Innovation and Societal Change
Source: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/study/innovation-and-societal-change-master-of-science-programme-SAINS Parent: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/study/study-opportunities-lund-university/masters-degree-studies
Master's programme • 1 year • 60 credits
Do you want to drive societal change using innovation? The Master of Science Programme in Innovation and Societal Change trains you in innovation development and governance with a focus on addressing society's many challenges.
Start
Autumn 2026
Duration
1 year
Level
Master's
Language
English
Place of study
Helsingborg
- Overview
- Teaching and learning
- Career prospects
Overview
Society is facing many severe challenges, such as environmental degradation and climate change, large inequalities between people and places, as well as changing geographies of innovation and production caused by geopolitical frictions. Contemporary societal challenges are complex, fundamental, and enduring, and innovation can contribute to mitigate them. The programme will give you a systemic perspective on innovation, meaning that you will learn about the full process from idea to development, the diffusion of new products, services, solutions and processes, and evaluate their intended and unintended societal impacts.
The Programme will prepare you to become a driving force of change. During the programme you will meet students from different disciplinary backgrounds, and together build knowledge and skills within:
- Innovation processes in different organisations – such as firms, public sector, and civil society - as well as cooperation between different actors.
- How innovations impact society – both intended and unintended effects and how impact may differ between places and societal groups.
- How innovation processes can be governed – and the opportunities and limitations for policy actors at local, regional, national and international levels.
- Methods to study and work with innovation – including practical tools to understand, follow, and promote innovation processes.
Teaching and learning
The programme is suitable for you who want to work with societal change. You will get practical knowledge in how innovation can be planned, governed, and implemented. The teaching builds on interdisciplinary research and provides multiple perspectives on social, environmental, and economic change. This is conducted partly through traditional teaching methods, such as lectures, seminars, and workshops, and partly through collaborations with organisations where you as a student get to practically engage with real-world challenges.
Examples of external actors that you may encounter in the programme are the city of Helsingborg, Region Skåne, Sweden’s innovation agency Vinnova, and firms from different sectors. The coursework consists of both individual components and group work. Working in groups will prepare you for working with different societal actors in your working life.
Campus Helsingborg: a modern study environment close to the sea
Campus Helsingborg is located in central Helsingborg, just a few minutes from the train station and the sea. The campus area is located in a former factory building from 1891, which once belonged to Tretorn. The building has retained its industrial character, which has been integrated with modern premises adapted for lectures, group work, and a quiet study environment.
On campus, you will find a library, plenty of study spaces, and several places to have lunch or a coffee break. The building has several student kitchens where you can heat up your lunch box and eat together with others. The building also houses study and career guidance services and other student support functions.
Campus Helsingborg is part of Lund University but has its own campus life and its own student unions and associations. Different faculties and programmes come together under one roof here. You will have close contact with both teachers and fellow students, while also being close to city life in Helsingborg.
Career prospects
During the programme, you will develop a range of generic competences such as critical analysis, problem solving, written and oral presentation skills, information gathering, teamwork, evaluation skills and ethical judgment. These are all important when working with innovation in a reflective and responsible way. You will also develop competences related to working in interdisciplinary teams. These competences are attractive to many employers.
The job market will look different for you and your fellow students depending on your previous studies. There are two main career paths after completing the programme. The first track is to join employers who focus on societal development. These are found in the private sector, among NGOs as well as in public authorities at municipal, regional and national level.
The second track is to continue in academia. After completing the programme, you are eligible to apply for education at postgraduate level.
The programme is aimed at both Swedish and international students and the job market, whether inside or outside academia, is broad and international.
- Dates
- Requirements and selection
- Tuition fees
- Scholarships and funding
Dates
Autumn Semester 2026
Closed for applications.
Helsingborg - Full time 100%
Apply now
Start
31 August 2026
31 Aug 2026
End
6 June 2027
6 Jun 2027
Form
Normal learning
Pace
Full time
Language
English
City
Helsingborg
Apply now
Good to know about applying for international Master's programmes
Most international Master's programmes require you to submit programme-specific documents as part of your application. Make sure to check the requirements carefully.
Requirements and selection
Prerequisites
To be admitted to the programme, the student must hold a Bachelor’s degree corresponding to at least 180 ECTS. Oral and written proficiency in English equivalent to English 6 (advanced) from Swedish upper secondary school is a requirement. International qualifications will be assessed in accordance with national guidelines.
Selection criteria
The applicant’s estimated capacity to complete the programme is the primary criterion for selection. Students are selected on the basis of their previous study results (grades on courses and thesis in the Bachelor’s degree), and a statement of purpose (according to the template provided).
Tuition fees
Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens
Citizens of countries outside:
- The European Union (EU)
- The European Economic Area (EEA) and
- Switzerland
are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each \ semester.
Tuition fees, payments and exemptions
Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 135,000 \ First payment: SEK 67,500
Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.
No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland
There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
Scholarships and 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
African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) 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 Scholarship: Global professionals
The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students from certain countries who are applying for select Master's programmes in Sweden.
