Are you interested in children’s everyday lives and in childhood as a social and cultural phenomenon? Would you like to know about children’s lives in different parts of the world? What about the changing conditions of childhood in the era of globalization? If so, the international master’s programme in Childhood Studies might be perfect for you.

MPhil in Childhood Studies is offered by Norwegian Centre for Child Research (NOSEB). The programme aims to provide students with an understanding of the relation­ship between childhood and culture as well as the dynamics between economic, social and political conditions and children’s livelihoods and welfare in different contexts (fam­ily-life, day-care and schools, local communities etc). The programme covers the state of childhood in the western world and in countries in the South. The approach is multi-disciplinary, with particular emphasis on perspectives drawn from anthropology, sociology, geography, and history.

Career prospects

MPhil in Childhood Studies will be relevant for building a career related to children and childhood in different public sectors in governmental organizations. This may include policy and planning for children’s living conditions in ministries and insti­tutions which concern children, both locally and internationally. Another important area is Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), such as Save the Children and the Red Cross. In addition, the master’s programme qualifies for work related to research, consul­tancy, teaching and supervision in the field of children, welfare and development.