Master in Community Development and Social Innovation

Master in Community Development and Social Innovation is one of 7 English-taught Development Studies programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 6 institutions. 2 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from NOK 166,700 to NOK 204,000. 5 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

This master's at VID Specialized University in Oslo is for people who want to work with change from the bottom up, in local communities and globally. It is cross-disciplinary, and the classroom mixes students from different professional backgrounds and countries.

What you study

The programme starts from the UN sustainable development goals. You learn about cooperation and leading for change, and how to start and support interaction between cultures and sectors: public, private and civil society. You also look at the space between different secular and religious life stances, and between professionals and volunteers.

You choose one of three specialisations when you enrol:

• Diakonia and Leadership in Christian Social Practice (Oslo). Diakonia has its value basis in a Christian tradition, with service to the world rooted in being Church in different contexts, locally and globally.
• Value-Based Leadership and Social Innovation (Oslo). This one focuses on social innovation and value-based leadership within social welfare and the health sector, in and outside Christian and other traditions, beliefs and worldviews.
• Migration and Intercultural Relations (Stavanger). Here the focus is on diversity, engagement across boundaries, communication and migration, including online and digital literacy.

The master's thesis can be written in Norwegian or English.

How the programme is organised

It is a two-year full-time master's worth 120 ECTS. Teaching is in English. The programme has a close connection to fields of practice, and students are invited from a range of relevant professional backgrounds, disciplines and work experience from all over the world. That mix is meant to create an international environment for discussion and sharing knowledge. VID describes an inclusive environment with close contact between teachers and students.

Who it suits

You need a bachelor's degree in social sciences, humanities, theology, religious studies, health or social work. The programme suits people who want to work with societal challenges in local and global communities, and who are looking for a future job where they can contribute to sustainable societal development. It also suits those who want to build skills in cooperation and social innovation, and who are ready to study alongside students from different cultures and sectors.

Admission, language and next steps

Applications are handled by VID. The deadline is 1 December for international applicants from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who are not already residing in Norway, and for anyone who needs a student visa. The deadline is 15 April for applicants from EU countries and domestic applicants who hold a Norwegian national ID number, meaning those who do not need a student visa. You download an application form and include it in your online application. VID's page on how to apply for a full degree programme lists the supporting documents you need.

Students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland pay a tuition fee that VID sets. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland are normally exempt from tuition fees at state institutions, but VID is a private institution and sets its own fees. VID states that it does not offer scholarships. International students do not qualify for support from Lånekassen. The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) requires international students to document that they have enough money to live on during their studies. Check the programme page for the details before you apply.

Master’s applications go straight to VID Specialized 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 & EU: April 15 Non-EU: 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.