Human Geography

All places – small or large, rich or poor, near or far – are unique yet connected to a multitude of other places at the same time. With a master’s degree in Human Geography you learn to understand the difference that place makes and how local and global processes intertwine and produce change around the world.

This programme aims to provide an understanding of social processes within the context of space and place. In a world facing climate change, meeting sustainability challenges require a combined approach sensitive to context and inequalities. In a master in human geography you will learn how economic, political, social and cultural processes manifest themselves in a variety of spaces across the world, in cities, regionally or globally, and how the properties of places influence broader social processes in the global North and South.

• You can choose courses to fit your academic interests. We offer courses in urban studies, climate change adaptation, socio-environmental change, development and politics, and economic and labour geography.
• The programme’s methodological courses offer a choice of methods available to geographers, including Geographical Information Systems.
• You can conduct independent fieldwork research for your master’s thesis, in Norway or abroad.
• You can experience working life through our internship course with relevant partner institutions from the public and private sector in the Oslo region.
• You can link up your master thesis work with ongoing research projects at the department and among partner institutions, such as NIBR, TØI, ISF and FAFO.
• Working on your master’s thesis you conduct independent research and develop your analytical skills under the supervision of our leading human geography team.
• You can choose writing a 60 credits or a 30 credits masters’ thesis. You can choose to study a semester abroad through the University of Oslo’s wide exchange agreements.

With a master’s degree in Human Geography you will be prepared for a knowledge-intensive career that demands practical methodological skills. Human geographers work in areas such as urban and regional planning, public policy and administration, civil society organizations, international organizations, and academic research.

Read about student experiences

Preparing for life after graduation is a process that takes time and starts early. We have created a program to make it easier for you to discover your options along the way and make way for good choices later. You will learn more about how you can plan and set goals for yourself, and what you may not be able to plan for. You will gain insight into what may be relevant experiences on the way forward and how you can use your time to explore your options for further education or work. You will also get concrete tools along the way that you can use to find your direction.

Read more about career courses

Are you academically ambitious? It is possible to supplement your master`s degree with anhonours certificate worth 20 credits. You take the certificate concurrently with the master`s programme.