Multidisciplinary Master's Programme in Demography
We offer the only comprehensive programme in demography in Sweden. This programme will give you strong skills in quantitative methods, instruction from internationally renowned professors and a solid base for a career in various types of organizations.
Autumn 2025 will be the last time we accept students for this version of the programme. If you want to study the program starting autumn 2026, follow the link below.
Multidisciplinary Master's Programme in Demography - from autumn 2026
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.
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.
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 and as number four worldwide 2025
The program starts with three compulsory courses in demography, where demographic methods and demographic theory are included. In total there are 37.5 credits of compulsory courses, 52.5 credits of elective courses, where 22.5 credits must be courses with a demographic component. The program ends with a master thesis, 30 credits. There is also the possibility to choose to have an internship of 7.5 credits or 15 credits in semester three.
Year 1
Year 2
Master’s programmes at the 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 the webform in the link below to creat your motivation letter.
Webform to create your motivation letter.
Once completed you will receive an e-mail with a pdf to upload with your application at universityadmissions.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
In 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)
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.
Meet our teachers
The Stockholm University Demography Unit (SUDA) has a strong research profile in all three processes of population change – immigration, fertility, and mortality. All of our teachers are also active 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.
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.
Skills in quantitative methods and data science are sought after in many fields. Within this programme, you have the opportunity to apply for an internship at a workplace. 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 also continue to study a PhD programme after the Master's programme.
Questions about this master's programme – please contact programme coordinator Sven Drefahl.
Questions about master's studies
For questions about the master’s programmes in Demography and Sociology or our master’s courses, such as admissions, registrations, study breaks and transfer of credits, you are welcome to contact the master's assistant directors.
Anna Borén, Anna Carin Haag
Study counsellor
For guidance on study techniques, academic planning, grade transfers, certificates, and more.
If you run into problems with your studies, you are welcome to contact the counsellor, who works under a duty of confidentiality.
You can also book a meeting with the counsellor if you need long-term study and career planning.
