Arctic Nature Guide - one year programme

This international study program will provide candidates with the opportunity to experience Svalbard’s nature and culture at close hand by combining arctic friluftsliv with a practical program in tourism and guiding.

The study program is a full-time program comprising 60 ECTS credits. The study program is given on Svalbard. The study program is a given in cooperation with UNIS – The University Center in Svalbard.

The study program is according to the profession standard defined by the Norwegian Nature Guide Association (NNGA). By fulfilling the study program and complete the required amount of nature guide work experience, the candidates are in a position of becoming members of NNGA and an approved Arctic Nature Guide and International Mountain Leader (UIMLA) by the Norwegian Nature Guide Association.

Arctic Nature guides educated in this study program have work limitations according to these frames of nature; an Arctic Nature Guide do not have competence to work in nature where there is a particular risk of falls with serious consequences or terrain steeper than 30 degrees on layered winter snow.

The courses contains a large degree of activity and long outdoor expeditions. It is therefore required that the students are in good physical shape and able to carry equipment for a multidays expeditions in the arctic. The candidates must be able to maintain a physical and mental surplus during long and cold outdoor excursions sleeping in tent and snow caves.

Most of the field excursions involve Nordic mountain skiing, so candidates must be experienced skiers and be physically fit for Nordic mountain skiing over long distances. Candidates must have their own personal equipment in accordance with the individual equipment list.