About the specialisation
Our world is rapidly changing, bringing about new opportunities as well as risks and uncertainty. Major social changes such as digitalisation, blurring of boundaries between formal and informal learning, migration and new forms of inequalities are intensifying. In this context, no country can afford to neglect their younger generation’s education, upbringing and general wellbeing as future citizens.
Do you want to examine the current and emerging issues that concern children and youth? Do you want to explore innovative ideas and perspectives to educate children and young people?
Education and Social Change: Childhood and Youth Studies (ESCY) focuses on international studies of children and youth with reference to the ‘Nordic Education Model’, and treats childhood and youth, the two formative phases in life, as a continuum.
We will address topics and issues such as:
- The implications of growing up in a digital culture
- The making of new social inequalities concerning children and youth
- The impacts of migration on children and youth
- Long-term and sustainable policy concerning children and youth
You get the opportunity to study under the guidance of excellent academic experts in childhood and youth studies. The specialisation has teaching staff from the following research groups at our department: LiDA, HEDWORK and HumStud.
Study environment
We offer a highly interactive and supportive environment. You have the unique opportunity to study in an international environment, learn from each other’s experience, and go beyond the textbooks.
There are numerous student societies, which all UiO students may join.
As a student at the Department of Education, you can get involved in student politics by joining The Student Academic Organisation at IPED. You can also contribute to the study environment by joining Kjellerutvalget – the organisation responsible for the Faculty's student pub, or you can get involved with the UV – Student Union and be a representative of the students at the faculty. If you have an interest in writing, you can write for Pedagogisk Profil, which is a student-driven magazine.
Further studies and career prospects
Our graduates will obtain an academic foundation that will make them attractive for a wide range of positions related to children and youth. Your career path can take place in both Norway and internationally, in various bilateral and multilateral organisations, ministries, research centres and the higher education sector.
As a graduate, you are eligible to apply to PhD programmes in Norway and elsewhere.
Read more about further studies and career prospects.
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Bridging policy and people
Elizabeth Beech completed her Master's degree in Education, specialising in Education and Social Change: Childhood and Youth Studies, in 2024. She moved back to the USA after graduating and is now working as an External Affairs Associate at Penta Group.
Honours certificate
Are you academically ambitious? It is possible to supplement your master's degree with an honours certificate worth 20 credits. You take the certificate concurrently with the master's programme.