Tampere University
Master of Social Sciences in Comparative Social Policy and Welfare, Social Science Research
Tampere, Finland
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 10,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* January 2025
** per academic year for non-EU/EEA students
Introduction
Knowledge of society. Expertise in the policy. Competence in research.
A joint approach by two European universities to contemporary societies and social issues.
Comparative Social Policy and Welfare (COSOPO) provides an interdisciplinary approach to contemporary societies in Europe and facilitates understanding social policy and welfare issues in global, national, and local contexts. In this program, you are able to develop skills for understanding and analyzing the development of societies and for engaging with sustainable welfare and policy solutions.
Our graduates work around the world for national and local governments, private companies, non-governmental organizations, and academia. During the studies, you will learn the dynamics of social policy in countries that represent different welfare models and may choose a specialization based on your interest in some area of social policy. You will concentrate on comparative designs and practice qualitative and quantitative policy analysis. As a part of the studies, you may improve your future employment prospects by gaining work experience as a trainee or doing voluntary work for three months.
During your studies in the COSOPO program, you will get experience from two European universities as the program is jointly organized by Tampere University (Finland) and Johannes Kepler University Linz (Austria). The program combines contact teaching with online learning which means that you will be able to work together with the students and teachers of both universities during intensive 1-2 week periods of teaching each semester and during the rest of the academic year you will be studying online which allows you to flexibly plan your schedule.
Master’s Programme in Social Science Research focuses on the contemporary issues and problems of governance, conflicts, and policy in the globalizing world/society. The program consists of the following academically independent specializations with distinct study profiles:
- Comparative Social Policy and Welfare
- Gender Studies
- Global and Transnational Sociology
- Public Policy Analysis
Admissions
Gallery
Scholarships and Funding
Tampere University tuition fee scholarships
Tampere University tuition fee scholarships awarded at admission cover 100% of the tuition fees for the program duration. The program duration is
- three years for Bachelor’s degrees
- two years for Master’s degrees
- five years if the study right is granted for both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree.
Finland Scholarship
Finland scholarships awarded by Tampere University are part of the national Finland Scholarship program. Applicants to Master's programs are eligible to apply. Finland scholarships are awarded at Tampere University to the most merited applicant in each Master's program.
Finland scholarships cover the program tuition fee for the first year of studies and include a 5000 € relocation grant, paid to the student's Finnish bank account after the student has arrived in Tampere and started studies at Tampere University.
In addition, Tampere University awards a Tampere University tuition fee scholarship for the second year of studies to all recipients of the Finland scholarship. The scholarship covers 100 % of tuition fees in the second year of studies.
Early bird offer
In addition to scholarships, an early bird offer is available at admission to all fee-paying students, excluding students who have been awarded a Tampere University tuition fee scholarship or a Finland scholarship at admission. The early bird offer gives a 50 % reduction on the program 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 50% of the first-year tuition fee within two weeks after receiving information on admission.
This offer is valid only for the first year of studies. During consecutive years of study, all fee-paying students are eligible to apply for Tampere University Scholarships awarded during studies.
Curriculum
Study contents
The specialization of Comparative Social Policy and Welfare (COSOPO) in the Master's Programme in Social Science Research is jointly organized by two European universities: Tampere University (Finland) and Johannes Kepler University Linz (Austria).
The COSOPO program provides an interdisciplinary approach to contemporary societies in Europe. It is based on the strong research tradition on social policy and welfare in social sciences at Tampere University and Johannes Kepler University Linz. The aim of the program is to facilitate the understanding of social policy and welfare in Europe. The program focuses, for example, on the dynamics of social policy in the countries representing different welfare models and on analyzing different fields of social policies from various perspectives. During the program, students will learn about comparative designs and the methodology of qualitative and quantitative policy studies.
Structure of studies
Studies in Comparative Social Policy and Welfare consist of the following elements:
- Conceptual Approaches to the Comparative Study of Welfare Production, 20 credits
- National Systems of Welfare and Society, 15 credits
- Empirical Research Methodology, 15 credits
- Elective study units on Well-being and Welfare Production in a Globalizing World, 20 credits
- Internship, 5 credits
- Academic Writing, 5 credits
- Master's Thesis and Thesis Seminar, 40 credits
Program Outcome
Students of the COSOPO program will gain knowledge and understanding of comparative and interdisciplinary welfare and social policy research. The program also offers an excellent opportunity for intercultural communication and learning by combining contact teaching with online learning.
Upon completing the program, students will be able to:
- Understand the European dimension of social policy and welfare.
- Engage in an open and critical examination in the fields of social policy and welfare.
- Use and accomplish research in the fields of social policy and welfare in the countries representing different welfare models.
- Meet the different professional demands in the fields of social policy, welfare, social and welfare statistics, social security systems, labor policy, poverty, gender, etc.
- Discuss relevant current literature, approach new scholarship, and critically present in public.
- Develop, complete, and present scientific papers.
Career Opportunities
The program aims at improving students' academic credentials and enhancing their career prospects as highly qualified analysts and applied researchers in national, European, and international organizations. Graduates are expected to work in the areas of welfare management and social policy development and they will be able to apply their skills in creating, developing, and evaluating social programs and projects.
Co-ordination with other parties
In addition to studies in one’s own Master's Programme, students may take full advantage of the teaching offered by the Tampere higher education community ranging from technical to vocational studies in various fields.