Global Development, Crisis and Change
Do you want to explore and understand the world better in a time marked by rapid changes and complex crises? Global Development, Crisis and Change combines digital teaching and physical gatherings where you learn about how the environment, society, economy, and politics either promote or hinder development.
Facts about the program
- ECTS credits:
- 120
- Duration:
- 2 years
- Mode of study
- Full-time
- Semester:
- August 2027
- Application opens:
- 1 Nov/1 Feb
- Application deadline:
- 1 Dec/1 Mar
- Teaching language:
- English
- Student places:
- 20
About the programme
The study programme focuses on understanding the world better in a time marked by rapid changes and complex crises. Through the study, you get the opportunity to explore and learn how to meet and handle various crises such as poverty, inequality, pandemics, climate change, and environmental destruction. It is essential to be able to contribute to driving positive change and development in society.
During the study, you learn about the underlying causes of different crisis situations, as well as analysing and understanding how they affect society socially and economically. The study also provides insight into how crises are understood, communicated, and managed in different contexts, as well as demonstrating how different crises are interconnected. You also learn about how crises affect people differently, due to social inequalities within and across different cultural contexts.
This master’s programme is a full-time blended programme, consisting of online learning and two physical gatherings (one in Kristiansand and one in Sri Lanka). Some students’ individual study plans will require campus-based courses, in addition to the blended learning courses. International students in this category should be sure to apply for a student visa to stay on campus during their full studies. Students with NORSTIP- , Erasmus+ or STAR-scholarship will do a combination of classroom and online taught courses in this study programme.
What will you learn?
In this programme you will learn about theories and findings concerning development, crisis and social change. You will explore how theoretical knowledge provides insight for solving practical problems, but equally important, how practice can inform theories and policies. The programme is cross disciplinary, and you will be introduced to a variety of disciplines, including political science, sociology, anthropology, communication and media studies and geography. In addition, you will be well skilled in cross cultural communication and collaboration.
The programme is full time, and we expect all students to participate actively, take responsibility for their own learning and take part in the development of an optimal learning environment.
In the beginning of the first semester, you will participate in an obligatory face-to-face session at UiA. Here you will spend a week with your fellow students, professors and tutors. The face-to-face session will be an introduction to learning resources, applied pedagogies and the start-up of the courses. The second face-to-face session will take place in the second semester (four weeks in May/June) at our partner institution in Sri Lanka.
Teaching methods
Cooperation is a fundamental idea for the programme. The pedagogy is learner focused, and will include group work, discussions and joint assignments. The online tuition, instruction and supervision takes place in virtual classrooms.
Half of the third semester (15 ECTS) and the whole of the fourth semester (30 ECTS) will be fully devoted to the writing of a master’s thesis - building upon coursework and your personal experiences and focusing on problems and issues of high personal interest and to the societies and institutions you represent. You will be encouraged to do fieldwork in a developing country in connection with your master's thesis. We consider this experience to be of particular value for research on environment and development issues.
Language of instruction: English.
Exchange opportunities
In an increasingly globalised world, the demands of work and society are placing increasing emphasis on global insight and experience. UiA aims to integrate student exchange in all study programmes.
This is where you can go on exchange
Everything you need to know about exchange
In addition to student exchange in the third semester, we offer a 3-4 weeks fieldcourse in Sri Lanka in the second semester.
In the fourth semester, most students undertake fieldwork for 2-3 months.
Internship possibilities
You will be encouraged to conduct fieldwork in a developing country as part of your master's thesis. We consider this experience to be particularly important for research on environmental and development issues.
The visit to Sri Lanka in the second semester provides practical experience through organisational visits and qualitative fieldwork.
Learning environment
You will be a part of a social and international study environment that becomes even more close-knit through fieldwork and group assignments.
All students are associated with the student organisation Pangea. Student organisations are associations for one or more specific study programs and bring together students within a field of study across different years. The student organisation arranges both academic and social activities, and you can contribute to the work by taking on roles. You can also participate in a range of other student activities regardless of your study program.
See what you can get involved in:
Career prospects
What can you do with your degree?
Graduates from the master's programme qualify for work related to:
- Development processes, in both public and private sector companies
- Administration and management of development projects and humanitarian work
- Public administration
- NGOs (in Norway or abroad), other humanitarian actors and agencies
- Work within the business community, for example CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)
- Work related to refugees and immigrants
- Work in diplomacy and multilateral organizations
- Work related to sustainability and climate change on both local and global arenas
Further studies
The master’s programme can qualify for admission to the Faculty of Social Sciences' PhD programme or other relevant PhD programmes.
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Admissions
Application period
- Non-EU/EEA international applicants: From 1 November to 1 December
- EU/EEA applicants: From 1 February to 1 March
- Nordic citizens and applicants with a permanent or renewable residence permit in Norway: From 1 February to 15 April
Admission requirements
The general requirements is completed bachelor's degree of minimum 3 years' duration (180 ECTS).
Other requirements:
- Either: a major subject of at least 80 ECTS within the social sciences. Or: an integrated programme of at least two years duration within social sciences. Examples of relevant fields of study: Development Studies, Planning, Geography, Sociology, Social Anthropology, Politics and Business Administration.
- Social science methods, at least 7,5 ECTS.
A weighted, average grade of C or better is required.
For further information, see regulations concerning admission to programmes and courses at the University of Agder, § 24.
How to apply
How to apply to degree programmes
The Section for Admissions at UiA can answer questions about the application process. For questions about the programme itself, please contact your faculty. See the contact details at the bottom of this page.
Contact the Section for Admissions
Phone: +47 38 14 15 64
Phone hours: Monday - Wednesday - Friday 9:00 - 11:00
Tuition fees
Students with citizenship from countries outside of the EU/EEA and Switzerland must pay tuition fees.
What is it like to be a student on this programme?
Chat with our students. Student chat
Learning environment
You will become part of a social and international student community and can engage in the program's own student organisation, Pangea, as well as active interest groups at UiA.
All students are connected to the student association Pangea. Student associations are organisations for one or more specific study programs, and bring together students within a field of study across different academic years. The student association organises both academic and social activities, and you can contribute by taking on positions of responsibility. You can also participate in a variety of other student activities regardless of your field of study.
See what you can get involved in:
Being a student in Kristiansand
Kristiansand is a lively student city with around 110,000 inhabitants and more than 10,000 students. Housing is relatively affordable, with several hundred student residences both on campus and between campus and the city centre.
There is such a good atmosphere and people are so welcoming! I do not think I have met a single person who is not happy with Kristiansand as a student city.
- Fredrik, student in Kristiansand
Get to know Kristiansand and UiA:
-
– We learn to understand the world in a thoughtful and responsible way
Luísa appreciates the international and diverse academic environment of her study programme. She learns to see issues from multiple angles.
Contact
- nicklas.iselvmo@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 38 14 16 35
- astrid.b.stensrud@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 38 14 14 48