Programme structure Master's Programme in Sea and Society
Students can choose from a variety of courses and master's thesis projects to complete a Master's degree in Sea and Society (120 credits). On this web page we present the programme structure, core courses, elective courses, and options for the third semester. The fourth semester is dedicated to your degree project (thesis).
First Year
The first two semesters consist of four mandatory transdisciplinary courses.
Period 1, 15 credits
Course MAR461, The Sea and Society Relationship; Historical Perspectives, Present Status and Future Challenges
The aim of this course is to put into a broad context the human "uses" of the sea through time including emotional and philosophical uses.
Read more about MAR461 The Sea and Society Relationship: Historical Perspectives, Present Status, and Future Challenges
Period 2, 15 credits
Course MAR462, Blue economy and sustainable use of marine resources
The aim of this course is to describe the ownership over the marine
and maritime resources, and the main governance systems that regulate these ownerships.
Read more about MAR462 Blue Economy and Sustainable Use of Marine Resources
Period 3, 15 credits
Course MAR463, European Marine Directives and Policies - an Interdisciplinary Perspective
The aim of this course is to give an overview of the contents and requirement of EU marine environmental directives and policies, from legal, social and environmental perspectives.
Read more about MAR463 European Marine Directives and Policies: An Interdisciplinary Perspective
Period 4, 15 credits
Course MAR464, Seascape Governance in Times of Global Change
This course presents a comprehensive analysis of the interactions between marine ecosystems and socioeconomic systems in a spatial context.
Read more about MAR464 Seascape Governance in Times of Global Change
Second Year
Period 1 and 2, 30 credits
During the third semester, you can choose between an internship (applied project), exchange studies, or elective courses, provided you meet the requirements for each course.
Here are some examples of electives:
- Environmental economics
- Conservation and the Genetics of Populations
- Marine Aquaculture
- Primary Producers of the Sea
- Marine Biodiversity
- Experimental Marine Ecology
- Physical Oceanography
- Remote Sensing
- Marine project - From idea to action
Period 3 and 4, 30 credits
The fourth semester is dedicated to your degree project (thesis).
Internship (Applied project)
Internships can be at the Department of Marine Sciences, or externally at another university, or at a public or private organization in Sweden or abroad.
The student has the responsibility to search and find a host organization and supervisor. Internships can be 10 weeks (15 credits, course MAR470) or 20 weeks long (30 credits, course MAR471).
The Erasmus programme offers opportunities to apply for a placement grant for an internship in Europe (outside of Sweden).
Read more about Erasmus Grant
Read more about MAR470 (15 credits) and MAR471 (30 credits), Sea and Society: Applied Project (Internship)
Exchange study opportunities
Students from the Master’s programme in Sea and Society are encouraged to go abroad during their third semester of studies.
You can choose to participate in exchange studies at any of our partner universities or complete an internship.
Our partner universities are in, for example:
- Belgium
- France
- Germany
- Finland
- Great Britain
- Italy
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Netherlands
- Iceland
Read more about Exchange study opportunities.
Master’s Thesis Project
During the master’s thesis project, the student carries out and presents independent scientific work in the field of sea and society. The task can be an empirical field study, an analysis and evaluation of existing scientific data, or critical literature review based on original work. Degree projects are generally 30 credits.
For previous thesis projects, please visit:
Master's presentations in Sea and Society 2021
Master's presentations in Sea and Society 2022
Master presentations in Sea and Society 2023
Individual project plan
An individual project plan is required to be completed, in collaboration with the supervisor, and approved before commencement of the master’s thesis project. The completed thesis project is presented and assessed in the form of a written report.
The master’s thesis project can be done at:
- any of the of the participating departments in the Master’s Programme in Sea and Society,
- another department in the subject area
- externally at a public or private organization in Sweden or abroad, e.g. companies, institutes or public authorities, or at other higher education institutions.