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Studies

Bachelor
Full time
International Environment and Development Studies

A unique combination of social science and natural science approaches to the study of international environment and development issues, including an introduction to qualitative and quantitative research methods.

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ECTS credits:

180

Application deadline:

International applicants (including EU/EEA): 1 December

Norwegian and Nordic applicants: 15 April

Start of Studies:

Autumn

Requirements:

 

Tuition fees

Higher Education Entrance Qualification + documented proficiency in English

Information on how to document your proficiency in English

  • Requirements in detail
    Higher Education Entrance Qualification

A great deal of attention is given to social justice, environmental sustainability, ecological and social resilience, political ecology, natural resource management, resource conflicts, development policies and politics, the effects of planned development interventions, and gender and development issues.

The program consists of compulsory and elective courses. These can be chosen among a variety of courses at NMBU or other universities in Norway or abroad. We recommend that you spend one semester abroad on exchange, and we encourage you to participate in our one-month field course (currently in Tanzania and India).

All courses in the degree are conducted in English.

More about the admission requirements and process.

View or download the study plan for this degree.

Student accommodation: 

Accommodation close to our beautiful campus is offered through NMBU's Student Welfare Association (SiÅs). International students are prioritized for on-campus housing, though this is not guaranteed. We recommended that you apply for accommodation immediately after accepting your admission offer to secure housing. Read more. 

Career opportunities

Graduates may find employment in a wide range of national and international institutions, including government agencies and non-governmental development organizations. The program provides a sound basis for further studies within: Development Studies, Environmental Studies, International Relations, Resource Management, or Ecology.

Alumni Features

Leo Alfredo Ruiz Montes - Managing and Analyzing Environmental and Social Risks

Oyun-Erdene - Supporting Education and TVET as a Gender Expert

Marte Vestvik - Finding solutions for sustainable waste management

Ida Morén Strømsø - Senior Adviser for Climate Adaptation at the Norwegian Environment Agency

  • Learning outcomes

    A candidate who has completed their bachelor's degree should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

    Knowledge:

    ▪ Good understanding of international environment and development issues and their interlinkages.

    ▪ Knowledge of development theory, the history of development, and the roots and theory of sustainable development.

    ▪ Familiarity with basic social science concepts common to disciplines spanning sociology, political economy and anthropology.

    ▪ Basic knowledge of ecology and the environmental sciences.

    ▪ Basic knowledge of perspectives in political economy as well as in economics.

    ▪ Knowledge of theory, concepts, approaches and themes related to social diversity, inequalities and injustice, including those related to gender.

    ▪ Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative research methodology, as well as methodological issues related to interdisciplinarity.

    Skills:

    ▪ Ability to write academic texts and build logical line of reasoning.

    ▪ Ability to find, review and cite relevant literature in own papers and reports.

    ▪ Ability to critically reflect on information and science claims.

    ▪ Ability to manage academic project work and fieldwork.

    ▪ Ability to give oral presentations and participate in oral discussions.

    General competence:

    ▪ Broad understanding of the interconnectedness of the social and natural sciences.

    ▪ Ability to seek new knowledge and acquire new skills relevant to meet local and global environment and development challenges.

    ▪ Ability to think critically and analytically, and to make well-founded assessments of local and global environment and development challenges.

    ▪ Ability to explore and present issues in cooperation with others.

    ▪ Ability to work in a focused and independent manner, and to communicate knowledge, analyses and results in a convincing manner, both orally and in writing.

  • Exchange possibilities
    Students may enter an exchange scheme at one of NMBU's partner institutions in the 5th semester.
  • Program structure

    The programme consists of mandatory and elective courses. The mandatory courses constitute 115 ECTS and make up the two first years of the programme. A progression from introductory to more advanced courses within the interdisciplinary field of international environment and development studies provides the specialization of the programme. Students will also be introduced to philosophy, ecology, scientific writing, and research methods. The third year is set aside for elective courses, either at the department, at other departments, or with other universities. A minimum of 45 ECTS from the elective courses must be on the 200-level or above. Some options for field courses will be provided and in the fifth semester exchange to partner universities abroad will be possible.

  • More about the program
    • Societal relevance
      Humanity is faced with challenges of increasing scale and complexity, including climate change, global inequality and poverty. The University, Research, and Higher Education sectors in Norway have determined that the guiding principles, directions and funding mechanisms for research and education will be aligned with a number of policy frameworks, all anchored first and foremost in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a global agenda. The Bachelor’s degree in International Environment and Development Studies has a unique interdisciplinary and international focus that bridges environmental and social sciences and equips students with knowledge and skills to address global challenges.
    • Learning activities
      The programme utilises a wide range of teaching methods. Because working with environment and development often involves adapting knowledge to new situations, many courses use case-oriented teaching and group work. This ensures that students take an active interest in their own learning. Teaching methods vary between courses and include lectures, seminar activities, assignments, presentations and discussions. Field exercises and practical experience is also part of the programme through elective field courses.
    • Examination
      The courses offered utilise a wide range of forms of evaluation such as written sit-in exams, take-home exams, oral exams and term papers. These evaluate the student’s skills in academic reading and writing, as well as analytical skills, in different ways.
    • Equipment
      All students should have access to their own laptop computer for use in learning and assessment, cf. regulation of 21 December 2018 no. 2221 on self-payment at universities and colleges § 3-3 third paragraph.
    • Information for students from partner universities
      Noragric can offer individually tailored packages for students from our partner universities. All courses at the department are offered in English.
    • Cooperation with other institutions
      Noragric has a broad network of international partners. One or more field courses in developing countries will be offered.

Study advisor(s):

Jørn Kongsten Brevik

Jørn Kongsten Brevik

Senior Advisor