The location of the University of Tromsø in northern Norway is a vital part of the academic activities of the Faculty of Humanities. In common with other universities, research into issues of global concern, the development of formal theories and research methods, and their application to linguistic, literary and cultural phenomena, are all central, but the Faculty has a particular responsibility for the study of the linguistic, literary and cultural situation in the north of Norway.

Research and teaching at the Faculty of Humanities cover a wide range of subjects. In addition to the three languages of the region - Norwegian, Saami and Finnish - we have courses in major foreign languages - English, French, Russian and German. Also on offer are the cultural disciplines of Art History, Greek and Latin, and Documentation Studies with Library Studies. Aspects of general theory and method are the focus of the departments of Comparative Literature and Linguistics. The Department of ENGLISH and the Department of Linguistics conduct MPhil. programmes for foreign students. Documentation Studies with Library Studies may be taken as part of a professional qualification in, e.g., librarianship. The Faculty also teaches courses in Norwegian for Foreigners and Creative Writing. Research staff at the Faculty of Humanities cooperate on joint projects on topics and periods of common interest.