Master in Applied Ecology
You will be immersed in the sustainable management of natural resources and acquire skills that are valuable for a variety of jobs nationally and internationally.
- Campus
- Evenstad
- Duration
- 2 years
- Structure
- Full time
- Credits
- 120
- Teaching language
- EN
- Startup
- August
- Price
- Semester fee
- Application deadline
- Jan. 15, 2024
- Application deadline
- Apr. 15, 2024
Start of studies
Semesterstart 19th of August 2024 1pm.
About the Programme
Applied Ecology is a field within ecology which puts the science of ecology into practical use to address contemporary challenges. This includes the application of ecological concepts to environmental problem solving, policy, and management including the sustainable use and management of biological resources and services such as wildlife, fish, and forest.
The management of our ecosystems to halt the loss of biodiversity and mitigate climate change while maintaining human welfare is a major task regionally, nationally, and internationally. The present program focuses on the biological processes, wildlife management and monitoring methods, and the complex relationships between wildlife populations and people on an increasingly human-dominated planet.
The students are given the scientific tools needed to understand ecosystems and how they can be managed in a sustainable manner. The programme helps students develop the necessary capacity to engage with further education, conduct research, and engage with practical ecosystem management. It is taught entirely in English and attracts students of various nationalities.
At Evenstad you will meet an international environment where both faculty and fellow students share your enthusiasm for a common academic field.
The proximity to nature, including a lively campus with many social and outdoor activities, gives you a unique opportunity to combine theory and practice, education and leisure.
Job opportunities
The master's degree in applied ecology can, among other things, qualify you for a job as a research assistant in habitat and population monitoring, work in public and private management, doctoral studies, or other work at educational and research institutions.
Graduates from this program have become doctoral students or work as research assistants at the Norwegian Institute for Natural Research (NINA) and at various universities. In addition, they work in environmental protection departments in various municipalities and counties, as rangeland managers, in Statskog and other landowner organisations, as nature inspectors in the Norwegian nature surveillance (Statens naturoppsyn), and with rangeland managers at private landowners.
Why a Master’s degree in Applied Ecology?
Humans are dependent upon ecosystems for their health and wellbeing. Population increase, technological development, and changing policies affect the human pressure on ecosystems. The Green Transition is increasing societal demands on ecosystems for products and other ecosystem services such as food and fibre supply, energy, carbon storage, water management, biodiversity conservation, culture, and recreation (like ecotourism and hunting). All these demands cannot be met at the same time. Hence, sustainable development requires understanding the interactions between these different competing objectives, and a sound ecological and management knowledge basis. In the master’s programme in applied ecology theory and practice follow each other continuously during the study. We educate students to be able to plan, conduct, analyse and present results from scientific studies within the field of applied ecology.
Application deadline and admission
January 15, 2024 (applicants outside EU/EEA) or
April 15, 2024 (applicants from EU/EEA and the Nordic countries)
The application portal opens on November 1 for applicants outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland.
The application portal opens on February 1 for applicants inside the EU/EEA and Switzerland.
How to apply
Non EU/EEA applicants
You will find the programme in the list of study options with the application code 5453.
EU/EEA and Swiss applicants who do not have a Norwegian ID number
You will find the programme under "English taught programmes" with the application code 5454.
Applicants who have a Norwegian ID number
You will find the programme under "Master programmes" with the application code 5462.
Admission requirements
To enter the programme, students are required to confirm the achievement of either:
- A Norwegian bachelor’s degree or an education recognized as being equivalent to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree with an average weighted (ECTS credits) grade of at least C.
- A degree recognized in Norway as three years of higher education with an average grade equivalent to an average weighted ECTS credits grade of at least C.
- Education approved as equivalent to the above-mentioned degrees according to university law §3-4.
The degree from higher education has to include the equivalent of at least 80 ECTS-credits of the following subjects:
- Minimum 4 ECTS-credit equivalents in statistics or similar topics.
- Minimum 76 ECTS-credit equivalents in subjects related to applied ecology, e.g., ecology, biology, zoology, botany, evolution, wildlife biology, additional statistics or other relevant topics.
In cases where all or parts of the programme were approved with the use of the marks Pass / Fail, the applicants are admitted after individual assessment.
The study may be limited to a certain number of students decided yearly. In this case, the applicants are ranked according to «Regulations for Admission, Programmes of Study and Examinations at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences» (“Forskrift om opptak, studier og eksamen ved Høgskolen i Innlandet”) § 2-2.
English Language requirements
All non-native English speakers must provide documentation of English language proficiency at a high level.
Alternatively, students can meet the language requirements by meeting the language requirements for English-taught masters programs at INN.
Motivation letter
Applicants from outside the EU/EEA must attach a motivation letter (maximum 300 words). It should include an explanation of their interest in this master’s programme and specifically how they will use the Master’s degree in Applied Ecology in their current or future career plans.
How much does it cost?
Students from countries outside the EU/EEA/EFTA are required to pay tuition fees.
The tuition fee for Master in Applied Ecology is NOK 245 000 per year.
Applicants from outside the EU/EEA are required to provide proof of funding as part of their application.
This does not apply to students from the EU/EEA/EFTA.
You must also pay a semester fee.
Curricula and courses
In the study plan, you will find information about the study programme, including an overview of subjects, learning objectives and forms of assessment. Select the study plan for the year you started your studies to find the information that applies to you.
Search all study plans search study plans and courses.
Student exchange
The Master in Applied Ecology is taught in English. This allows for international applicants, and to create an international student environment that will improve the quality of the study, not least through discussions of various ‘schools’ in ecology and human attitudes. We will encourage and make allowances for students who wish to study abroad for part of their degree. Such an international stay is recommended to take place during the second and/or third semester of the study depending on the courses the student may achieve abroad. In addition, we will accept qualified external supervisors of the master thesis from international universities and university colleges. Hence, an international stay may be used to carry out part of the master thesis.
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences has several international agreements of collaboration. Specific to the Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, there are active student exchange programs with many partners in Nordic and Baltic countries through the network Nordnatur, in most European countries through Erasmus agreements, and in North America, South Africa and Asia (Nepal, India) through bilateral agreements.
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