Are you interested in documentary filmmaking and human culture? At Visual Cultural Studies you are given the opportunity to study ethnographic film making in an international environment, culminating with the production of your very own film and written theses. The exam films produced by our students are well known for their quality, with many being invited to international documentary film festivals.
| Duration: | 2 Years |
| Location: | Tromsø |
| Credits (ECTS): | 120 |
| Qualification: | Master of Philosophy in Visual Cultural Studies. |
| Admission requirements: | Bachelor's degree in social science and statement of purpose |
| Application deadline: | April 15 |
| Application code: | 5057 |
The Department of Archaeology and Social Anthropology offers a two-year full-time Master's programme in Visual Cultural Studies (VCS). The aim of this programme is to teach students how to produce knowledge about people's lives and cultures through an exploration of their everyday lives based on the use of qualitative social science research methods and ethnographic film. The programme combines lectures in academic theory and method, filmmaking and practical instruction in camerawork, sound recording and editing.
The students at the Master's programme follow a set of courses the first two semesters before they travel on fieldwork. Based on this fieldwork, the students write a Master's Thesis and make an ethnographic film. For a complete setup of the programme, please refer to the Programme structure below.
The films produced at VCS are well known for their quality. Every year several films are selected for international documentary and ethnographic film festivals. The originality of the program has led to a special educational prize from UiT, the Arctic University of Norway and a further award for educational quality from the Ministry of Education.
After completing successfully the programme, students are expected to have acquired the following learning outcomes.
Knowledge
Students should:
Analytical understanding
Students should:
Skills and competences
Students should:
Admission to the Master's programme in Visual Cultural Studies requires a Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification in the social sciences or a related field in the humanities. An average grade of equivalent to C or better in the Norwegian grading system is required. Applicants must enclose an application essay written in English (maximum of two pages). This should include descriptions of their motivation for, interest in and expectations relating to their Master's degree studies and ideas for their Master`s Thesis project.
Applicants from Norway or Nordic countries:
Applicants from outside the Nordic countries:
The programme is organised as a continuous participatory learning process: lectures, screenings, writing and filming assignments, and seminars make up the unique cumulative learning process of the two year course. Students are encouraged to collaborate with each other in developing skills and understandings throughout the study.
The programme includes various types of examinations and coursework requirements, such as essays, research papers, and film presentations. Please note that some courses have coursework requirements. Only students whose coursework requirements have been approved will be allowed to sit the examination.
Teaching and assessment methods are described in the course plan for each course.
This Master's degree is an intensive programme. All courses are compulsory and demand active participation from the students.
The VCS degree can open doors to a variety of national and international positions in social research, television and film production, administration, communication, museums, youth and education programmes, etc. Studying in such an international environment develops competences in cross-cultural communication as well as valuable assets to a number of career options.
