autumn 2026
IND-3029 Decolonising Research: Ethics and Methodologies - 10 ECTS

Type of course

The course is mandatory in the Master's Programme in Indigenous Studies (MIS). It can also be taken as a singular course by exchange students and students from other programmes.

Admission requirements

Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS), or an equivalent qualification, with a minimum of 80 ECTS within social sciences, humanities, education or the social practice of law. Applicants must have a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (2,5) in the ECTS scale.

Application code: 9371 (nordic applicants)


Course content

This course introduces the field of Indigenous studies and different ways of doing Indigenous research, theoretically and methodologically. It starts with an overview of the history of research and a thematic conceptualization of the field of Indigenous studies. The course will offer reflections on decolonization and Indigenization of research, and the implications these approaches have for designing and carrying out research projects. Indigenous methodologies from various geographic contexts will be presented and discussed.

The course will address ethical research considerations central to Indigenous studies, and reflections on the positionality of the researcher in various empirical approaches. This includes formal ethical regulations, informal practices, data governance and management, and representations.


Objectives of the course

Knowledge:

Students are expected to:

  • identify and describe the historical foundation of Indigenous studies, including its relationship to other fields of research.
  • comprehend and compare relevant theoretical and methodological frameworks for doing Indigenous research.
  • explain the core concepts of decolonisation and indigenisation.
  • examine ethical regulations and practices and their application to various research contexts.

Skills:

Students will be able to:

  • critically examine their own position, theoretically and methodologically.
  • apply relevant theoretical and methodological frameworks in the design of a research project.
  • analyse the core concepts of decolonisation and indigenisation and their application in research.
  • identify and address key ethical concerns when designing and carrying out research projects, such as positionality, ethical protocols, and data governance.

General competence:

Students will be able to:

  • critically examine the use of theoretical and methodological frameworks and concepts in research projects.
  • apply knowledge about the theoretical and methodological approaches of Indigenous studies to other research projects.
  • apply Indigenous research ethics to the design and carrying out of research projects.

Language of instruction and examination

English

Teaching methods

The teaching will consist of a combination of seminars and workshops, where students engage in academic discourse on relevant topics as well as engage with research ethics and methodologies in practice.

Information to incoming exchange students

This course is open to incoming exchange students.

Study Level: Master's

Prerequisites:
To be eligible for this course, you must have:

  • A completed bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS).
  • Specialization of at least 80 credits in history or equivalent.

For details on how to apply for exchange, course selection guidelines, or to contact the Incoming Admissions Team, please visit: Admissions for Student Exchange.


Schedule

Examination

Examination: Duration: Grade scale:
Oral exam 20 Minutes A–E, fail F

Coursework requirements:

To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements:

Presentation Approved – not approved
Attendance Approved – not approved
UiT Exams homepage

More info about the coursework requirements

Students are required to:

  • Do a 10-minute paper presentation in class.
  • Attend a minimum of 75% of classes.

More info about the oral exam

Individual examination

Re-sit examination

A re-sit exam is arranged for students who have not passed the last ordinary exam in this course.
  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 10
  • Course code: IND-3029
  • Tidligere år og semester for dette emnet