# Human Geography: The Contemporary Geography of African Development II
**Source**: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/study/human-geography-the-contemporary-geography-of-african-development-ii-SGED12
**Parent**: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-university/university-glance/mission-vision-and-values/sustainability/sustainability-education-lund-university
Course • Bachelor's level • 15 credits
Dive deeper into the forces shaping Africa today. This course gives you sharp insights into political change, rural and urban transformation, and the debates that define contemporary African development.
[Application dates](#nav-event-tab-1)
Start
Autumn 2026
Level
Bachelor's
Language
English
Place of study
Lund
Course code
SGED12
[Application dates](#)
- Overview
- Teaching and learning
- After the course
## Overview
It introduces you to key research on contemporary African development. You explore major themes in human geography, including political change, rural transformation and the connections between urban and rural areas. A central focus is understanding how Africa’s political landscape has evolved, especially the forms of political pluralism and democratization that have emerged since the 1990s.
You also learn about practical challenges and opportunities connected to doing research in African contexts. Throughout the course, you are introduced to important debates in contemporary development research — from agricultural development strategies to socio-economic change and the roles that different regions play in today’s global system.
The course gives you a clear foundation for understanding Africa’s current development from multiple perspectives. It is designed for you who look for factual, research-based insights into both the problems and the potentials that shape the continent today.
Teaching is held in English and takes place on campus at the Department of Human Geography.
[How to apply
->](https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/study/human-geography-the-contemporary-geography-of-african-development-ii-SGED12/how-to-apply)
### Course syllabus
The syllabus contains the formal and legal details of the entire course. It’s a legal document outlining the course structure and requirements, intended mainly for administrative use.
[Syllabus (PDF, New window)](https://kursplaner.lu.se/pdf/kurs/en/SGED12)
### Course literature
The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.
[Course literature SGED12 (PDF, New tab)](https://kursplaner.lu.se/pdf/litteratur/senaste/en/SGED12)
## Teaching and learning
The course starts with an overview of current research on Africa. Thereafter it introduces the diverse political landscape of Africa putting special focus on the present transformations the continent is going through. This will be done by emphasizing the problems as well as the opportunities that Africa is facing. The second part of the course offers deep insights on the present rural transformations as well as the linkages between rural and urban areas in the African context.
Teaching is delivered through lectures and seminars. Lectures introduce key political, social and economic developments across the continent and show how these processes vary between regions and over time.
Seminars focus on critical discussions. You analyse both academic texts and media material, compare different viewpoints and evaluate how different research approaches shape our understanding of African development. Active participation is expected, and some seminars are compulsory.
Assessment includes written and oral exams as well as seminar assignments. These help you strengthen your analytical skills and your ability to discuss development issues in an informed and reflective way.
You will study at the Department of Human Geography at Geocentrum I in central Lund – a place that brings together lecturers, researchers and students from all over the world in a stimulating and international study environment.
## After the course
After completing the course, you have a solid understanding of contemporary African development and the debates that shape the field. You can analyse political and socio-economic change, evaluate different agricultural and rural development strategies, and reflect critically on both academic and public discussions about Africa.
These skills are useful if you plan to continue studying human geography, development studies, political science or related areas. The course also strengthens your ability to work with international issues, regional analysis or development-related topics in future studies.
- Dates
- Requirements and selection
- Tuition fees
## Dates
### Autumn Semester 2026
Apply via Antagning.se (in Swedish) by 15 April.
#### Lund - Full time 100%
[Apply now](https://www.antagning.se/se/addtobasket?id=LU-25103&period=HT_2026)
Start
2 November 2026
2 Nov 2026
End
17 January 2027
17 Jan 2027
Form
Normal learning
Pace
Full time
Language
English
City
Lund
[Apply now](https://www.antagning.se/se/addtobasket?id=LU-25103&period=HT_2026)
## Requirements and selection
### Prerequisites
General requirements for university studies in Sweden
### Selection criteria
Seats are allocated according to the following: The general average (GPA) of your higher secondary school leaving certificate: 34 %, The Swedish national university aptitude test: 34 %, number of previous ECTS at application deadline (up to 165): 32 %. If students have equal credentials, seats are allocated based on their results on The Swedish National University Aptitude Test. If this too is equal, seats are allocated based on a draw.
