Uppsala universitet / UU

Founded in 1477

Founded in 1477, Uppsala University is the oldest university on the Scandinavian peninsula and a leading European research institution. Dominating the town centre, the student associations or Nations of the university fill the town with an array of quaint student traditions, lively student events, food and drink and opportunites for socialising.

Among the University’s alumni there are 16 Nobel Prize laureates, of which 8 received their prizes for discoveries made during their time at Uppsala University. Academics in 9 faculties and over 60 departments teach more than 50 000 students per year in all areas of academia here. Notable alumni include astronomer Anders Celsius, physicist Anders Ångström, botanist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus and the late UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld. University facts and figures.

The Master’s Programme in International Humanitarian Action involves lecturers from a variety of disciplines such as cultural anthropology, peace and conflict, women’s and children’s health and law. Read more about the Master’s in International Humanitarian Action at Uppsala.

Courses

Course Overview

Below you will find an outline of the programme structure at Uppsala University. Courses are listed by semester. You can search for the latest syllabus and reading list for each course here. To search, enter the relevant course code (5RT…). Syllabuses and reading lists are presented under different tabs and are subject to amendment. Students study 30 ECTS credits per semester.
First semester

The semester comprises a set of 6 common NOHA courses which provide a space to debate the essentials of humanitarian action and its current trends. It starts with an inter-university joint course called the Intensive Programme (IP), which brings together all NOHA students, and then continues in Uppsala.

The location of the IP can vary.
> 5RT925 Intensive Programme, 5 credits
> 5RT957 Anthropology and Intercultural Aspects of Humanitarian Action, 5 credits
> 5RT982 Legal Dimensions of Humanitarian Action, 5 credits
> 5RT983 Management, 5 credits
> 5RT986 Public Health in Humanitarian Action, 5 credits
> 5RT988 World Politics and Humanitarian Action, 5 credits
Second semester

In the second semester, Uppsala students must go on exchange to one of our NOHA partners in Europe to study a thematic specialisation. We will in turn welcome exchange students from our partners who wish to study Uppsala’s own specialisation.

Thematic specialisation: Conflict, Peacebuilding and Religion
The thematic specialisation is covered by two modules: (1) Conflict and Peacebuilding and (2) Religion and Humanitarian Action.
Conflict and Peacebuilding focuses on concepts and theories of conflict resolution, peacemaking/peacebuilding with a specific relevance for situations of humanitarian disaster situations, and the conditions and consequences of humanitarian action in conflict situations.
Religion and Humanitarian Action looks at the benefits and challenges that religion poses to the humanitarian field, including the contribution that religion can have for initiating and sustaining conflicts and how religious actors can contribute to peacebuilding efforts.

Uppsala’s specialisation is complemented by a module in Advanced Management – which builds upon the course held in the first semester and focuses on leadership, security and logistics – and a course in Methodology, which covers different methods of data collection and how methods are incorporated into academic research.

5RT978 Advanced Management, 5 credits
5RT980 Conflict and Peacebuilding, 15 credits
5RT984 Methodology, 5 credits
5RT987 Religion and Humanitarian Action, 5 credits
Third semester

In the third semester, students may follow one of two tracks: Work Placement or Regional Training.

Students choosing Work Placement will be registered on two courses at Uppsala University – Placement and Career Development Training.

5RT979 Career Development Training, 10 credits
5RT985 Placement, 20 credits

Students opting for Regional Training apply to, and are registered at, a partner university outside Europe.
Fourth semester

The fourth and final semester is devoted to the Master's Thesis, which aims to provide students with the ability to develop a scientific and multidisciplinary approach to a problem of relevance for International Humanitarian Action.

5RT990 Master’s Thesis

See examples of theses here.

Useful info

Studying in Uppsala

The Master’s Programme in International Humanitarian Action is administered by the Faculty of Theology, which is the university’s oldest faculty and home to the Centre for Multidisciplinary Studies on Racism and the Uppsala Religion and Society Research Centre, which was a participant in the EU’s RESPOND project on mass migration.

As a student at Uppsala University, you will be exploring important questions with the help of the faculty, library and research facilities of one of the oldest universities in Europe but Uppsala is about far more than just study – located only forty minutes by train from Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, it is one of Sweden’s most lively and attractive cities, offering both small-town charm and big-city resources. There are many cafés and concerts to enjoy and a rich student life full of traditions to discover. More on student life.

The fourth largest city in Sweden, Uppsala was once an important trading centre to the Vikings – as you will find out if you visit nearby Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala). The Viking centres of Birka (8th century) and Sigtuna (10th century) also lie nearby; Birka is a World Heritage site.

See Uppsala University’s Study – Live – Enjoy videos. The series accompanies students as they get to know the city.
Academic calendar

Autumn semester: end August / beginning September to mid-January.
Spring semester: beginning February to early / mid-June.
There are no formal holiday periods during semesters. There are however short breaks at the end of the year and over Easter (long weekend).
Accommodation

NOHA students can apply for accommodation from Uppsala University Housing Office (UUHO). You will find a list of housing sites here.
Living costs

Estimated living costs are around 10 000 Swedish crowns per month (around 900 euro).
Language courses

Swedish: Uppsala University offers a Basic Swedish course throughout the academic year. The course is free of charge and is offered at several different levels. For those who already have some knowledge of Swedish, there will be a diagnostic test.

English: resources permitting, international students wishing to improve their English skills may be able to apply for an oral proficiency or academic writing course through the Department of English. The courses are free of charge but do not award credits. More information on English courses here.

Language Workshop: if you are having difficulty structuring a written assignment or require feedback on an oral presentation, the Language Workshop can help you. The workshop is open to all Uppsala University students and is free of charge. The tutors involved at the Language Workshop have extensive experience in teaching oral and written communication techniques in different academic disciplines, and can provide individual consultations in both English and Swedish.

More information on the Language Workshop.
See also the English Department's resources page.
Other

There is a lot happening at the university – see Uppsala University’s main calendar of events (lectures in English: for full list, click on svenska at top of page).

The university library dates back to 1620 and offers a wide variety of physical and digital resources. If its books were to be stacked in one pile, they would stand higher than 17 Mount Everests! The main library, Carolina Rediviva, houses precious collections of books, manuscripts, pictures, maps and even musical scores.

If you have a disability that may affect your studies, you can get support during your time at Uppsala University: support for disabilities.

The Student Health Centre can provide support and counselling if things get tough. It also provides a light room.

The student gym, Campus 1477.

Uppsala’s study and career counsellors can advise on studies, work and the labour market. During the year, special sessions are organised to provide tips on writing CVs and attending interviews.

Once you have finished your studies you must apply for your degree – it is not issued automatically. Information on applying for a degree.

If you want to take a break from study and clear your mind, you could do worse than take a walk in the Botanical Garden, which is right next door to the English Park (Humanities) campus. The garden, which is divided into two parts, plays host to a tropical greenhouse and orangery and is one of 3 run by Uppsala University. You will find more information on the Botanical Garden here.
Useful links

Study in Sweden from A-Z.

How to be a student in Sweden.

Uppsala Tourist Office.

Uppsala City library offers a large selection of books in English and a fair number in other languages as well. It is also possible to download the print editions of several thousand publications. Newspapers from a variety of countries are available in the reading room. Membership and borrowing are free.

You can keep up to date with events in Sweden on The Local’s English-language news site.