Indigenous Studies - master

The Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education in cooperation with the Centre for Sami Studies offers a two-year full-time Master's degree programme in Indigenous Studies (MIS). The programme is interdisciplinary, making use of the accumulated expertise from several different departments at the Faculty. The thematic focus of the Master's Programme is the emergence of the international indigenous movement, the historical experiences and contemporary context that indigenous people experience across the globe.

During two years of studies, students will take courses totalling 120 study points (120 ECTS). One 10-credit course can be chosen from other courses offered by the University, subject to approval of the Programme Board. This elective course should be based on the interests of the individual student as a preparation for the Master¿s Thesis. The remaining courses are obligatory. They are designed to give a broad base from which the individual student may choose a relevant topic for the Master¿s thesis. The thesis work is supervised by academic staff from the cooperating units at the University of Tromsø, and topics are chosen in cooperation with appointed advisors. It is customary to conduct data collection for the Master's Thesis in the end of the second semester

For each programme at the University of Tromsø there are set targets for knowledge, analytical understanding, and skills and competences that a student should have reached by the end of studies.

A full list of targets can be found the programme Study plan at the bottom of the page.

Admission to the Master's programme in Indigenous Studies requires a Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification in the social sciences and the social application of law and humanities. A special interest in indigenous issues is a precondition. Applicants must enclose a statement of purpose written in English (maximum of two pages). This should include descriptions of their motivation for, interest in and expectations relating to their Master's degree studies.

Documented experience from work related to indigenous peoples and/or studies will be an advantage. Applicants from universities other than the University of Tromsø should enclose a short description of all relevant courses mentioned in applications and certificates.

The programme aims to recruit Sami and Norwegian students as well as students from other countries. A mixed group of students will strengthen the comparative aspects of the programme, and will contribute to international network building. The admission of students from different countries and regions will be emphasized in order to ensure a varied student group. Ethnic background will also be relevant in this respect.

Deadline

All deadlines described below is for admittance to the programme commencing in the autumn semester. Indigenous Studies do not admit new students in the spring semester.

The application deadline for Norwegian and other Nordic applicants is April 15th.

The organisation of the teaching will depend on the character and the content of each course. The type of examination is specified in each module. More information about the teaching and examination can be found in the descriptions for each individual course.

Seminars in methodology and thesis writing run parallel to the other courses throughout the studies. The course in methodology functions to tie together the different courses and disciplinary approaches. This constitutes the basis both for the development of the students' individual research design and for the integration of indigenous perspectives in research.

All students will be appointed an academic supervisor in second semester. Supervision is to be given both through seminars and individual supervision.