Arctic Studies Program ASP

The Arctic Studies Program (ASP) offers a unique opportunity to specialize in Arctic issues. The approach of the ASP is truly multidisciplinary and it provides comprehensive knowledge of the physical, environmental, social and cultural aspects of the Arctic. Located on the Arctic Circle, the University of Lapland has been offering students the opportunity to study Arctic issues in Rovaniemi, Finland since 1992.

The ASP is organized and coordinated by the University of Lapland’s Arctic Centre and Faculty of Social Sciences. The programme is connected to the Arctic Centre’s Research Department and the courses in the programme are taught by senior scientists and other researchers at the Arctic Centre and the Faculty of Social Sciences. The Arctic Centre’s researchers, who represent various nationalities and disciplines, use an interdisciplinary approach to study northern questions. The research sheds light in many ways on opportunities in and threats to Arctic areas.

After completion of the programme the student is able to:

Please note that the Arctic Studies Program ASP does not award a degree!

Students and Studies

The ASP is designed for Finnish and foreign degree students, exchange students, and special groups. The courses are taught in English. ASP studies are subject-level studies, and it is therefore not recommended that students take them as part of their first-year program.

The studies can be completed by either taking individual courses or taking part in the more extensive 30 - 60 ECTS credit modules. Students are required to register for all individual courses in advance by using WebOodi system. Those exchange students who plan to complete the whole programme (60 ECTS) are required to send a separate application to University of Lapland. The application deadline for studies in full academic year and Autumn semester 2013 is May 15 and for the advanced level studies in Spring semester October 15.

The ASP has no tuition fee. However, during excursions and trips students must be prepared to meet all expenses from private funds or from scholarships obtained in their own country. The University of Lapland does not have any funds available to support students in need of financial assistance.

Studying in Lapland

The University of Lapland, located on the Arctic Circle in the city of Rovaniemi, is the perfect choice for studying in the North.

Our contemporary premises and relatively small sized campus provide students with a cosy atmosphere in which to learn, study, and relax in. As the northernmost university in Finland and in the European Union, issues pertaining to the Arctic and circumpolar North constitute essential topics in our research and teaching. Additionally, we are the only university in Finland which specializes in Arctic themes, and our Faculty of Law is one of only three universities in its own field in Finland.

Tuition fees

University of Lapland does not charge tuition fees from degree students. Higher education in Finland is supported by the Finnish government, which means that both Finnish and international students can benefit from one of the world's best education systems, free of charge.

Coordination and Contacts

The International Studies Coordinator is responsible for the practical implementation of the programme as well as practical matters such as disseminating information about the programme, study counselling and the scheduling of courses in close cooperation with the researchers and academics from the Arctic Centre and the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Please see detailed information on the structure of the programme, admission and eligibility criteria and application process on the programme web-pages:
http://www.ulapland.fi/asp.