During the third semester, you will spend time collecting data for your master’s thesis. This semester gives you an opportunity to practically engage in your specialized thematic area and research methodology of your choice.
It is during the fieldwork where you can test out basic community- and global health concepts you gained during your previous semesters and gain real world experiences in Norway or abroad. In addition, you can build skills and competencies in engaging with the community and other relevant stakeholders through the implementation of your project.
Choose your thematic area and methodology
The choice of thematic idea to your master project comes from your own research interests and is independently developed and organized by you.
You can choose to develop a research protocol for collection of primary data using quantitative or qualitative methodology or a combination of both depending on your research questions/objectives.
You may also choose to conduct analysis of already collected data from routine available data collection surveys, surveillances or ongoing or previous research projects.
Data collection in different places
Data collection can take place in different locations across the globe or among different groups depending on your project, such as:
- at a public or private organization such as a national or local archive, a hospital, a health center for undocumented migrants, etc.,
- in a particular community like refugees, nurses, an ethnic group, etc.
- within an existing research collaboration that your supervisor have abroad or in Norway.
- in the general population within or outside of Norway depending on your research question
Choose your research fieldwork destination
You can choose your fieldwork destination based on your own interests, or relevant to your previous or current place of work.
Many of our international students choose to conduct their fieldwork in their home countries, while others do their fieldwork in Norway or a third country. Norwegian students are encouraged to carry out their research abroad as well.
Our master's students have previously travelled to all parts of the world to conduct research fieldwork that have contributed to improving global community health.
Our students have travelled to almost all continents and in countries such as Norway, Brazil, India, Nepal, Tibet, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Canada, and the USA, just to mention a few.
Thesis topics among our former students
Our students have done their projects on a large variety of topics such as those related to:
- pandemic preparedness
- mental health
- communicable diseases such as Tuberculosis, HIV pandemic and Covid-19
- reproductive health and child health services quality and rights
- domestic and sexual violence
- non-communicable diseases including cancer, diabetics, cardiovascular diseases.
- migration and health
- planetary and one health
- various topics in basic and laboratory sciences
The above are just a few examples. You can find more master projects and be inspired by looking at: DUO - UIOs research archive
Support for field work travel expenses for master students
The Institute of Health and Society (HELSAM) provide modest financial support for students pursing master’s degree programme at the institute, to facilitate fieldwork activities outside the EU/EEA related to their theses.
The Distinguished International Community Health Master Thesis Award
The award intends to recognize an outstanding thesis of a graduate of master in International community health programme at the Institute of Health and Society.
Master research project
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Collecting register data on bone fractures in Norway
Conducting master research is challenging and fulfilling process. Sepideh Semsarian did a cohort study on forearm fractures where she used register data from Norway of 143,476 patients treated in Norwegian hospitals between 2008-2019.
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Students at the University of Oslo study health and policymaking in a global perspective
With a master’s degree in International Community Health from the University of Oslo, students will acquire a global perspective on health, and work towards reaching global goals of universal health coverage.
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International Community Health is a multicultural and multidisciplinary master’s program
A master’s degree in International Community Health from the University of Oslo provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to proceed with an international career in global health.
Read more about fieldwork and a semester abroad
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Fieldwork on dental care in Hargeisa, Somaliland
Abdelrahman Eid Mohamed Ismail Dahroug travelled to Hargeisa in Somaliland to collect data on dental caries status and related risk factors of children in primary schools.
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Research fieldwork about maternity care in Tanzania
– My background is in development studies and I am passionate about research around women's health - specifically the social aspects, says Merete Graneng.
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Travel for fieldwork during your master’s degree in International Community Health
Students at the master’s program in International Community Health at the University of Oslo spend a semester doing fieldwork. Learn more about Professor Heidi Fjeld’s fieldwork in South-Asia.
