International Fisheries Management - master

The Master's degree program in International Fisheries Management ( IFM) programme examines multidisciplinary management including aquaculture problems in the exploitation of marine and freshwater resources.

The program emphasizes knowledge of scientific theory and methods, and will offer the students experience in the use of these, and develop their understanding and reflection of International Seafood Management. Initially, the students will carry out six course modules over a period of 1.5 years (total of 60 ECTS), before carrying out their fieldwork to gather data and information for the Master's Thesis (30 ECTS). A typical Thesis is problem-oriented and the model can be based on both primary and secondary data, and include; a literature survey or review, theory and methods used, data applied, results and policy and managerial implications.

All students are required to present a proposal for their own Thesis, and to participate in discussions about the research process and scientific methods as applied in management related research. Topics include problem identification, hypothesis, sources of data, sampling concepts and designs, methods of collecting and analysing data, and the writing process. During the course each student develops a research proposal that may be associated with his or her thesis.

For each programme at the University of Tromsø there are set targets for knowledge, analytical understanding, skills and competences that a student should have reached by the end of studies.

A graduate from the IFM program should:

• have thorough knowledge how fisheries develop and function as biological, economic and social processes including a proper knowledge about the world's fisheries and management systems
• have a profound understanding of how fisheries management may be used to meet given political objectives related to the use of aquatic resources and, moreover, have good knowledge of the biological, economic and social properties and consequences of employing different management measures
• be able to make use of scientific methods and theories related to fisheries management issues and be suitable for doing fisheries management or qualified for continued studies towards an academic career
• have good knowledge in research ethics and be able to identify good scientific performance be a interested, critical, analytical and well-informed professional in fisheries science

Admission to the Master's programme in International Fisheries Management requires a Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification in biology, economics, social sciences or combinations of these. An average grade of equivalent to C or better in the Norwegian grading system is required. Applicants must enclose an application essay written in English (one page). This should include descriptions of their motivation for, interest in and expectations relating to their Master's degree studies and ideas for their Master`s Thesis project.

All deadlines described below is for admittance to the programmecommencing in the autumn semester. International Fisheries management does not admit new students in the spring semester.

• The application deadline for Norwegian and other Nordic applicants is 15 April.
• The application deadline for students outside the Nordic countries ( self-financed students ) is 1 December.
• The application deadline for quota applicants is 1 December.

Teaching and assessment methods are described in the course plan for each course.
This Master's degree is an intensive programme. All courses are compulsory and demand active participation from the students.The programme is teaching-oriented. However, emphasis is also placed on direct student participation, in the form of literature searches and data retrieval, oral presentations, term papers, fieldwork, laboratory assignments and computer labs.The examination form varies between courses and includes: written examinations, papers, presentations and laboratory reports. The final examination is based on the master's thesis and an oral examination.

The grading scale is A-F, where A-E is passed, and F is failed.