Education - Master's Programme

Do you want to learn more about higher education policy and student learning? Or are you curious about how children and youth experience and shape social change? The international Master’s in Education offers two specialisations; one with a focus on higher education studies and the other on education and social change. All courses are in English.

About the programme

Our international Master’s programme offers you a unique opportunity to acquire advanced academic skills, competences and knowledge in two areas of specialisation:

• Education and Social Change: Childhood and Youth studies (ESCY) - ties together the concepts ‘Education’, ‘Social Change’, ‘Childhood’ and ‘Youth’. Our world is rapidly changing, bringing about new opportunities as well as risks and uncertainty. Major social changes such as digitalisation, blurring of boundaries between formal and informal learning, migration and new forms of inequalities are intensifying. In this context, no country can afford to neglect their younger generation’s education, upbringing and general wellbeing as future citizens. This specialisation focuses on international studies of children and youth with reference to the ‘Nordic Education Model’, and treats childhood and youth, the two formative phases in life, as a continuum.
   
• Higher Education studies (HES) - focuses on higher education as the main institutionalised domain in any society where the two primary knowledge processes of education and research come together. Knowledge affects people all around the world in various ways, through politics, economics, social movements and education. With higher education, being the key knowledge institution in any society there is a growing demand for higher education expertise and experts. This specialisation aims to enhance its students’ research skills and professional competences.
   

The Master’s in Education at the University of Oslo (UiO) is the only research-oriented master’s programme that combines these two specialisation areas.

The programme provides a highly interactive and supportive learning environment, where the academic staff and students work closely together in various learning environments. The programme starts with a joint course that introduces all students to the specific features of Norwegian education in its Nordic context, after which you continue with the specialisation that you have selected. All courses are in English.

The University of Oslo hosts one of the leading Faculties of Educational Sciences in Europe, and research is the cornerstone of the University’s ongoing development as an educational institution of high international standing.

Study environment

There are numerous student associations, which all University of Oslo students may join.

If you have an interest in writing, you can write for Pedagogisk Profil, which is a student-driven magazine. You can also contribute to the study environment by joining Kjellerutvalget – the organisation responsible for the Faculty's student pub, or you can get involved with the UV – Student Union and be a representative of the students at the faculty.

Further studies and career opportunities

The career options for the programme’s graduates are plentiful, both within and outside education sectors, national as well as international. These include careers in academia, in the private sector such as consultancy firms, but also in the public sector, including national ministries and international organisations.

As a graduate, you are eligible to apply to PhD programmes in Norway and elsewhere.

You can find more information about further studies and career opportunities on our website. We have also interviewed some of our alumni on what they have been doing after graduating from the University of Oslo.