Master's Courses in Dementia Care for Physicians, 2026

The challenge of dementia

Dementia diseases are costly and often long-term. Those diagnosed with it are in great need of medical expertise and high quality care. The Master’s Courses in Dementia Care focus on research and best practices, and prepare you as a physician to interact with dementia patients in a professional manner.

Efficient dementia care will benefit not only your patient, but also their families, your organisation and the society at large.

This unique opportunity is offered in cooperation with Stiftelsen Silviahemmet and participants who complete the training will earn the title of Silvialäkare (Silvia Doctor). The diploma as well as the official pin of completion will be presented by H. M. Queen Silvia of Sweden at the graduation ceremony.

Purpose and goal

After completing the courses, you will have a deeper understanding of dementia as a whole and increased proficiency in dealing with dementia patients in all phases of the disease. The courses cover both individual and societal aspects.

The goal is to enable you to contribute to the development of effective and quality-assured dementia care in your organisation.

Target group

Physicians who want to deepen their understanding of dementia care and at the same time gain knowledge of how to develop their own organisation to better meet the needs of modern dementia care.

Online learning

This online training focuses on interactive, student-centred learning. Short online lectures are broadcast via our online learning platform. The lectures are supplemented with individual studies and exercises based on patient cases and practical assignments. You will also be given short reading assignments and other exercises closely related to your own clinical practice. This enables you to implement your new knowledge in your everyday work with immediate effect.

Literature

A majority of the literature and lectures will be available via a web-based learning platform.

Time and place

The courses are conducted during four semesters. The studies are entirely online and equivalent to one year of full-time master’s studies. The master’s courses take place over two years as part-time studies to enable you to work at the same time.

The planned start date for the next cohort is the autumn of 2026.

Course management

"Dementia diseases are examples of age-related conditions on the rise in society. These are complicated diseases, as patients often live with them for decades. The situation is further complicated by the broad range of symptoms dementia can display. It is therefore important for physicians to be able to recognize early signs of dementia, know its progression and know how best to manage the various complications”.
Lars-Olof Wahlund, Professor and Examiner
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society at Karolinska Institutet Division of Clinical Geriatrics.

Dorota Religa, Professor in geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society at Karolinska Institutet, Consultant / Specialist doctor in geriatrics. 

Björn Strindberg Lennhed, Teacher at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society at Karolinska Institutet, Consultant at the Department of Geriatrics and Rehabilitation Medicine, Falu Hospital, Sweden.

Course content

The master's courses in dementia care for physicians consists of eight modules, addressing the following areas:

• The cognitive and emotional functions of the brain and how they change with age.
• Nerve cell structure, functions and effects of ageing.
• Basic knowledge of light cognitive impairment, the different types of dementia, confusion, behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
• Medical, social and functional investigation of suspected dementia.
• Continuous treatment as the disease progresses.
• Medication, rehabilitation and nursing care.
• Severe dementia care and palliative care.
• Care and work models.
• Various organisational and management models for dementia care.

A more extensive presentation of the courses is presented in the course content pages.

Syllabus

The syllabuses for the courses:

• Neuroscience basis for cognition and behaviour, 5 credits
• Dementia disorders, 10 credits
• Diagnostics and medical investigations, 10 credits
• Treatment and evaluation, 5 credits
• Treatment of disease process including behavioural and psychiatric symptoms, 6 credits
• Palliative medicine, 3 credits
• Quality assurance and prioritizations within dementia care, 6 credits
• Degree project for master's degree, 15 credits

Fee

The price for the master’s courses is SEK 214,000 (two hundred fourteen thousand), excluding VAT (Value-added tax). VAT may be added to all prices, contact us for more information.

Please note that this price is subject to changes.

Entry requirements

In order to meet the entry requirements, you must have a medical degree from an internationally recognised university. The language of instruction is English, and applicants are therefore recommended to have good proficiency in English.

Master's courses as contract education

The master's courses are offered as contract education, in accordance with the Ordinance (SFS 2002:760) on Contract Education at Universities and University Colleges, and the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education's directions for Contract Education at Universities and University Colleges (HSVFS 2003:3).

Thus, the courses can be commissioned only by a legal entity - an organisation, company or the equivalent.

If you are a physician and wish to participate in the program, first confirm that your employer will cover the cost, then contact us to apply.

For more information, please contact

Susanna Sjunneryd, Project Coordinator
Karolinska Institutet Executive and Professional Education
Email: susanna.sjunneryd@ki.se
Telephone: +46 8 524 864 32

Expression of interest

Registration is not open yet, but you can fill in your details below and you will receive information as soon as you can register for the next course round. Submitting an expression of interest is not binding.

Register your expression of interest. 

Application

The course will only run if a sufficient number of participants register.

Registration is binding. For cancellations later than six (6) weeks before the start of the course, 50 percent of the course fee will be charged, and for cancellations later than four (4) weeks before the start of the course, the full course fee will be charged. For complete terms and conditions, see our general terms and conditions.