Research of the arctic regions are important in understanding global environmental change and the effects. At the University of Tromsø you can study ecological interactions in northern ecosystems, learn more about topics as northern populations, ecological methods, ecosystem-based management, evoloution and plant ecology. Remember, knowledge is the key to success!
| Duration: | 2 Years |
| Location: | Tromsø |
| Credits (ECTS): | 120 |
| Qualification: | Master`s of Science in Biology. |
| Admission requirements: | Bachelor`s degree in biology or related subject area |
| Application deadline: | 15 April/1 November |
| Application code: | 6001 |
Students enrolled in the Master`s discipline Northern populations and ecosystems will acquire initial training in both basic and/or applied ecosystem research that could be continued in PhD projects, as well as competence on monitoring and management of ecosystems.
The discipline presents a broad theoretical and conceptual frameworks as well as methods that apply in different types of ecosystems. Northern terrestrial ecosystems are emphasized, but for analytic purposes examples will also be drawn from other regions and subject fields, such as marine and freshwater ecosystems.
Students in will be trained in:
The first year students take courses relevant for their MSc projects, which are decided upon together with their main supervisor and accepted by the study program board. The students could choose to take the more general courses as suggested in the study plan (below), or replace courses to acquire more in-depth knowledge in a specific subject area. The specialization also encourages international exchange with our partner universities. The Master`s Thesis is conducted the second year, and range from basic ecosystem ecology, ecological applications to interdisciplinary research on ecosystem-based management.
For more information about the research group see:
Northern populations and ecosystemsCompulsory courses are depended on the Master`s topic, and the students are encouraged to discuss with supervisors what would be the optimal set of courses (list below):
Recommended elective courses for the master's discipline:
After graduation, it is expected that candidates will have achieved the following learning outcomes:
General skills:
Knowledge:
Skills
Admission to the Master`s programme in biology requires a Bachelor`s degree (180 ECTS) in biology or equivalent qualification in biology. An average grade of equivalent to C or better in the Norwegian grading system is required.
Applicants from Norway or Nordic countries:
Applicants from outside the Nordic countries:
Several teaching and assessment methods are employed, including lectures, seminars, laboratory work, computer lab and field courses. These will vary from course to course.
Course examinations may be oral or written examinations, assessments of project work/ lab reports/field reports, often in combination.
Supervision of the project work that leads to the writing of the Master`s thesis will be given by faculty staff, sometimes in co-operation with an external supervisor.
Students can apply for exchange studies or field work abroad according to the available cooperation agreements within scholarship programmes such as Erasmus, Nordplus, Barentsplus or North2North. Please consult the programme study adviser for more information. Students can also undertake periods of studying at The University Centre at Svalbard, UNIS
A Master`s of Science degree in Biology will prepare students for a wide range of jobs, in both public and private sectors, including; research, administration, consulting and the teaching profession.
Many Master`s students in Biology are connected to common projects involving Department of Arctic and Marine Biology (AMB) and other institutes in Tromsø that carry out biological research and consultation work, e.g. Norwegian Polar Institute, Institute of Marine Research, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Bioforsk, Akvaplan-niva and Nofima.
