Psychology and Law in Sweden

If you are interested in studying forensic psychology, either as a graduate or post-graduate student, this resource will be perfect for you! This article was written by the EAPL-S representative for Sweden: Mikaela Magnusson

Background
Sweden is located in the far north of Europe. Beyond freezing cold temperatures, an abundance of
IKEA stores, and special rooms at all work places designated for “fika” (the daily ritual of drinking a
cup of coffee and eating something sweet together with friends and co-workers), Sweden also has a
long history within the areas of legal and witness psychology.

Where can you study legal psychology?
While there are no undergraduate or masters’ programs in Sweden specialized in legal psychology,
many universities provide courses on different legal psych topics. To date, most courses are given in
Swedish except at the University of Gothenburg where some courses are given in English.

Here is a list of currently available legal psych courses across the country:

• The University of Gothenburg currently provide several courses in legal psychology for
  undergraduate, masters, and PhD students. Some of the courses are given in English. You can find
  more information here: https://psy.gu.se/english/research/forensic-psychology/education
• Lund University provides an undergraduate course in legal psychology (in Swedish). You can read
  more here: http://www.lu.se/lubas/i-uoh-lu-PSYE15/64061
• Stockholm University provides several undergraduate legal psychology courses (in Swedish). You
  can read more here: https://www.psychology.su.se/english/research/research-groups/forensic-
  psychology/education-1.33261
• University West provides an undergraduate course in applied legal psychology (in Swedish):
  https://www.hv.se/utbildning/kurs/tillampad-rattspsykologi-deltid-distans-tir100/
• Kristianstad University provides undergraduate and masters’ courses in legal psychology. The
  courses are given in Swedish. More info: https://www.hkr.se/kurs/PS1205/kursplan
• University of Gävle provides an undergraduate course in witness psychology. The course is given in
  Swedish. https://www.hig.se/Kursbeskrivning.html?identifier=PSG017

Most Swedish Universities also offer courses and programs in criminology, just search “study
criminology in Sweden” and you will find a wide selection of classes.

If you are interested in doing a PhD degree in legal psychology, you have to apply to official positions
via advertisements posted by the Universities. One good way to learn about possible PhD positions is
to contact different research groups and see whether they intend to recruit any students for their
upcoming projects.

Swedish research groups in legal psychology

• The research unit for Criminal, Legal and Investigative Psychology (CLIP) at the University of
  Gothenburg. Website: https://psy.gu.se/english/research/forensic-psychology/
• The Network for Research in Forensic Psychology (NRFP) at Lund University. Website:
  https://www.psy.lu.se/en/research/research-networks/forensic-psychology
• Research unit for forensic psychology at Stockholm University. Website:
  https://www.psychology.su.se/english/research/research-groups/forensic-psychology/research-unit-
  for-forensic-psychology-1.33248
• At the University of Stockholm, there is also a research team studying child interviewing in forensic
  context (Children and youth in socially deprived situations). Website:
  https://www.buv.su.se/english/research/research-areas/children-and-youth-in-socially-deprived-
  situations-1.197222

Other information
Students interested in legal psychology can also consider attending the annual meeting of the Nordic
Network for research in Psychology and Law (NNPL) which provides good opportunities to meet
Swedish and other Nordic researchers. You can read more here:
https://www.sv.uio.no/psi/english/research/network/nnpl/

For more information, you can contact Mikaela Magnusson at the University of Gothenburg.