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What is politics? Is man, as Aristotle argued, a political animal? What should the state do? And what happens if the state is about to crumble away? In what way does Sweden act in the EU – and what does Sweden mean for the EU? Who benefits from globalisation? Who is allowed to be a citizen? How are the climate changes to be handled politically? Whose security and what values are protected by the security policy? What is terrorism?

Political conversations take place everywhere – in the UN, in the Swedish parliament, at our on dinner tables, in the media. Whether it is about current politics or eternal philosophical dilemmas, issues concerning the governance of society and how our community should be organised are always of immediate interest and importance. Political science focuses on these problems.

Many areas in society, both in the public and private spheres, are affected by political structures and mechanisms. An education in political science gives you good knowledge of the way in which society is structured and functioning.

The main working areas for political scientists are employments as analysts, investigators, administrators, public relations officers, etc. An increasing need of analyses of the surrounding world has made the demand for political scientists in the private sector grow larger in recent years.

If you have any questions, please contact our student counsellor at studievagledare@statsvet.su.se.

The latest alumni survey conducted by the Department of Political Science (2025) shows that the department’s alumni secure employment quickly after graduation – a majority (71%) within six months. The results also indicate that the majority obtain positions relevant to political science, working in environments primarily focused on public administration or politics. The most common sectors in which our former students work are:

• Public sector: 49 %
  • Government agencies
  • Regions/municipalities
  • International organizations (EU, UN etc.)
• Private sector: 25 %
  • Media
  • Financial firms
  • Private healthcare companies
  • Consulting firms
• Non-profit sector: 7 %
  • Political parties
  • Interest organizations
  • Think tanks
• Self employed: 2 %

The job titles and responsibilities of the alumni suggest that their primary daily activities closely resemble the work they performed during their studies. For instance, in their day-to-day roles, alumni frequently gather large amounts of information, which they then organize, summarize, and analyze. The most common tasks identified in the survey include:

• Investigation/analysis: 57 %
• Administration: 32 %
• Advisory work: 29 %
• Communication: 26 %
• Research: 16 %
  

Often, a single position involves a combination of several of these tasks, reflecting the versatility and broad skill set of our alumni.

An academic degree is highlighted as particularly important for post-graduation job market prospects, with over 70% of respondents identifying it as the primary factor in securing employment. Practical experience and personal engagement during one’s studies are also highlighted as crucial for securing employment and are valued in the labor market. The surveys further indicated that former students tend to experience a strongly positive salary trajectory.

Read our latest report (and survey from the department):

• Alumni Report 2025 pdf, 717.7 kB. (in Swedish)
• Alumni Survey 2025 pdf, 1.6 MB.(in Swedish)

Previous alumni reports and surveys from the department:

• Alumni Survey 2019 pdf, 359.3 kB. (in Swedish)

• Alumni Report 2021 pdf, 377.6 kB.(in Swedish)

Survey conducted by the University’s Student Services (i.e. Studentavdelningen):

• Alumni Survey 2021 pdf, 625.9 kB.(in Swedish)