Master in Sustainable Production and Utilisation of Marine Bioresources, Nordic

Master in Sustainable Production and Utilisation of Marine Bioresources, Nordic is one of 8 English-taught Area Studies programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 6 institutions. 8 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

This is a research-based master's that pulls together expertise from Norway, Iceland and Sweden to train people for work in Blue Growth and the marine circular economy. It is taught in English at Nord University in Bodø, over two years and 120 ECTS.

What you study

The programme takes an interdisciplinary approach. You look at how fisheries, aquaculture, the environment, law, management, production and utilisation of marine bioresources interact. The first semester has three mandatory courses, one from each partner university, with a mix of online and on-site lectures, seminars and industry visits. Learning outcomes cover aquaculture from a Nordic perspective, food webs in the ocean, and the aquaculture and fishery industry globally. You also learn to select and use relevant methods for research and development, carry out an independent and limited research or development project under supervision, and present your analyses both orally and in writing.

How the programme is organised

The degree is full time over two years. In the second semester you exchange to one of the partner universities, University of Gothenburg or Holar University College, for a minimum of 30 credits. The exchange application deadline is 1 September for the spring semester and 20 January for the autumn semester. Building on your first-year experience, you work on your master's thesis project and finalise it at the end of the second year. You have access to facilities in Noatun, the faculty building at Bodø campus, with advanced laboratories, teaching rooms and workspaces close to active research environments. You also get hands-on experience at the Mørkvedbukta research station, taking part in experiments and fieldwork with researchers and industry partners. The research vessel PIA, FF Prinsesse Ingrid Alexandra, is used for educational and scientific excursions at sea.

Who it suits

You need a bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS in bioscience or social science, including socio economy, with an average grade of C or better. You must upload a motivation letter to the application portal by the deadline. Applicants are ranked first by the motivation letter and then by bachelor's grades. The letter should show your motivation for the study, for travelling between the partner universities, your academic background and your future career plans. The programme suits people who want to work across disciplines, from biology to management and law, and who are ready to move between Nordic countries during the degree.

Admission, language and next steps

For applicants outside the Nordic countries, you must document proficiency in English. You apply to your preferred university, and it is possible to apply to more than one. The application deadline for non-EU/EEA applicants is 1 December, and for EU/EEA applicants 15 April. Check the programme page and Nord University's admission pages for the exact application periods and requirements. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland are normally exempt from tuition fees at state institutions; other degree students normally pay a fee set by the institution. Nord University does not offer scholarships or grants. All students can apply for an ERASMUS+ grant, and Norwegian students can apply for a travel grant from Lånekassen. Costs for travel, housing and food during the compulsory exchange must be expected. If you want to stay in Norway to work after graduation, you can apply to UDI for a residence permit for work purposes before your study permit expires.

Master’s applications go straight to Nord University, 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: Nordic applicants: April 15 EU/ EEA applicants: April 15 Non-EU/ EEA applicants: December 1. The register shows 1 December 2026 as a deadline date for this programme. 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.