Study plan for MASV-MEHA Master's Programme in Human Geography and Sustainable Development, vår 2026

ECTS Credits

120 ECTS

Name of qualification

Master of Philosophy in Human Geography and Sustainable Development

Language of Instruction

All courses are taught in English.

Objectives and content

At a time of significant change, there is a need for human geographers who have a deep understanding of the relations between human behavior, nature, and society. The expertise human geographers offer constitutes a robust foundation for finding solutions that can contribute to sustainable development across different geographical scales and contexts. In the Master's programme in Human Geography and Sustainable Development, students will immerse themselves in current societal challenges and gain advanced knowledge in topics such as:

  • Green shift in industries, in both urban and rural areas
  • Local and urban governance and planning
  • Climate change adaptation/mitigation, environmental degradation, and natural hazards
  • Global development, conflict, and migration
  • Natural resource management, land use, and environmental governance
  • Political ecology: power, equity, and justice issues in sustainable development

In addition to theoretical knowledge obtained through coursework, students will benefit from the planning and implementation of fieldwork, collecting field data and undertaking data analysis, and presenting findings in a variety of academic formats. Depending on the subfield of human geography chosen, training and supervision in qualitative and/or quantitative methods will be acquired. Supervisors in the department can provide specialized guidance in a variety of key academic subfields and theoretical traditions, including political ecology, economic geography, planning and regional development, feminist geography, and post-structuralist geography.

Required Learning Outcomes

A candidate who has completed his or her programme should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The candidate...

  • can analyse and present advanced knowledge in geographical research in relation to themes such as green restructuring; local and urban governance and planning; climate change adaptation/mitigation; global development, conflict, and migration; natural resource management, land use, and environmental governance; political ecology
  • can analyse geographical issues on the basis of history of geographical thought and theory of science
  • can apply contemporary theories, methods and interpretations in geography, and work independently and in teams with practical and theoretical problem solving

Skills

The candidate...

  • can establish and develop professional relationships with relevant actors in society
  • can choose and delimit a researchable theme for a Master´s thesis and develop a research problem which can be carried out within the time limits and resources available for the study
  • can select and evaluate relevant methods for collection of empirical data, and give an epistemological account of the methodological choices.
  • can delimit, plan and carry out collection of empirical data through field work
  • can search systematically in libraries, scientific and other data bases and interpret and evaluate data and literature critically
  • can discuss and analyse different sources of information critically, analyse empirical data and present geographical arguments and analyses
  • can write a research report within given time and resource limits, apply geographical terminology and good academic writing, with exact, updated and systematic use of references, with due credit to secondary sources

General competence

The candidate...

  • has the ability to carry out field work and treat data in accordance with good ethical norms and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) practice
  • has the ability to design and work independently to complete a project
  • has the ability to disseminate research results as publications, articles in media and oral presentations

Admission Requirements

In order to apply for the Master's Programme in Human Geography and Sustainable Development you need a bachelor's degree of 3-4 years' duration, or an equivalent educational background.

The degree must include at least 1,5 years (80-90 ECTS) of full-time studies in human geography or other relevant backgrounds such as environmental studies, development studies or political ecology with a social sciences perspective.

You also need to document (general entry requirements):

Average grade of minimum C (2.5) (equivalent to Norwegian grade C)

Compulsory units

Sequential Requirements, courses

The programme consists of the following courses.

Autumn 1st semester

Mandatory:

  • GEO320 Theory of Science and Research Design for Human Geographers (10 ECTS)

Coose 2 courses:

  • GEO317 Special Topic in Geography (10 ECTS)
  • GEO318 Hydrology, Groundwater and Water-Related Geohazards (10 ECTS)
  • GEO328 Planning and Place Development (10 ECTS) (taught in Norwegian)
  • GEO330 Theories of Sustainable Land Use (10 ECTS)

Spring 2nd semester

Mandatory:

  • GEO306 Methods in Human Geography (10 ECTS)
  • GEO324 Human Geographies of Adaptation to Climate Change (10 ECTS) or GEO337 Political Ecology: Critical Perspectives on Environmental Governance (10 ECTS)

Choose one of these courses:

  • GEO316 Practical Skills in Remote Sensing and Spatial analysis (10 ECTS)
  • GEO317 Special Topic in Geography (10 ECTS)
  • GEO324 Geographies of the Green Economy (10 ECTS)
  • GEO337 Political Ecology: Critical Perspectives on Environmental Governance (10 ECTS)

Summer

Fieldwork

3rd and 4th semester

Mandatory:

  • GEO350 Master's Thesis in Geography, 60 credits

The courses (60 ECTS) must be completed before the thesis can be submitted. The students must also accomplish and pass 3 milestone seminars before submitting the master thesis.

1. Milestone (1st autumn): Project presentation for the supervisor and an opponent. Fellow students, PhDs and academic stab can also be present. Takes place the 2nd week of December.

2. Milestone (1st spring): Presentation and discussion of theory, research design for the master thesis and the planned field work in a research group. Takes place in April/May.

3. Milestone (2nd autumn): After fieldwork. The student shall produce a short report of data, main findings and methodology. Poster presentation and discussion in a research group. Takes place in October/November.

Study period abroad

It is possible to spend the 2nd semester as an exchange student to one of our partner universities.

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching consists mainly of lectures and seminars with assignments.

Assessment methods

Department of Geography uses a variety of assessments.

  • Written exam
  • Oral exam
  • Take home exam, often in combination with oral exam
  • Portfolio

Grading scale

At the University of Bergen the student's academic performance is assessed both through final examinations as well as various term assignments.

The grading system has either

  1. a descending scale from A to E for passes and F for fail, or
  2. pass/fail

Grading A-F is most commonly used.

Administrative responsibility

The Department of Geography at the Faculty of Social Sciences.