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Nordic Master in Friluftsliv Studies (Outdoor Studies)

Bø and Other locations - Full time

The Nordic Master in Friluftsliv Studies gives you the option to study people’s nature-culture relations in three Nordic countries: Norway, Sweden and Iceland. It gives you the knowledge you need to contribute to adventurous explorations, environmental learning, active living and well-being. 

  • Closing dates: Expired

Study facts

  • Campus: and Other locations
  • Study level: Master's degree
  • Progression of study: Full time
  • Start up: Not defined
  • Teaching model: Off Campus and On Campus
  • Credits: 120
  • Closing dates: Expired
  • Application code: Non-EU 6124 and EU/EEA 6169.
  • Semesters: 4
  • Teaching Language: English
  • Number of students: 20
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We congratulate the first 10 students to graduate from our Nordic Master in Friluftsliv Studies. Here with some of their teachers.
We congratulate the first 10 students to graduate from our Nordic Master in Friluftsliv Studies. Here with some of their teachers.

Why Nordic Master in Friluftsliv Studies?

We offer you two years of high quality, cross-border and cross-disciplinary studies in the cultures and practices of Nordic Friluftsliv. The study leads to a joint master’s degree and a joint master’s diploma. You get to live and experience the diversity and similarities in the outdoors in three Scandinavian countries.

The programme is designed to start in the fall of 2020, with the first of (at least) three cohorts of international students.

What kind of job do you get?

With a Master in Friluftsliv Studies, students can:

  • take employment in the private, civic or public sectors
  • work as a manager or administrator in (eco-)tourism, health promotion, recreation, management
  • teach in nature and green areas
  • take jobs in the education sector, such as in kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, folk high schools or boarding schools, if combined with at bachelor's degree from a teachers’ education or another formal teacher certificate
  • take jobs in higher education, if combined with the further studies for PhD degrees

Working with local business communities

Within the study you will have a self-selected practicum at an external cooperation within Sweden, Norway or Iceland. Students are encouraged to write their master's thesis in cooperation with or on behalf of external actors in one of the collaborating countries or in the North Atlantic Region. 

What will you learn

Through the programme you will examine the problems and potentials related to the changes relevant to friluftsliv studies past, present and future.

You will also gain the skills in dealing with current and impending research of sustainable and healthy learning and development.

You will learn to work systematically and critically with research-based knowledge, methods and concepts in order to understand and develop new knowledge about how humans relate to, conceptualize and make sense of nature and friluftsliv (outdoor studies).

Further study opportunities

Students who graduate from this programme can apply on available PhD programmes in culture studies or similar fields of research.

Studying in three countries: Norway, Sweden and Iceland

The Nordic Master in Friluftsliv Studies is run collaboratively by a consortium of three Nordic universities, each of which is recognized as a nationally leading university in the field of Friluftsliv/Outdoor studies. 

You will spend the first semester at The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH), Stockholm. Second semester at the University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) at campus Bø in Vestfold and Telemark county. Third semester at Hólar University (HU), Department of rural tourism. 

The Nordic council of Ministers have supported the programme.

Useful links

Click the elements below for a list of links concerning the different countries and institutions.

Tuition fees

The Consortium has decided on a joint policy that the students must follow at this moment.

National students, EU, EEA and Swiss students do not pay tuition fees in public higher education institutions in the Nordic countries.

  • In Sweden, third-country students pay tuition fees. The fee is at present SEK 100000 per semester at GIH.
  • At Hólar University, students do not pay tuition fees, but an annual registration fee of ISK 75000 (about 550 Euros or 5570NOK).
  • Studies are still tuition-free in Norway, but all students pay a semester fee (approximately NOK 1000 per semester) for services provided by the “Studentsamskipnaden” (student welfare organisation). There is also a rather large deposit for the student permit application.
  • From the autumn semester of 2023, students from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland must pay tuition fees.

    Please click here for more information

These costs will be covered by the individual students admitted.

Study Plan

A study plan describes the content, structure and organization of a study programme. To each study plan there is a set of subject plans that describe the different subjects. In the subject plan you will also find a reading list. Below you will find a study model that shows you which subjects that are taught each term. In the study model you'll also find links to each subject plan.

Study plan for 2023 autumn

Admission requirements

Requirements for the C-average are currently under consideration, and the final admission criteria will be available on the website by 1.2.2024

The programme requires a Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) which includes a minimum 30 ECTS within outdoor related studies with focus on education, recreation, nature sports, health, tourism, nature management, environmental studies or equivalent courses.

You must also fulfil the English requirements, and have a cumulative grade point average equivalent to, or better than, a C in the ECTS system (we do the grade conversion). Up to 50% of the places may be reserved for student from within the EU and Nordic countries.

Not a Nordic applicant? Please read all the information about the admission process before you apply.

Any questions?