## 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](https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/international-admissions/bachelors-masters-studies/applying-for-studies/tuition-fees)
Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 31,250 \
First payment: SEK 31,250
[Convert currency – xe.com](https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=31250&From=SEK&To=EUR)
Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.
[Application fee](https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/fees-scholarships-residence-permit/pay-your-application-fee)
### 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.
## Overview
It introduces you to key research on contemporary African development. You explore major themes in human geography, including political change, rural transformation and the connections between urban and rural areas. A central focus is understanding how Africa’s political landscape has evolved, especially the forms of political pluralism and democratization that have emerged since the 1990s.
You also learn about practical challenges and opportunities connected to doing research in African contexts. Throughout the course, you are introduced to important debates in contemporary development research — from agricultural development strategies to socio-economic change and the roles that different regions play in today’s global system.
The course gives you a clear foundation for understanding Africa’s current development from multiple perspectives. It is designed for you who look for factual, research-based insights into both the problems and the potentials that shape the continent today.
Teaching is held in English and takes place on campus at the Department of Human Geography.
[How to apply
->](https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/study/human-geography-the-contemporary-geography-of-african-development-ii-SGED12/how-to-apply)
### Course literature
The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.
[Course literature SGED12 (PDF, New tab)](https://kursplaner.lu.se/pdf/litteratur/senaste/en/SGED12)
## Teaching and learning
The course starts with an overview of current research on Africa. Thereafter it introduces the diverse political landscape of Africa putting special focus on the present transformations the continent is going through. This will be done by emphasizing the problems as well as the opportunities that Africa is facing. The second part of the course offers deep insights on the present rural transformations as well as the linkages between rural and urban areas in the African context.
Teaching is delivered through lectures and seminars. Lectures introduce key political, social and economic developments across the continent and show how these processes vary between regions and over time.
Seminars focus on critical discussions. You analyse both academic texts and media material, compare different viewpoints and evaluate how different research approaches shape our understanding of African development. Active participation is expected, and some seminars are compulsory.
Assessment includes written and oral exams as well as seminar assignments. These help you strengthen your analytical skills and your ability to discuss development issues in an informed and reflective way.
You will study at the Department of Human Geography at Geocentrum I in central Lund – a place that brings together lecturers, researchers and students from all over the world in a stimulating and international study environment.
## After the course
After completing the course, you have a solid understanding of contemporary African development and the debates that shape the field. You can analyse political and socio-economic change, evaluate different agricultural and rural development strategies, and reflect critically on both academic and public discussions about Africa.
These skills are useful if you plan to continue studying human geography, development studies, political science or related areas. The course also strengthens your ability to work with international issues, regional analysis or development-related topics in future studies.
## Dates
### Autumn Semester 2026
Apply via Antagning.se (in Swedish) by 15 April.
#### Lund - Full time 100%
[Apply now](https://www.antagning.se/se/addtobasket?id=LU-25103&period=HT_2026)
Start
2 November 2026
2 Nov 2026
End
17 January 2027
17 Jan 2027
Form
Normal learning
Pace
Full time
Language
English
City
Lund
[Apply now](https://www.antagning.se/se/addtobasket?id=LU-25103&period=HT_2026)
## Requirements and selection
### Prerequisites
General requirements for university studies in Sweden
### Selection criteria
Seats are allocated according to the following: The general average (GPA) of your higher secondary school leaving certificate: 34 %, The Swedish national university aptitude test: 34 %, number of previous ECTS at application deadline (up to 165): 32 %. If students have equal credentials, seats are allocated based on their results on The Swedish National University Aptitude Test. If this too is equal, seats are allocated based on a draw.
## 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](https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/international-admissions/bachelors-masters-studies/applying-for-studies/tuition-fees)
Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 31,250 \
First payment: SEK 31,250
[Convert currency – xe.com](https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=31250&From=SEK&To=EUR)
Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.
[Application fee](https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/fees-scholarships-residence-permit/pay-your-application-fee)
### 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.
## Contact us
### Study advisor human geography and GIS
Email:
[studievagledare@keg.lu.se](mailto:studievagledare@keg.lu.se)