, you must also submit a statement of purpose (letter of intent) when you apply for this programme. Note that you need to follow the instructions found in the link below for the statement of purpose.
Instructions for the statement of purpose – soclaw.lu.se
Tuition fees
Non-EU/EEA citizens
Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 250 000
First payment: SEK 62 500
Citizens of a country outside of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are required to pay tuition fees. You pay one instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each semester.
Tuition fees, payments and exemptions
EU/EEA citizens and Switzerland
There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
Application fee
If you are required to pay tuition fees, you are generally also required to pay an application fee of SEK 900 when you apply at the University Admissions in Sweden website. You pay one application fee regardless of how many programmes or courses you apply to.
- Paying your application fee – universityadmissions.se
- Exemptions from paying the application fee – universityadmissions.se
- Convert currency – xe.com
*Note that there are no tuition or application fees for exchange students or doctoral/PhD students, regardless of their nationality.
Scholarships & funding
Lund University Global Scholarship programme
The Lund University Global Scholarship programme is a merit-based and selective scholarship targeted at top academic students from countries outside the EU/EEA.
Lund University Global Scholarship
Swedish Institute Scholarships
The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students applying for studies in Sweden at Master's level.
Scholarship information on the Swedish Institute website
Country-specific scholarships and funding options
Lund University has agreements with scholarship organisations and funding bodies in different countries, which may allow applicants to apply for funding or scholarships in their home countries for their studies at Lund University.
External scholarships
Testimonials about this Master's
Meet our student ambassador Johari
Read his testimonial and chat with him via Unibuddy.
"An inclusive and interactive learning atmosphere"
Gresa from Kosovo
"A broad mixture of academic backgrounds"
Oscar from Sweden
More student testimonials about this Master's
Read interviews with the alumni Tamy and Thomas on the Sociology of Law Department's website.