autumn 2025
SVH-8006 Arctic security and balance of power in an age of strategic competition - 5 ECTS

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  3. Arctic security and balance of power in an age of strategic competition

Type of course

The course may be taken as a single course by doctoral students from Norway and other countries.

Admission requirements

PhD students or holders of a Norwegian Master´s Degree of five years or 3+ 2 years (or equivalent) may be admitted. PhD students must upload a document from their university stating that they are registered PhD students.

Holders of a Master´s Degree must upload a Master´s Diploma with Diploma Supplement / English translation of the diploma. Applicants from listed countries must document proficiency in English. To find out if this applies to you see the following list: https://www.nokut.no/globalassets/nokut/artikkelbibliotek/utenlandsk_utdanning/gsulista/2021/language_requirements_gsu_121121.pdf

For more information on accepted English proficiency tests and scores, as well as exemptions from the English proficiency tests, please see the following document: https://uit.no/Content/254419/PhD_EnglishProficiency_100913.pdf

The course has 15 seats. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available on the PhD course, applicants will be ranked from category 1 to 4.

  • Category 1: Students admitted to the PhD Programme at UiT
  • Category 2: Doctoral students from other universities
  • Category 3: People with a minimum of a Master´s Degree (or equivalent). (A Norwegian Master´s Degree of 5 years or 3 (Bachelor Degree) + 2 years (Master’s Degree).
  • Category 4: Students attending a research study programme.

If there are more than 15 PhD students from HSL who apply, the students who have studied the longest will be given preference.

Individual applicants may be denied access because the subject matter in the coursefalls under the Norwegian export control regulations.

Course content

The lectures will be held on Oct. 6, 2025 12:15 PM - Oct. 8, 2025 12:00 PM.

The course will investigate key factors influencing geopolitics, security and the military-strategic dynamic of the Arctic region (defined as the region north of the Arctic Circle). By applying deterrence theory and existing studies of escalation dynamics, this course will investigate how military competition and technology development potentially influence international peace and stability in today’s Arctic. The course will assess key historic trends of great power competition, balance of power and cooperation in the Arctic, also including the Nordic countries’ situation, from about 1850 until our time. The course will investigate military and operational challenges related to operating in the Arctic (cold weather operations), including current development trends and evolution in capabilities, military concepts, exercises and force posture.

Objectives of the course

The students have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

  • The student has advanced knowledge of key factors influencing the geopolitics, security and the military-strategic dynamic of the Arctic region (defined as the region north of the Arctic Circle), also including historic trends of competition and cooperation in the Arctic from about 1850 until our time.
  • The student has advanced knowledge of deterrence theory, escalation dynamics and the challenges military competition and technology development potentially pose to international peace and stability.
  • The student has basic knowledge of military and operational challenges related to operating in the Arctic (cold weather operations), including current development trends and evolution in capabilities, military concepts, exercises and force posture.

Skills

  • The student can make a structured analysis of development trends in the geopolitics and security dynamic of the Arctic, including identifying key factors likely to influencing tension levels and stability in the region.
  • The student is able to place assessment of Arctic peace and stability in a historic context, including the post-Napoleonic Europe, the Cold War, and the current time of strategic competition.

Language of instruction and examination

Language of instruction and examination is English.

Teaching methods

There will be three days of lectures (lunch day 1, - lunch day 3), also including some group works.

Day 1: Lunch 11.00-12.00 + four sessions of 45 min (12.15 - 16.00)

Day 2: 2x 45 min (09.15 - 11.00) , Lunch 11.00-12.00 + 4 x 45 min (12.15 - 16.00)

Day 3: 2x 45 min (09.15 - 11.00) , Lunch 11.00-12.00.

(Sum divided on days: 4 + 6 +2 sessions = 12 sessions)

Schedule

Se timeplan

Recommended reading/syllabus

Pensumliste for SVH-8006 Arctic security and balance of power in an age of strategic competition - HØST 2025

Examination

Examination: Duration: Grade scale:
Assignment Passed / Not Passed

Coursework requirements:

To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements:
Mandatory participation Approved – not approved
UiT Exams homepage

More info about the coursework requirements

The student must participate on all course days to pass the coursework requirement.

More info about the assignment

The PhD students will write a draft paper of maximum 3000 words that will be presented and discussed in a smaller group during the course. Reference style APA 7. The paper should be sent to the course organizers 10 days prior to the course. No later than 10 days after the course a revised and final paper must be submitted.

Re-sit examination

Retake is offered in in the beginning of the following semester in cases of grade F or Fail. Deferred examination is offered in the beginning of the following semester if the student is unable to take the final exam due to illness or other exceptional circumstances. Registration deadline for retake is January 15 for autumn semester exams and August 15 for spring semester exams.
  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 5
  • Course code: SVH-8006
  • Tidligere år og semester for dette emnet