Program Overview

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Master of Philosophy in Visual and Multimodal Anthropology

The Master of Philosophy in Visual and Multimodal Anthropology is a two-year full-time master's program that combines lectures in anthropological theory and ethnographic methods, filmmaking, and practical instruction in camerawork, sound recording, and editing. The program is grounded in a research environment that has a strong focus on environmental issues, multispecies ethnography, Indigenous peoples, human rights, food systems, migration and diaspora, conflict and resolution, art and activism, among others.

Program Description

This program culminates in creating your own film or multimodal project alongside a written thesis. You will develop your own anthropological research project and choose a site to conduct fieldwork, at home or abroad. During fieldwork, you will conduct participant observation and gather your multimodal material (video, sound, photographs, drawings, notes, etc.). Working with this material gives unique possibilities to develop anthropological insights about people, places, and culture. Multimodal methods also encourage collaboration and meaningful dialogue with protagonists and multiple audiences; this generates novel ways of sharing and communicating your ethnographic insights.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification with a minimum of 80 ECTS in anthropology, sociology, ethnology, folklore, cultural studies, visual culture, or other closely related fields of study.
• Applicants must have a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (2,5) in the ECTS scale.
• Applicants with education from non-Nordic countries must document English language proficiency.

Admission Capacity

The program has an admission capacity of 20 places.

Application Deadlines

• Nordic applicants: 15 April
• EU/EEA + Swiss applicants: 1 March
• Non-EU/EEA applicants: 15 November

Application Codes

• Nordic applicants: 5057
• EU/EEA + Swiss applicants: 7165
• Non-EU applicants: 2038

Tuition Fees

Applicants outside EU/EEA/Switzerland and the Nordic countries have to pay a tuition fee. The prices for the program can be found on the university's website.

Program Structure

The program is organized as a continuous participatory learning process, including lectures, screenings, writing and video/still-photo assignments, and seminars. The first semester is organized as a complete research and dissemination process, where students undertake a camera-based mini-fieldwork, carry out practical exercises, and edit a short film or other multimodal output. The second semester focuses on developing your own master's project, including courses on contemporary themes in anthropology, multimodal and evocative storytelling, and a project description. The third semester focuses on your written text, drawing upon your visual and multimodal material as an empirical basis, complemented with lectures on anthropological theory and writing. The fourth and final semester is dedicated to editing and producing your film or other multimodal output.

Learning Outcomes

The program focuses on the use of audio-visual materials to document and interpret cultural practices, social behaviors, and human experiences worldwide. Students gain knowledge of the history and development of visual anthropology, ethical considerations in visual representation, and the impact of new media on anthropological research. They develop skills in ethnographic research, audiovisual tools, and narrative strategies, enabling them to critically analyze and present their findings through film and text.

Job Prospectives

A degree in Visual and Multimodal Anthropology can open doors to a variety of national and international positions in academic research, filmmaking, television, administration, government and non-governmental organizations, journalism, communication, museums, youth and education programs, marketing research.

Access to Further Studies

On successful completion of the degree program, students may be qualified for admission to a PhD program in a number of academic areas at the UiT The Arctic University of Norway or elsewhere.

Language of Instruction

The language of instruction is English. While the lectures are in English, students can also choose to submit their written thesis in any Scandinavian language.

Teaching and Assessment

The program includes various types of exams and coursework requirements, such as essays, research papers, and film/photo presentations. Teaching and assessment methods are described in the course plan for each course. This Master's degree is an intensive program, and all courses are compulsory and demand active participation from the students.