Master in Applied Ecology

Master in Applied Ecology is one of 5 English-taught Ecology programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 5 institutions. 5 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

The Master in Applied Ecology at the University of Inland Norway is a two-year, full-time programme taught entirely in English at Campus Evenstad. It takes ecology out of the textbook and into real management problems: wildlife, fish, forest and the balance between people and ecosystems.

What you study

The programme focuses on the biological processes behind applied ecology, wildlife management and monitoring methods, and the complex relationships between wildlife populations and people on a human-dominated planet. You learn the scientific tools to understand ecosystems and how they can be managed sustainably. Theory and practice run together throughout the degree, and you are trained to plan, conduct, analyse and present scientific studies. The page points to a study plan for the full course list and learning objectives, so check that for the exact modules.

How the programme is organised

It is a full-time master's over two years, 120 ECTS, starting in August. Teaching is in English and attracts students of various nationalities, so discussions bring in different ecological schools and human attitudes. You can take part of your degree abroad, recommended in the second and/or third semester, through NordNatur in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Erasmus in most of Europe, or bilateral agreements in North America, South Africa and Asia. Some students also take elective courses at Svalbard. External supervisors from international universities can be involved in the master thesis. Any courses abroad must fit the education plan and be approved in advance.

Who it suits

This suits you if you want to work with the sustainable use and management of biological resources such as wildlife, fish and forest, and you are comfortable with both field reality and scientific analysis. The campus sits close to nature, with social and outdoor activities, so you can combine theory and practice. It also fits students aiming for research, a PhD, or practical ecosystem management in public or private organisations.

Admission, language and next steps

You need a Norwegian bachelor's degree or an equivalent education with an average weighted ECTS grade of at least C. The degree must include at least 80 ECTS in relevant subjects: a minimum of 4 ECTS in statistics or similar, and at least 76 ECTS in ecology, forestry, biology, zoology, botany, evolution, wildlife biology, environmental sciences, veterinary sciences, additional statistics, or other relevant topics. Social sciences related to applied ecology and nature management also count. If parts of your programme used Pass/Fail, you are assessed individually. English language requirements for English-taught master's programmes at INN must be met. The application deadline is 1 December for applicants outside the EU/EEA and 15 April for applicants from the EU/EEA and the Nordic countries. The portal opens on 1 November for applicants outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, and on 1 February for applicants inside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Use the application code 5453 if you are outside the EU/EEA, 5454 if you are from the EU/EEA or Switzerland without a Norwegian ID number, and 5462 if you have a Norwegian ID number. Students from outside the EU/EEA/EFTA pay tuition fees set by the institution and must provide proof of funding; EU/EEA/EFTA students are normally exempt. Everyone pays a semester fee. Check the programme page for details.

Master’s applications go straight to University of Inland Norway, not through the national admission service (NUCAS). Study in Norway states that you need a bachelor’s degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), including courses equal to at least one and a half years of full-time study relevant to the programme. The institution lists its deadline as: December 1 (applicants outside EU/EEA) or April 15 (applicants from EU/EEA and the Nordic countries) The application portal opens on November 1. Deadlines are set by each institution for each programme, so confirm yours. Entry requirements and language tests are also set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, study permits and housing.