Opportunity to spend a Semester at the Arctic University of Norway (UiT) and to study Indigenous Studies

The College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) is entering into an agreement for a student/staff exchange through the Erasmus Global Mobility scheme. This will provide financial support in 2018-19 for one Masters student in Indigenous Studies to visit Tromsø University, also known as the Arctic University of Norway (UiT), to study for five months; this is to be used before July 2019. (We are advertising this opportunity before the agreement is finalized due to timeframes; it is subject to that finalization which we expect to happen soon).

The amounts available will be EUR 1100 (approx. AUD$1760) as travel support and EUR 4250 (approx. AUD $6800) for subsistence i.e. EUR 850 per month (approx. AUD$1360). The scholarship is sufficient for subsistence, however, the travel support might be lower than the actual costs of an air ticket.

Details of the Master in Indigenous Studies are in this link: https://uit.no/utdanning/program/270446/indigenous_studies_-_master

All the single courses in the program are open to ANU students, the best overview can be found under ‘Programme structure’.

Each new cohort starts their first semester in the first half of August, then there is a break from the end of November until mid-January, the second semester is from mid-January and lasts until the end of May/beginning of June depending on scheduling of course examinations. The selected student must go in one of these periods.

The scholarship has been allocated to studies in the Indigenous Studies programme. However, should the student have interests in taking other courses connected to other programs, that can be discussed. Here is the link to the English study catalogue: https://en.uit.no/education

When a student has been nominated by ANU, s/he has to complete a learning agreement in consultation with the CASS Student and Education Office (SEO), which is a standard Learning Agreement for mobility.

To obtain permission to study at UiT

The SEO, together with the convener of the program the student is under, will assess applications and seek approval from the CASS Associate Dean (Student Experience) and the Associate Dean (International) on the selected applicant. Any changes to courses approved in the learning agreement must be notified to the CASS Student and Education office and the student must seek additional approval for the change.

To obtain credit at ANU for courses taken while in Norway:

The student identifies which Norwegian courses he/she wishes to take, and discusses with their program academic advisor, whether or not they can be substituted for ANU courses listed in his/her program. If they can, then the student will require a letter outlining agreed credit arrangements and an approved learning agreement before he/she embarks.

If, for some reason, he/she is unable to take the agreed courses (for example, if they are cancelled in Norway), then it is the student’s responsibility to let the ANU know as soon as possible.

Once he/she has passed the Norwegian courses, he/she provides ANU with a transcript from the Norwegian university, and ANU allocates credit accordingly, as previously agreed.

The link to the form is here: http://cass.anu.edu.au/form/course-substitution-application-form-cass-students

To apply

Expressions of interest must be submitted to CAEPR Administrator, Tracy Deasey, at caepradmin.cass@anu.edu.au by COB 29 June 2018 of no more than two pages explaining the reason you would like to take this opportunity and addressing the selection criteria below. If more than one eligible student is interested, a selection process will occur.

Criteria for selection will include:

• The value of the opportunity for the student and their study and career aspirations
• The student’s progress to date in his/her studies
• The student’s knowledge and understanding of Indigenous issues in Australia
• The student’s capacity to be a strong ambassador for the ANU in Norway
• The student’s capacity to study abroad independently.

Indigenous students are strongly encouraged to apply.

Dr Janet Hunt

Deputy Director, CAEPR