Faculty of Education
- Master Programme in Multicultural and International Education
- Master Programme in International Education and Development (NOMA)
- European Masters in Early Childhood Education & Care (EMEC)
- Our shared European Cultures
- Myths, Fairy Tales and Legends
- Aesthetics of Daily Life
- Multi-cultural Identity in a Global World
- Language and Learning: Educational Challenges in a Multicultural Society
Master Programme in Multicultural and International Education
ECTS credits: 120
Level: Graduate
Prerequisites: The basic entry requirement is a BA/BSc or the equivalent from a college or university. Students with specialisation in multicultural and/or development and education will be preferred.
Semester: Students are enrolled in the autumn semester. Duration: 4 semesters
Assessment: Assessment is based on the student’s written essays and the final thesis. The final assessment is graded A to F.
Aims and contents: The objective of the programme is to qualify for research or professional practice within multicultural and international education. The course is interdisciplinary. It addresses theories of knowledge and research methods in the social sciences. Different perspectives on multiculturalism and the relationship between education and development in the South are explored.
The students are expected to:
- gain experience of independent research work
- develop skills and ability to critically evaluate and analyse different problem areas associated with multicultural education and the relationship between education and development
- develop the capacity for critical reflection on culturally dependent behaviour, attitudes and ways of thinking.
Master Programme in International Education and Development
ECTS credits: 120
Level: Graduate (Master's)
Prerequisites: The basic entry requirement is a BA/BSc or the equivalent from a college or university. This is a joint programme with Ahfad University for Women (Sudan), University of Cape Town (South Africa), University of Zambia (Zambia), and Oslo University College (Norway). Only applicants from these countries can apply.
Semester: Students are enrolled in the autumn semester. Duration: 4 semesters (2 years). The first semester will take place in Oslo, parts of the second semester in Cape Town, and the rest of the programme will take place at the home institution of the student.
Assessment: Assessment is based on the student’s written essays and the final thesis.
Aims and contents:
- To build capacity among staff in both public and private sector.
- To develop appropriate attitudes, skills, and competencies in both countries of the North and South in the field of International education, Development, Gender and HIV/AIDS.
These themes address key issues related to the Millennium Development Goals and poverty reduction strategies. The programme will be directly related to the practical field from which the students already have experience.
Furthermore, this programme seeks to promote critical thinking, enabling the students to reflect on existing and new practices related to gender issues, development and impacts of HIV/AIDS in any relevant context, within both public and private sector.
By the end of the programme students will have:
- acquired knowledge and skills in specialized areas including gender, HIV/AIDS, education, and development
- developed an understanding of the complex interrelationship between gender and HIV/AIDS
- acquired research skills
- acquired knowledge and skills to deliver services and articulate policies and plans within institutions and outside
- developed capacities to deal with national and international issues and contexts
- developed competencies in particular fields of practice
Application form
Additional information
European Masters in Early Childhood Education & Care (EMEC)
ECTS credits: 120
Level: Graduate (Master's)
Prerequisites: The basic entry requirement is a BA/BSc or the equivalent from a college or university. This is a joint programme with Ireland, Germany, Malta, Norway, Scotland and Sweden.
Semester: Students are enrolled in the autumn semester. Duration: 4 semesters
Assessment: Assessment is based on the student’s written essays and the final thesis.
Curriculum: The curriculum will focus on five key issues that determine the present and future challenges of ECEC throughout Europe.
- Cultural Heritage to raise recognition and visibility for the European Heritage in Early Childhood Education and Care
- Investment and Demand to address the tension between general policy targets, the increasing diversity of family structures and the need to strengthen children's right as citizens.
- Provision and development to bridge the gap between quality provision in many European countries and the lack of higher education and research.
- Socio-cultural transformation to explore the increasing pressure on early education and care systems arising from socio-economic and socio-cultural transformations, to focus not only on educational institutions but on children's early learning in a broad variety of formal and informal learning contexts.
- Diversity and equality to foster critical awareness of cultural and individual diversity from a political and professional perspective.
Modules and learning methodologies: This masters’ degree will consist of 8 compulsory modules (80 ECTS) and a thesis (40 ECTS). The modules are:
- Professional reflections
- Perspectives on childhoods and children in Contemporary Europe
- Play and learning
- Aesthetics of children’s culture
- Questioning curriculum and critical issues
- The evolution of early childhood research, practices and policies
- Research methodologies
The programme will provide a dynamic learning environment for participants through their involvement in a process of co-creation where they will be encouraged to take responsibility for their individual and joint process of professional and personal development. The mode of delivery will capitalise on a blended learning approach: opportunities for face to face meetings with students registered for the course will be possible during intensive two-week seminars which will be organised in two of the participating institutions for all course participants. The on-line component of the course will be delivered using the open-source virtual learning environment Moodle.
- Application form
- Additional information
- Les omtale på HiO-nytt
Our Shared European Cultures
ECTS credits: 20/30
Level: Undergraduate
Prerequisites: The course is primarily designed for teacher education students, but
students from other academic areas may also be considered. Students must
have fulfilled at least one year of their undergraduate degree studies
at their home institution in order to be accepted. English is the medium
of instruction and the course requires a good working knowledge of
spoken and written English.