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. Most agreements are intended for Master’s applicants, although certain opportunities may also be available to Bachelor’s students.
External scholarships
In addition to scholarships offered by Lund University or through its partner agreements, there are external opportunities. On the page below, you’ll find examples of organisations that may provide financial support for international students from specific countries.
Overview
Society is facing many severe challenges, such as environmental degradation and climate change, large inequalities between people and places, as well as changing geographies of innovation and production caused by geopolitical frictions. Contemporary societal challenges are complex, fundamental, and enduring, and innovation can contribute to mitigate them. The programme will give you a systemic perspective on innovation, meaning that you will learn about the full process from idea to development, the diffusion of new products, services, solutions and processes, and evaluate their intended and unintended societal impacts.
The Programme will prepare you to become a driving force of change. During the programme you will meet students from different disciplinary backgrounds, and together build knowledge and skills within:
- Innovation processes in different organisations – such as firms, public sector, and civil society - as well as cooperation between different actors.
- How innovations impact society – both intended and unintended effects and how impact may differ between places and societal groups.
- How innovation processes can be governed – and the opportunities and limitations for policy actors at local, regional, national and international levels.
- Methods to study and work with innovation – including practical tools to understand, follow, and promote innovation processes.
Teaching and learning
The programme is suitable for you who want to work with societal change. You will get practical knowledge in how innovation can be planned, governed, and implemented. The teaching builds on interdisciplinary research and provides multiple perspectives on social, environmental, and economic change. This is conducted partly through traditional teaching methods, such as lectures, seminars, and workshops, and partly through collaborations with organisations where you as a student get to practically engage with real-world challenges.
Examples of external actors that you may encounter in the programme are the city of Helsingborg, Region Skåne, Sweden’s innovation agency Vinnova, and firms from different sectors. The coursework consists of both individual components and group work. Working in groups will prepare you for working with different societal actors in your working life.
Campus Helsingborg: a modern study environment close to the sea
Campus Helsingborg is located in central Helsingborg, just a few minutes from the train station and the sea. The campus area is located in a former factory building from 1891, which once belonged to Tretorn. The building has retained its industrial character, which has been integrated with modern premises adapted for lectures, group work, and a quiet study environment.
On campus, you will find a library, plenty of study spaces, and several places to have lunch or a coffee break. The building has several student kitchens where you can heat up your lunch box and eat together with others. The building also houses study and career guidance services and other student support functions.
Campus Helsingborg is part of Lund University but has its own campus life and its own student unions and associations. Different faculties and programmes come together under one roof here. You will have close contact with both teachers and fellow students, while also being close to city life in Helsingborg.
Career prospects
During the programme, you will develop a range of generic competences such as critical analysis, problem solving, written and oral presentation skills, information gathering, teamwork, evaluation skills and ethical judgment. These are all important when working with innovation in a reflective and responsible way. You will also develop competences related to working in interdisciplinary teams. These competences are attractive to many employers.
The job market will look different for you and your fellow students depending on your previous studies. There are two main career paths after completing the programme. The first track is to join employers who focus on societal development. These are found in the private sector, among NGOs as well as in public authorities at municipal, regional and national level.
The second track is to continue in academia. After completing the programme, you are eligible to apply for education at postgraduate level.
The programme is aimed at both Swedish and international students and the job market, whether inside or outside academia, is broad and international.
Dates
Autumn Semester 2026
Closed for applications.
Helsingborg - Full time 100%
Apply now
Start
31 August 2026
31 Aug 2026
End
6 June 2027
6 Jun 2027
Form
Normal learning
Pace
Full time
Language
English
City
Helsingborg
Apply now
Good to know about applying for international Master's programmes
Most international Master's programmes require you to submit programme-specific documents as part of your application. Make sure to check the requirements carefully.
Requirements and selection
Prerequisites
To be admitted to the programme, the student must hold a Bachelor’s degree corresponding to at least 180 ECTS. Oral and written proficiency in English equivalent to English 6 (advanced) from Swedish upper secondary school is a requirement. International qualifications will be assessed in accordance with national guidelines.
Selection criteria
The applicant’s estimated capacity to complete the programme is the primary criterion for selection. Students are selected on the basis of their previous study results (grades on courses and thesis in the Bachelor’s degree), and a statement of purpose (according to the template provided).
Tuition fees
Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens
Citizens of countries outside:
- The European Union (EU)
- The European Economic Area (EEA) and
- Switzerland
are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each \ semester.
Tuition fees, payments and exemptions
Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 135,000 \ First payment: SEK 67,500
Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.
No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland
There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
Scholarships and 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
African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) 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 Scholarship: Global professionals
The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students from certain countries who are applying for select Master's programmes in Sweden.
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. Most agreements are intended for Master’s applicants, although certain opportunities may also be available to Bachelor’s students.
External scholarships
In addition to scholarships offered by Lund University or through its partner agreements, there are external opportunities. On the page below, you’ll find examples of organisations that may provide financial support for international students from specific countries.
Contact us
Administration
Graduate school
Email: master@sam.lu.se