Master of Arts (MA) in Social Sciences
General content
The Master of Arts in Social Sciences is a cycle of training in direct contact with research and the world of work. Designed as an interdisciplinary course based on four major issues in the contemporary world, the programme is enhanced by the numerous local and international research projects of the Institute of Social Sciences.
At the end of the degree course, students will be able to :
- apply the latest knowledge in areas of specialisation such as the regulation of social inequalities, the personal and professional paths, the knowledge concerning the body, health and medicine, media discourse and cultural products in the public arena ;
- develop issues specific to their areas of specialisation by establishing connections between conceptual frameworks and the realities of social life ;
- synthesise the findings of scientific work and conduct research projects of interest to the policy ;
- make use of adequate methodological tools to carry out their research project ;
- participate, through their analysis and argumentation skills, in debates, collaborate in writing reports and articles, and intervene in the press and the media.
The Master of Arts in Social Sciences consists of two parts: a core programme and a specific orientation, to be chosen from :
- Life Path and Social Policies
- Body, Medicines, Technologies and Health
- Culture, Communication and Media
- Human Rights, Diversity and Globalisation
The Master’s thesis is the logical culmination of the specialisation programme. It demonstrates the student’s ability to absorb knowledge and see a project to its end, both from the perspective of the empirical, methodological and theoretical rigour it requires, and the time management and practical know-how it involves.
Practical information
Organiser
Faculty of Social and Political Sciences
Institute for Social Sciences
Degree awarded
Master of Arts (MA) in Social Sciences
ECTS credits
120
Duration
4 semesters
Teaching language
French. Recommended level : C1.
A good level of English (B2) is advised for reading academic texts.
Admission requirements
The candidate must hold a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences, in Sociology or in Anthropology awarded by a Swiss university.
Holders of a Bachelor’s degree awarded by the UNIL with a minor in social sciences are admitted to the Master of Arts in social sciences, with or without conditions.
Another degree or academic title in related areas may be judged equivalent and give access to the Master’s degree in social sciences, with or without conditions.
Enrolment and final dates
It is possible to start the programme of the Master of Arts degree in either the Autumn or the Spring semesters.
Applications to be submitted before 30 April (autumn semester) or 30 November (spring semester) to the Admissions Office: www.unil.ch/immat
Candidates needing a visa to study in Switzerland must apply for enrolment at least two months prior to the deadlines indicated above.
More information
Study plan
Course description
Career prospects
University studies allow to develop, in addition to specific academic skills, a great many transverse skills such as : oral and written communication, critical, analytical and summarising faculties, abilities in research, and so on.
This panoply of skills, combined with specialist knowledge acquired in the course of studies, is excellent preparation for a wide range of employment opportunities such as :
- Research and teaching (Universities and Universties of applied sciences)
- Public administration, at national and international levels
- Office of Statistics and polling institutes
- Media
- Non governmental organisations
- Associative networks
- Private sector
Alumni move into a wide variety of roles, for example as a communications officer for a theatre or youth liaison officer for a large administrative authority.
Subject to changes.
The French version prevails. Only the official texts should be considered binding.
Last update: 20 March 2023
