University/Institution

University of Oslo

Degree

Master of Philosophy in Higher Education

Aims of the Study Programme

The programme aims to educate candidates with a solid basis for analyzing and critically assessing change processes at all relevant levels in higher education, and for understanding the management dimension in these processes. The programme has a special emphasis on change processes related to quality development in higher education. This implies, amongst other things, that the relationship between institutional approaches concerning areas such as funding, ICT, human resources development, and student support, as well as quality development will be discussed from a number of perspectives.

The programme introduces you to disciplinary concepts, theories, and perspectives, and discusses their relevance for understanding change processes in higher education at these various levels:

• department and faculty
• institutional or organisational
• national
• supra-national (e.g. European Union)

These perspectives are highly relevant for researchers and practitioners such as institutional managers, policy-makers, and all those directly involved with the field of higher education.

Topics/Content

Examples of recent change processes in higher education include:

• The increasing awareness by international bodies and agencies of higher education as a critical sector in fostering socio-economic and cultural development. Some examples of these are UNESCO, OECD, World Bank, and development aid organisations.
• The growing attention towards the quality of teaching and research nationally as well as internationally.
• The increase of international research networks and ongoing efforts aimed at modernising universities across Europe.

Time to complete

4 semesters (120 ECTS)

Start of studies

August

Admission

Admission to master's degree studies requires:

• Higher Education Entrance Qualification and a completed bachelor's degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor's degree. Applicants with foreign education, please refer to the country list.
• a specialization defined by the programme
• a minimum grade average of C (in the Norwegian grading scale) or equivalent from the specialization in your degree.
• a language requirement documented by one of the tests/exams below:

1. Passed examination in English foundation course (140 hours/5 periods per week) with a minimum grade of 4 in Norwegian upper secondary school (or an equivalent grade from a Nordic upper secondary school) or passed examination in English from second and/or third school year in Norwegian upper secondary school, or
2. An internationally recognised English language proficiency test.

Mode of admission: Online portal

Deadlines for application

EU/EEA/Swiss applicants: from 1 February until 1 March  

Nordic citizens and applicants with a permanent or renewable residence permit in Norway: from 1 February until 15 April 

Non-EU/EEA applicants: from 1 October until 1 December ​

Further admission information

Contact

Kristi Barcus
Email: kristi.barcus@iped.uio.no

Further Information about the program