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Become an
Arctic expert

UNIS courses supplement the education at universities on the mainland. You spend a semester or a block in Longyearbyen, with Svalbard’s nature as your laboratory.

Courses
53
Language
English
Tuition
None
A student with trekking poles wades across a shallow river in early snow

When courses run

Bachelor courses (200 level) fill a whole semester: choose two to make 30 ECTS, since full-semester applicants get priority. Master and PhD courses (300 and 800 level) are shorter and more intensive, from a few weeks up to a semester.

  1. Autumn 2026
  2. 27 JulBachelor semester startsFull-semester courses, 15 ECTS each
  3. 10 AugBlock 5 startsMaster and PhD courses
  4. 1 SepApplications open for spring
  5. 28 SepBlock 6 starts
  6. 1 OctDeadline for spring courses
  7. You are here
  8. 9 NovBlock 7 starts
  9. Spring 2027
  10. 6 JanBachelor semester and Block 1 startSafety training comes first
  11. 1 FebApplications open for summer and autumn
  12. 1 MarBlock 2 starts. Deadline for summer and autumn courses
  13. 19 AprBlock 3 starts
Start dates from the UNIS course catalogue for autumn 2026 and spring 2027. Courses in each block vary in length, so check the course description for end dates.

All courses

53 courses shown

  • AB-20115 ECTSTerrestrial Arctic BiologyArctic Biology – Bachelor
  • AB-20215 ECTSMarine Arctic BiologyArctic Biology – Bachelor
  • AB-20315 ECTSArctic Environmental ManagementArctic Biology – Bachelor
  • AB-20415 ECTSArctic Population EcologyArctic Biology – Bachelor
  • AB-320/82010 ECTSArctic Marine ZooplanktonArctic Biology – Master and PhD
  • AB-327/82710 ECTSArctic MicrobiologyArctic Biology – Master and PhD
  • AB-329/82910 ECTSArctic Winter EcologyArctic Biology – Master and PhD
  • AB-330/83010 ECTSEcosystems in Ice Covered WatersArctic Biology – Master and PhD
  • AB-332/83210 ECTSArctic Marine Molecular EcologyArctic Biology – Master and PhD
  • AB-338/83810 ECTSLife History Adaptations to SeasonalityArctic Biology – Master and PhD
  • AB-340/84010 ECTSClimate Change BiologyArctic Biology – Master and PhD
  • AG-21115 ECTSArctic Marine GeologyArctic Geology – Bachelor
  • AG-21415 ECTSThe Geological Evolution of SvalbardArctic Geology – Bachelor
  • AG-21515 ECTSArctic Landforms and ProcessesArctic Geology – Bachelor
  • AG-21810 ECTSInternational Bachelor Permafrost Summer Field SchoolArctic Geology – Bachelor
  • AG-22010 ECTSEnvironmental Change in the High Arctic Landscape of SvalbardArctic Geology – Bachelor
  • AG-325/82510 ECTSGlaciologyArctic Geology – Master and PhD
  • AG-326/82610 ECTSArctic Quaternary EnvironmentsArctic Geology – Master and PhD
  • AG-336/83610 ECTSRift Basin Reservoirs: From Outcrop to ModelArctic Geology – Master and PhD
  • AG-342/84210 ECTSThe Marine Cryosphere and its Cenozoic HistoryArctic Geology – Master and PhD
  • AG-34610 ECTSSnow and Avalanche DynamicsArctic Geology – Master and PhD
  • AG-351/85110 ECTSArctic Tectonics and VolcanismArctic Geology – Master and PhD
  • AG-353/85310 ECTSArctic Terrestrial and Marine Climate HistoryArctic Geology – Master and PhD
  • AGF-21015 ECTSThe Middle Polar AtmosphereArctic Geophysics – Bachelor
  • AGF-21115 ECTSAir–Ice–Sea Interaction IArctic Geophysics – Bachelor
  • AGF-21215 ECTSSnow and Ice ProcessesArctic Geophysics – Bachelor
  • AGF-21315 ECTSPolar Meteorology and ClimateArctic Geophysics – Bachelor
  • AGF-21415 ECTSPolar Ocean ClimateArctic Geophysics – Bachelor
  • AGF-2165 ECTSThe Stormy Sun and the Northern LightsArctic Geophysics – Bachelor
  • AGF-22315 ECTSRemote Sensing and Space InstrumentationArctic Geophysics – Bachelor
  • AGF-301/80115 ECTSThe Upper Polar AtmosphereArctic Geophysics – Master and PhD
  • AGF-304/80415 ECTSRadar Applications for Space ResearchArctic Geophysics – Master and PhD
  • AGF-31210 ECTSRemote Sensing of the CryosphereArctic Geophysics – Master and PhD
  • AGF-345/84510 ECTSPolar Magnetospheric SubstormsArctic Geophysics – Master and PhD
  • AGF-350/85010 ECTSThe Arctic Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Local Climate ProcessesArctic Geophysics – Master and PhD
  • AE-341/84110 ECTSArctic Renewable Energy Exploration and DevelopmentArctic Technology – Master and PhD
  • AE-342/84210 ECTSArctic Energy MeteorologyArctic Technology – Master and PhD
  • AE-343/84310 ECTSArctic Renewable Energy Systems: Design, Integration and Project DeliveryArctic Technology – Master and PhD
  • AT-301/80110 ECTSArctic Infrastructures in a Changing ClimateArctic Technology – Master and PhD
  • AT-305/80510 ECTSFrozen Ground Engineering for Arctic InfrastructuresArctic Technology – Master and PhD
  • AT-311/81110 ECTSSea Ice Mechanics and PhysicsArctic Technology – Master and PhD
  • AT-319/81910 ECTSShipping in the ArcticArctic Technology – Master and PhD
  • AT-324/82410 ECTSDetection of Emerging Pollutants in the Arctic EnvironmentArctic Technology – Master and PhD
  • AT-330/83010 ECTSArctic Environmental ToxicologyArctic Technology – Master and PhD
  • AT-331/83110 ECTSArctic Environmental Pollution: Distribution and ProcessesArctic Technology – Master and PhD
  • AT-332/83210 ECTSPhysical Environmental Loads on Arctic Coastal and Offshore StructuresArctic Technology – Master and PhD
  • AT-334/83410 ECTSArctic Marine Measurements Techniques, Operations and TransportArctic Technology – Master and PhD
  • AS-1013 ECTSArctic Survival and SafetyArctic Safety Centre – Safety training
  • AS-1022 ECTSArctic Survival and Safety summer/autumnArctic Safety Centre – Safety training
  • AS-30210 ECTSSafety Management in the ArcticArctic Safety Centre – Master and PhD
  • AS-30310 ECTSEmergency Preparedness and Response in the ArcticArctic Safety Centre – Master and PhD
  • AS-30410 ECTSRisk Handling in the Arctic Operational ContextArctic Safety Centre – Master and PhD
  • AS-3705 ECTSIntegrated Arctic Studies: From History and Governance to Practical Field SafetyArctic Safety Centre – Master and PhD

