Programme structure
The programme structure below applies to students who started their studies between 2019 and 2024.
Students who started autumn 2019-2024, and who have only partially completed the first two semesters before autumn 2025, will need transitional arrangements.
The two-years master's programme runs over four semesters (120 ECTS).
The programme consists of:
- An advanced introduction to contemporary anthropological theory, methods, and writing (40 ECTS)
- Specialisations (20 ECTS)
- Fieldwork and Master's thesis (60 ECTS).
At the end of the first semester you choose whether to specialise in:
- Global Political Economy; or
- Contemporary Ethnography
After completing the mandatory coursework during semester 1 and 2, you will undertake independent fieldwork or data production of up to six months. The fieldwork or data production (ANTH4200) extends over two half-semesters, from approximately April to late September, equivalent to 5-6 months (*). The Department strongly recommends that the entire fieldwork/data production takes place as a continuous period during this time. In collaboration with your supervisor, you can however decide on a slightly shorter fieldwork/data production period (for example, 4 months), or to end the fieldwork/data production slightly later (for example, in October or November). During these months, you will be gathering the data or the material that will form the basis for the writing of your thesis.
An anthropological master’s thesis can be based on different types of research strategies and different types of material. It can be based on more or less classic ethnographic fieldwork, but also (partly or completely) on forms of archival work, digital sources, reading of others’ publications, etcetera. The master thesis must fall thematically within your chosen specialisation.
Global Political Economy:
| 4th semester | ANTH4090 – Master's thesis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3rd semester | ANTH4200 – Fieldwork (*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd semester | ANTH4100 – Core Themes in Contemporary Anthropology | ANTH4610 – Work, Capital, and Business | ANTH4620 – Finance, Markets, and Resources | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st semester | ANTH4020 – Academic Writing and Project Development | ANTH4010 – Advanced Anthropological Theory | ANTH4030 – Advanced Anthropological Methods | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 credits | 10 credits | 10 credits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contemporary Ethnography:
| 4th semester | ANTH4090 – Master's thesis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3rd semester | ANTH4200 – Fieldwork (*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd semester | ANTH4100 – Core Themes in Contemporary Anthropology | ANTH4150 – Ethnography, in practice | Elective course(s), e.g. ANTH4710 – Internship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st semester | ANTH4020 – Academic Writing and Project Development | ANTH4010 – Advanced Anthropological Theory | ANTH4030 – Advanced Anthropological Methods | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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10 credits |
10 credits |
10 credits |
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Elective courses
Students specialising in Contemporary Ethnography have the option to select elective courses. This can be;
- a language course;
- a regional or thematic course; or
- internships in line with their own project plans.
Elective courses can be selected from the Department's master’s level courses. Alternatively, students may apply to select courses from other faculties or externally.
Applications have to be approved by the supervisor and the Department of Social Anthropology. Find more information about the options and criteria for elective courses from UiO and externally.
Discover Your Future
Through the master's degree, you will be offered a complete programme to make it easier for you to discover your opportunities along the way and to make way for good choices later. Discover your future consists of four courses, one for each semester of the master's degree. The courses consist of a combination of four e-learning modules in Canvas, which you can take as you see fit, as well as some physical workshops where you get the opportunity to work on the various topics.
Honours certificate
Are you academically ambitious? It is possible to supplement your master`s degree with an honours certificate worth 20 credits. You take the certificate concurrently with the master`s programme.
Diploma and degree
The diploma is issued when you have completed the courses that meet the requirements for a degree. Read more about diplomas.