Arbetsintegrerade politiska studier, 120 hp

Policies and political decisions – made at local and international levels – form and influence the social, economic and environmental world we live in. This programme develop new perspectives of how knowledge production, combined with learning and experiences, can influence societal change through applied studies of societal challenges. You conduct research internship in direct collaboration with surrounding society to move your career forward during your two-year master’s programme. A collaboration between University West in Sweden and University of the Western Cape in South Africa, makes your programme truly international.

About this programme

University West is the leading university for Work Integrated Learning (WIL). This is a unique two-year international master's programme (120 credits) that leads to an MA degree in Work Integrated Learning with a specialization in political studies. The work integrated applied research approach provides you with training in how to have a direct impact on societal change through your work.

The programme is particularly useful for political-economic oriented professions in public administration, NGO´s and private corporations, in Sweden as well as internationally. The studies prepare you for professional work across cultural and national borders to develop, implement and lead projects handling politically and economically oriented issues for societal change.

The programme is divided into two progressively challenging phases:

In the 1st year you study a set of compulsory courses focusing on WIL in theory and practice, in total 30 credits. These courses are combined with a selection of elective courses focusing on applied political studies and/or societal change. You can choose electives course according to your interest, building up your own educational profile.

In the 2nd year you will use the knowledge from your theoretical studies, applied through a research internship placement with a host organization in Sweden or abroad, with continuous supervision by the programme staff and internship host. You can, depending on your interest, work with NGO’s, public or private institutions, organisations or companies, performing research tasks dealing with real-life challenges. To further focus your education and degree towards your interest, the research internship also forms the foundation of your master's thesis.

One semester work placement

In the second year of your programme, you will through a research placement in Sweden or abroad work together with NGO’s, institutions, organisations or companies facing real-life challenges. The networks, skills and experiences you gain will be key in your future working life.

The research internship project will also be the foundation of your master's thesis, all conducted under the continuous supervision given by the programme staff and internship hosts.

International environment

In this fully English-taught programme, students and staff come from a wealth of different cultures and regions around the world, creating a rich learning environment and student life.

Delivered in close collaboration with the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa, your programme gives you the opportunity to work on research projects at organisations and institutions in Sweden, South Africa and at other locations around the world.

The labour market, collaboration, and work-integrated learning

This programme responds to an outspoken need by societal actors to find graduates with inter-disciplinary knowledge, experience and understanding, relevant to take on complex real societal challenges in an increasingly diversified world. Hence, the programme integrates WIL, as a form, educational and research approach, as part of developing WIL as a unique field of study within its own right.

The entire programme is built upon a WIL approach and provides a degree in WIL. This becomes perhaps most prominent in the 2nd year when the student conducts a research internship, integrated with reflective course, and concluded in a master’s thesis. The research internship placements are secured through a close formal collaboration with a number of local, national and international hosts, enabling the students to choose a placement and field of research of their interest.

Through the programme, blending theoretical and practical knowledge, with understanding and reflective abilities, graduates foresee various work opportunities and career paths, as planners, project leaders, administrators and analysts in municipalities, regional authorities, state- and international organisations, NGOs, as well as banks and private companies.

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