UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Master in Visual and Multimodal Anthropology
Tromsø, Norway
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Mar 2027*
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2027
TUITION FEES
NOK 100,500 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* UE Students: 1° March 2027| Extra-UE / SEE students: 15 November 2026
** Tuition fees are for non-EU/EEA/Switzerland applicants. Applicants from EU/EEA and Switzerland do not have to pay tuition.
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Key Summary
About: UiT The Arctic University of Norway offers a two-year, full-time Master of Philosophy in Visual and Multimodal Anthropology. It pairs anthropological theory and ethnographic methods with documentary filmmaking, sound and editing, culminating in a film or multimodal project plus a written thesis. You’ll do fieldwork at home or abroad via participant observation, gather video, audio, photos and notes, and use cameras, sound gear and editing suites. Research strengths include environmental issues, multispecies ethnography, Indigenous peoples, human rights, migration, food systems and art activism.
Career Outcomes: Graduates work in academic research, documentary filmmaking, television, NGOs, government, journalism, museums, communications, marketing research. You’ll gain ethnographic and audiovisual production skills, storytelling, editing and cross-cultural communication for roles in media, cultural heritage, policy and creative sectors.
Are you passionate about culture, society, and the environment? Join our Master program in Visual and Multimodal Anthropology to conduct impactful ethnographic research and learn documentary filmmaking. The program culminates in creating your own film or multimodal project alongside a written thesis. Gain skills to foster cross-cultural dialogue and advance your career in a dynamic, international environment.
Program description
- Duration: 2 years
- Credits (ECTS): 120
- Degree Name: Master in Visual and Multimodal Anthropology
- Admission capacity: 20 places
This two-year full-time master’s programme in Visual and Multimodal Anthropology combines: lectures in anthropological theory and ethnographic methods; filmmaking and practical instruction in camerawork; sound recording and editing; and writing and evocative storytelling. It is grounded in a research environment that has a strong focus on environmental issues, multispecies ethnography, Indigenous peoples, human rights, food systems, migration and diaspora, conflict and resolution, art and activism, among others.
You will develop your own anthropological research project and choose a site to conduct fieldwork, at home or abroad. During fieldwork you will conduct participant observation and gather your multimodal material (video, sound, photographs, drawings, notes, etc.). Working with this material gives unique possibilities to develop anthropological insights about people, places and culture. Multimodal methods also encourage collaboration and meaningful dialogue with protagonists and multiple audiences; this generates novel ways of sharing and communicating your ethnographic insights.
Throughout the program you will have access to cameras, sound equipment, high end software and editing suites, anthropological guidance, and professional film instructors.
The programme is closely aligned with our research group, Ethnographic Action: Researching Transformations of Humans and Environment on a Disrupted Planet (EA:RTH), which includes weekly seminars with invited and local researchers. There is also an active student environment led by Felten, The arctic anthropology student association, which organises film screenings, group lunches and social activities.
Program structure
Course structure: Visual and Multimodal Anthropology
Teaching and assessment
The program is organised as a continuous participatory learning process: lectures, screenings, writing and video/still-photo assignments, and seminars make up the unique cumulative learning process of the two-year program. Students are encouraged to collaborate with each other in developing skills and understandings throughout the study.
The programme includes various types of exams and coursework requirements, such as essays, research papers, and film/photo presentations. Please note that some courses have compulsory requirements. Only students whose coursework requirements have been approved will be allowed to take the examination.
Teaching and assessment methods are described in the course plan for each course.
This Master degree is an intensive program. All courses are compulsory and demand active participation from the students.
Exchange
Students have the possibility to carry out their fieldwork abroad.
Access to further studies
On successful completion of the degree programme, students may be qualified for admission to a PhD programme in a number of academic areas at the UiT The Arctic University of Norway or elsewhere.
Learning outcomes
The program in Visual and Multimodal Anthropology focuses on the use of audio-visual materials such as photographs, films, digital media, and interactive technologies to document and interpret cultural practices, social behaviors, and human experiences worldwide. Students gain knowledge of the history and development of visual anthropology, ethical considerations in visual representation, and the impact of new media on anthropological research. They develop skills in ethnographic research, audiovisual tools, and narrative strategies, enabling them to critically analyze and present their findings through film and text. Graduates are equipped to conduct independent research, communicate their work effectively, and contribute to innovation and cross-cultural understanding using multimodal approaches.
Job prospectives
A degree in Visual and Multimodal Anthropology can open doors to a variety of national and international positions in academic research, filmmaking, television, administration, government and non-governmental organisations, journalism, communication, museums, youth and education programs, marketing research.
Studying in this international environment also develops competences in cross-cultural communication as well as valuable assets to several career paths.