Entry requirements

Fulfilment of the requirements for a Bachelor´s degree, from an internationally recognised university. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of major concepts, theories, and debates within population geography and geographical migration studies;
• explain how demographic processes, such as fertility, mortality, and health transitions—as well as internal and international migration processes – shape societies at different spatial scales;
• describe and analyse the interconnections between demographic change, migration, and long‑term societal development;
• apply migration and other population‑geographical concepts and analytical frameworks to interpret contemporary demographic trends in diverse regional contexts;
• critically evaluate recent research on migration and other population changes, identifying strengths, limitations, and methodological considerations;
• communicate complex demographic challenges clearly and systematically, both orally and in writing, in academic and policy‑oriented contexts;
• use migration and other population‑geographical reasoning to assess potential societal impacts of demographic change, including implications for labour markets, services, and regional development;
• critically assess the societal and spatial implications of population change;
• evaluate the reliability, uncertainty, and policy relevance of population data and models, and reflect on how assumptions influence outcomes;
• demonstrate a reflective and critical approach to demographic debates, not least in relation to future societal development.

Content

This course explores the geographical dimensions of population dynamics and their implications for societal development. It examines how changing patterns of migration, fertility, mortality, and health shape the relations and the needs of societies and the resources available to meet them.

Drawing on recent research, the course critically analyses contemporary debates on population change, addressing themes such as demographic ageing, shifting global population projections, regional population trends, and internal and international migration and mobility. Attention is also given to the societal consequences of demographic imbalances, the reliability and use of population projections in planning, and the capacity of regions to sustain key professional groups and services.

Throughout the course, students engage with conceptual frameworks, critically evaluate current scholarship, and apply migration and other population‑geographical perspectives to diverse empirical contexts.

Instruction

The course is primarily organised around lectures and seminar-based teaching. Lectures introduce key conceptual debates and theoretical frameworks, while seminars provide opportunities for critical discussion, collaborative analysis, and application of concepts to empirical cases. Active participation in seminars is mandatory.

Assessment

The course is examined through written and oral assignments. Detailed information on the marking criteria and the assessments is provided during the course introduction.

Students who have been granted pedagogical support through the university’s disability coordinator may, where appropriate, be offered alternative forms of examination. Decisions regarding alternative forms of examination are made by the examiner with consideration of the student’s individual needs and in accordance with university regulations.

Uppsala University upholds principles of academic integrity. All students are expected to complete their work independently and to acknowledge sources appropriately. Suspected cases of cheating or plagiarism are handled in accordance with the university’s established procedures and may be referred to the Vice-Chancellor for review.