Course numbers with two levels, such as AB-320/820, are taught together at master (300) and PhD (800) level. Some courses run every other year. Check each course description for dates, prerequisites and learning outcomes.

Courses that fit together

Each department recommends combinations, so one stay gives you a whole picture rather than single pieces.

Arctic Biology, spring

Take AB-329/829 Arctic Winter Ecology, AB-327/827 Arctic Microbiology and the Sea Ice Ecosystems block together, and follow Arctic ecosystems as the polar night recedes and summer arrives.

Arctic Biology, autumn

Marine Ecology of the Arctic Ocean, AB-332/832 Arctic Marine Molecular Ecology and AB-340/840 Climate Change Biology follow the short Arctic summer into the polar night.

Arctic Technology

Two courses run in each block, from AT-305 and AT-331 in January to AT-332 and AE-343 in November, so you can stay for one block or several.

Minor in Polar Science

A new pilot from autumn 2026, built on Arctic Safety Centre courses including AS-102 and AS-370.

Students lifting a drill rig on the tundra

Write your thesis at UNIS

Bachelor, master and PhD students can do fieldwork or their thesis at UNIS as guest students. You need a UNIS supervisor, a project within UNIS’ research themes, and a stay of at least three months.

Application deadlines
1 March, 1 June, 1 September and 1 December
Earliest arrival
1.5 months after the deadline

Bachelor students can also join planned fieldwork as field or lab assistants through UNISprout.

How guest students apply