UiO-PRIO Student Programme
The deadline for placements at PRIO beginning in the spring semester 2022 is 1st November 2021. Those wishing to apply for a place on the programme beginning in the autumn semester 2022 should await a new call in March 2022.
Since 2016, the University of Oslo (UiO) and PRIO have been engaged in a strategic partnership. As a vital part of this collaborative relationship, up to ten UiO master's students each year are offered a place in the vibrant, international and interdisciplinary research environment on peace and conflict at PRIO. Students from all UiO faculties and departments are welcome to apply. Students based at Dept. of Archaeology, Conservation and History (IAKH), Dept. of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages (IKOS), Centre for Gender Research (STK) and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR), with which PRIO has active collaboration agreements, are especially encouraged to apply.
To be considered for this programme, your thesis topic must be thematically related to one of our ongoing research projects or relevant to the strategic interests of our individual researchers or groups. A set of topic suggestions are listed below, including both broad, generic themes and specific topics. It is also possible to develop your own idea, although you should do so in consultation with a potential contact person at PRIO. You should be in the second year of your master’s during your time at PRIO.
If your application is successful, you will be affiliated with one of our three research departments. Your work on your master's thesis will be an integral part of PRIO’s research activities. You will be assigned a PRIO researcher as a main contact person, provided with a work station and provided with full access to our facilities on par with regular staff. You are expected to invest ample time and resources into working on your thesis, and we will do our part in supporting you to fulfil your academic potential. PRIO also expects your commitment to academic excellence, relevance and utility for stakeholders, public dissemination and sharing of results, and to PRIO’s overall mission.
The placement is granted for a maximum of nine months. In agreement with your PRIO contact person and the PRIO administration, you may be awarded an additional two-month extension to convert your thesis into an academic article for publication in an international academic journal.
To further invest in developing your professional skills and gain a deeper insight into the activities of a peace research institute, you are encouraged to take on paid part-time work at PRIO (up to one day a week) doing research assistance work, internal work for the institute administration, or related to communication activities. All students will also be offered the chance to participate in a thesis writing workshop run by PRIO’s special adviser on project development and publications, Lynn Nygaard.
The standard spring semester start date for a master’s placement at PRIO is the first Monday in January. The standard autumn semester start date is 1st September. However, start dates and duration of stay (up to a maximum of nine months) are negotiable.
Criteria employed in the selection process are above all academic merit and fit with PRIO’s research agenda. Attention is also given to gender balance and diversity.
How to apply
Interested students are welcome to submit applications to David Allen via e-mail. Your application should include:
- A motivation letter
NB: Please indicate one or more relevant potential contact person(s) at PRIO, as well as relevant research groups, centres and/or projects. Please also state your preferred start date and duration of placement (no longer than nine months or until you are due to submit your thesis, whichever is earlier), and when you plan to submit your thesis.
- A project outline
NB: Please include a preliminary title, possible research questions, suggestions for potential cases to be studied, methods for data collection and analysis, and suggestions for theoretical or conceptual discussions to draw on, with a short list of key references. Please also include details of your study programme and the name of your supervisor(s) at UiO.
- CV
- Transcripts and diplomas
- Recommendation letters (optional)
Please send your application as a single PDF.
If you have questions, please contact David Allen.
Prospective Thesis Topics