Visual Culture - Master's Programme
Master's programme · 2 years · 120 credits
Description
This two-year international Master’s programme in Visual Culture explores the crucial role of visual culture in the modern and contemporary world. It aims to deepen the student’s understanding of how and why images and visuality today shape and reflect our knowledge, attitudes, and experiences, perhaps more than ever before.
A wide spectrum of visual genres and media is examined, for instance, art, film, news and documentary imagery, advertisements, scientific images, and urban environments, from the perspective of technological and societal developments during modernity as well as existential and cultural aspects of seeing and images.
Through a broad apparatus of theories and methods, the programme contributes to a better understanding of the power (and sometimes, powerlessness) of images and other visual expressions to fascinate, convince and disturb and to produce meaning in social, cultural and personal contexts.
Career prospects
The programme prepares the student for PhD studies and further career in academia as well as for a career in the cultural sector, broadly defined, with a focus on images, design and visuality.
Programme sheets
Applications will open on the
2025-10-16
Will open for applications
Learn more about our application periods and when to apply for studies at 51ÖØ¿ÚÁÔÆæ.
Contact
Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences
Visiting address
Helgonavägen 3, LUX – Hus C, Lund
Postal address
Box 192, 221 00 Lund
Requirements and selection
Entry requirements
- A Bachelor’s degree in Art History and Visual Studies, Film Studies, Musicology, Design Sciences, Architecture, or the equivalent.
- Proficiency in English equivalent to English 6 from Swedish upper-secondary school.
Selection criteria
English language requirements
Most of 51ÖØ¿ÚÁÔÆæ’s programmes require English Level 6 (unless otherwise stated under 'Entry requirements'). This is the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 90. There are several ways to prove your English language proficiency – check which proof is accepted at the University Admissions in Sweden website. All students must prove they meet English language requirements by the document deadline, in order to be considered for admission.
Country-specific requirements
Check if there are any country-specific eligibility rules for you to study Bachelor's or Master's studies in Sweden:
Apply
Start Autumn Semester 2026
Day-time Lund, full time 100%
In English
Study period
31 August 2026 - 4 June 2028
Application
Will open for applications 2025-10-16
How to apply
51ÖØ¿ÚÁÔÆæ uses a national application system run by University Admissions in Sweden. It is only possible to apply during the application periods.
Step 1: Apply online
- Check that you meet the entry requirements of the programme or course you are interested in (refer to the section above on this webpage).
- Start your application – go to the University Admissions in Sweden website where you create an account and select programmes/courses during the application period.
- Rank your programme/course choices in order of preference and submit them before the application deadline.
Step 2: Submit documents
- Read about how to document your eligibility and how to submit your documents at the University Admissions in Sweden website. Follow any country-specific document rules for Master's studies or Bachelor's studies
- Get all your documents ready:
- official transcripts and high school diploma (Bachelor's applicants)
- official transcripts and degree certificate or proof that you are in the final year of your Bachelor's (Master's applicants)
- passport/ID (all applicants) and
- proof of English proficiency (all applicants).
- Prepare programme-specific documents if stated in the next paragraph on this webpage.
- Upload or send all required documents to University Admissions before the document deadline.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable – refer to the section below on this webpage) before the document deadline.
* Note that the process is different if you are applying as an exchange student or as a part of a cooperation programme (such as Erasmus+).
* If you have studied your entire Bachelor's programme in Sweden and all of your academic credits are in Ladok, you do not have to submit transcripts or your diploma when applying for a Master's programme. However, there may still be other documents you need to submit! See the link below.
* Svensk student?
Programme-specific documents
In addition to the documents mentioned under Step 2, you must also submit a statement of purpose (letter of intent), of no more than 800 words, with your application, explaining your main interests within the field of visual culture, your main reasons for applying to the programme, your expected benefit from the programme and your future plans after completing the programme. You should also submit a CV listing two academic and/or professional reference persons when you apply for this programme.
Tuition fees
Non-EU/EEA citizens
Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 270 000
First payment: SEK 67 500
Citizens of a country outside of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are required to pay tuition fees. You pay one instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each semester.
Tuition fees, payments and exemptions
EU/EEA citizens and Switzerland
There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
Application fee
If you are required to pay tuition fees, you are generally also required to pay an application fee of SEK 900 when you apply at the University Admissions in Sweden website. You pay one application fee regardless of how many programmes or courses you apply to.
*Note that there are no tuition or application fees for exchange students or doctoral/PhD students, regardless of their nationality.
Scholarships & funding
51ÖØ¿ÚÁÔÆæ Global Scholarship programme
The 51ÖØ¿ÚÁÔÆæ Global Scholarship programme is a merit-based and selective scholarship targeted at top academic students from countries outside the EU/EEA.
Within the framework of the 51ÖØ¿ÚÁÔÆæ 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 Scholarships
The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students applying for studies in Sweden at Master's level.
Country-specific scholarships and funding options
51ÖØ¿ÚÁÔÆæ 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 51ÖØ¿ÚÁÔÆæ.
External scholarships
Testimonials about this Master's
"Assignments are really well thought out and helpful"
Samaneh from Iran
"A very good introduction to academic life"
Tina from Greece