Semester: Autumn
Aims and contents: The course is equivalent to 20 or 30 ECTS. After 3 months there is a final exam of 20 ECTS, after 4 months there is a second exam of 10 ECTS.
This is a course in cross-cultural understandingwithin a European context. It aims to promote better international understanding through giving first-hand experience of each others' cultures, with Norwegian culture and history as a frame of reference.
Myths, Fairy Tales and Legends
ECTS credits: 20/30
Level: Undergraduate
Prerequisites: The course is designed for students from Teacher Education Institutions, and is suitable for students ranging from Early Years, First and Secondary Education. Students from other areas, interested in Myths, Fairytales and Legends are also welcome. Students must have completed at least one year of their undergraduate degree at their home institution in order to be accepted. The course language is English. Students must be prepared to contribute in oral and written English.
Semester: Autumn. The course takes place in Copenhagen and Oslo, starting in Copenhagen in the last week of August. The course has 2 modules:
- Module A: 6-7 weeks in Copenhagen and 6-7 weeks in Oslo (3 months, 20 ECTS).
- Module B: 4 weeks individual (group) special study administrated from and in Oslo (+10 ECTS).
Assessment: For information on exams, please contact the Faculty of Education
Aims and contents: The course is equivalent to 20 or 30 ECTS. After 3 months there is a final exam of 20 ECTS, after 4 months there is a second exam of 10 ECTS.
The objective of the course is to introduce students to the story of western culture and the main theories of myths and basic mythology. Important elements in the course are: the difference between myths, fairy-tales and legends; structural theories, psychological theories, eclectical theories; myths and religion.
- Introduction: A Great International Student Symopsium
- Curriculum
- Application form (pdf)
- Application form (word)
The Aesthetics of Daily Life
ECTS credits: 20/30
Level: Undergraduate
Prerequisites: The course is designed for students from pre-school and primary school teacher education institutions, but students from other academic areas may also be accepted. Students must have completed at least one year of their undergraduate degree studies at their home institution in order to be accepted. English is the medium of instruction and the course requires a sound knowledge of English.
Semester: Autumn
Module A: 3 months course (20 ECTS).
Module B: 4 weeks individual (group) special study (+10 ECTS).
Assessment: Participation, practical work, individual papers, final paper(s).
Aims and contents: The course is equivalent to 20 or 30 ECTS. After 3 months there is a final exam of 20 ECTS, after 4 months there is a second exam of 10 ECTS.
The aim of the course is to learn how to know, reflect upon, love, and use the aesthetic dimension on one's surroundings in educational work.
Content: Excursions (forest, fjord, town, parks, galleries), drama, arts & craft, music, story telling, theory, experience based discussions, etc. Students must be prepared to participate in various activities so bring warm clothes, solid shoes and sleeping bag. We will work with various materials under various conditions.
For more information, please contact the International Unit or the Student Services at the Faculty of Education , or Guri Langholm.
- Curriculum
- Course homepage
- Application form (pdf)
- Application form (word)
Multicultural Identity in a Global World
ECTS credits: 20/30
Level: Undergraduate
Prerequisites:The course is designed for students from pre-school and primary school teacher education institutions, but students from other academic areas may also be accepted. Students must have completed at least one year of their undergraduate degree studies at their home institution in order to be accepted.
Semester: Spring
Assessment: Grading will be according to the ECTS-grading scale, with A-E as pass grades and F as fail grade. The final course diploma will be based on:
- Individual presentation of one's own culture with reference to educational challenges
- One minor paper on a subject treated in the course
- Fieldwork paper, with following presentation in class
- (Addition for 30 credits): Additional fieldwork period, as basis for the above mentioned fieldwork paper, with following presentation in class
- (Addition for 30 credits): Final oral exam, based on the fieldwork report and the course syllabus
Aims and contents: The course is equivalent to 20 or 30 ECTS. After 3 months there is a final exam of 20 ECTS, after 4 months there is a second exam of 10 ECTS.
The main focus will be on exploring the concepts of "Culture" and "Identity", in the context of our present-day globalization. The course will treat these concepts both from a theoretical perspective, as well as from a practical point of view. The cultural background of the participants will be a vital resource in our discussions. The setting of Oslo, as an increasingly multi-cultural city will also be an arena for contextualization.
- Applicationform (pdf)
- Applicationform (word)
- Course Homepage
- Curriculum
Language and Learning: Educational Challenges in a Multi-Cultural Society
ECTS credits: 20/30
Level: Undergraduate
Prerequisites: The course is primarily designed for teacher education students, but students from other academic areas may also be considered. Students must have fulfilled at least one year of their undergraduate degree studies at their home institution in order to be accepted.
Semester: Spring (estimated starting semester spring 2008)
Assessments: The course is currently being upgraded. Please see our Internet site or contact the Faculty for updated information.
Aims and contents: The course is equivalent to 20 or 30 ECTS. After 3 months there is a final exam of 20 ECTS, after 4 months there is a second exam of 10 ECTS.
The course aims to sensitise students to the role of language in young people's lives, in relation to their identity, their multicultural context, and their learning process in and out of school. The course will discuss the interrelationship of language and learning from a theoretical and practical point of view.




