Bachelor and Master of Social Sciences in Socially Sustainable Societies
Tampere, Finland
MSc
DURATION
5 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
EUR 10,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* per academic year for non-EU/EEA students for bachelor’s programme | €12000 per academic year for non-EU/EEA students for master’s programme
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
Are you interested in building fair and just societies of the future?
During studies we will focus on the topical and pressing challenge of how to build socially sustainable societies. This future-oriented, programme offers you a unique deep dive into both social sciences and health sciences. If you are interested in policies and institutions that generate health, and wellbeing for all – this could be just the right choice for you!
Ideas and building blocks for wellbeing and health — from the past and present — are examined from the perspective of designing and building socially sustainable societies of the future. We define social sustainability as the social dimension of sustainability and in terms of how societies function with an emphasis on resilience, equality, and inclusion. A key focus of the programme is to introduce the Nordic perspective to social sustainability, welfare states and intersectoral action.
A unique combination of social and health sciences
In this programme you will tackle topical questions related to socially sustainable societies:
- How to ensure that sustainability is achieved through socially sustainable policies?
- What is the role of welfare states for sustainability?
- What does social sustainability imply to social and health protection and security?
- How to promote universal access to health and social protection as part of public policies?
- How to address different types of social inequalities such as those related to economic status, gender and ethnicity?
- What are the social determinants of health in national and global contexts?
Studies are structured around topical research
The courses and teaching are built upon the topical research conducted by the faculty. You can also choose free-choice studies from other degree programmes and thus enjoy added opportunities to learn about crossover themes from several study programmes.
The programme prepares students to continue their studies in master’s programmes. All accepted students are automatically given the right to continue their studies in the Master’s Programme in Social Science Research. The programme offers various specialisations, such as:
- Global and Transnational Sociology,
- Public Policy Analysis,
- Comparative Social Policy and Welfare,
- Gender Studies.
Tampere University also offers several other suitable English language master’s programmes in social and health sciences, as well as multidisciplinary programmes such as Sustainable Digital Life.
Tampere University offers a limited number of partial scholarships as well as an early bird discount to support fee-paying students.
Tampere University tuition fee scholarships
The Tampere University tuition fee scholarship is an exclusive opportunity awarded to a select number of the best-performing applicants. It is a highly selective scholarship; in total, only individual Tampere University scholarships are awarded to exceptionally qualified applicants. Scholarships are not awarded in all programmes.
Tampere University tuition fee scholarships awarded at admission cover 50% of the tuition fees for the programme duration.
Early bird offer
The early bird offer is available to all fee-paying students who have not been awarded a Tampere University tuition fee scholarship upon admission. The early bird offer gives a €2,000 reduction on the programme tuition fee during the first year of studies.
Students may take advantage of the early bird offer by accepting the offered study place and paying the reduced first-year tuition fee within two weeks after receiving information on admission.
This offer is valid only for the first year of studies.
In addition to these offers available at admission, students who complete a Bachelor's degree at Tampere University will be eligible to receive a €2,000 reduction on their tuition fee for the first year of Master's degree studies at Tampere University, provided they graduate from their Bachelor's programme within three academic years.
How to apply for scholarships?
To be considered for Tampere University Scholarships, you must apply for the scholarship as part of your application for admission during the application period for admission. You will apply for Tampere University Scholarships with the same online application you use to apply for admission at Studyinfo.fi.
All application information you submit in your application for admission at Studyinfo.fi, including your educational documents, is available for the admissions committee evaluating your scholarship application. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of overall academic assessment, in which all application information and educational documents, as well as the scholarship application letter (if applicable), are taken into consideration and can be decisive. The decision on the scholarship will be communicated to you together with information on admission.
The early bird offer is available without a separate application to all fee-paying students who have not been awarded a Tampere University tuition fee scholarship.
Study contents
The scope of the Bachelor's Programme is 180 ECTS. It consists of the following elements:
- Joint Studies 30 ECTS; such as language and communication studies, statistics and digital skills, introduction to Finnish society and culture
- Basic Studies 25 ECTS; such as introductions to sustainable societies and social research, scientific writing, empirical social research
- Intermediate Studies 90 ECTS: such as perspectives on social sustainability; theories, ideas, and practices of Social Sciences; research methods, career skills, and the Bachelor’s Thesis
- Free Choice Studies 35 ECTS: you can select freely from the offerings of the Tampere University community.
After completing the Bachelor’s Programme in Socially Sustainable Societies graduates will have gained:
- Competence to critically assess and compare different models of welfare states and social and health protection options
- Understanding of the means to reduce social and health inequality in the context of sustainability
methods of assessing social and health impacts and intersectoral action - Understanding of historical roots and wider politics of social and health protection and security
solid knowledge base and the necessary methodological skills for designing and building socially sustainable societies - Skills in both qualitative and quantitative methods in health and social sciences, as well as a strong grasp of empirical research and academic writing.
In addition, students will also be familiar with key theories, concepts, and research areas in social and health sciences. After completing the program you are eligible to continue studies for the Master of Social Sciences Degree. You will automatically have the right to continue studies in the Master’s Programme in Social Science Research.
The program includes a wide array of Finnish language studies guaranteeing at least an A2-level competency for all students, while also facilitating further Finnish language studies for the students.
The bachelor’s studies train generalists and prepare students for positions e.g. in the public sector as civil servants, in companies, as well as in civil society in NGOs and INGOs. Whether you are interested in building your career on local, regional, national, international or global level, this programme equips you with the necessary knowledge and skills to begin your journey.
The Master’s Programme in Social Science Research aims at improving students’ academic credentials and in enhancing their career prospects as highly qualified analysts and applied researchers. The students will acquire the skills needed for possible doctoral studies.