The Role of Volunteering in Crisis and War
Course · 3 credits
Description
Are you interested in understanding how volunteerism can strengthen Sweden's preparedness in times of crisis and war? To enhance total defense and civil preparedness, Sweden has intensified its efforts, especially after joining NATO. This course focuses on the role of volunteerism in crises and wars, and how volunteer organizations collaborate with public authorities.
In recent decades, Sweden has faced an increasingly complex and dynamic threat landscape. Security policy changes, climate-related crises, cyberattacks, and system-threatening crimes have created new challenges for both civil and military preparedness. To meet these challenges, Sweden has intensified the reconstruction of its total defense, where civil defense is a central part of the national security strategy. The country’s entry into NATO has further reinforced the need for expertise in total defense and civil preparedness, both within the public sector and among private actors responsible for crisis management.
Volunteering is an important component of total defense. Many countries are entirely dependent on volunteer organizations during crises, and the efforts of volunteers are often crucial in reducing the societal impact of a crisis. This course revolves around the phenomenon of volunteering and discusses the role of volunteering and volunteer organizations related to crisis and war in Swedish society as political and empirical phenomena. The course inventories and discusses volunteering and volunteer organizations and their formal, and informal, relationship with public organizations and authorities. The image of Swedish volunteering is contrasted during the course with international examples of volunteering in crisis and war.
The course is structured around examinable seminars where students are given the opportunity to reflect on the phenomena of volunteering and volunteer organizations. The course concludes with a written reflection that relates to and is applied to an area chosen by the student.
Course documents
Closed for applications
Application opportunitiesContact
Department of Service Studies
Visiting address
Universitetsplatsen 2, Helsingborg
Postal address
Box 882, 251 08 Helsingborg
+46 42 35 66 20
Veronica Åberg
Study advisor
+46 42 35 66 22
veronica [dot] aberg [at] ses [dot] lu [dot] se
Annika Permevik
Study advisor
+46 42 35 65 77
annika [dot] permevik [at] ses [dot] lu [dot] se
Requirements and selection
Entry requirements
Selection criteria
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 document 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
Evening-time Helsingborg, part time 50%
In English, distance learning
No mandatory meetings
Study period
3 November 2025 - 18 January 2026
Application
You can only apply for this course in the 'Swedish student' application round. Find out more: Applying for studies – when to apply
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
Tuition fees
Non-EU/EEA citizens
Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 5 750
First payment: SEK 5 750
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
Within the framework of the Lund University Global Scholarship programme, the University also offers the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Scholarship targeted at top academic students from selected African research universities.
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.