Language skills
Programme length
Full time study for three academic years after an MS degree, or four years after a BS degree.
Study mode
Face-to-face learning
Application status
International students:
Students with Icelandic or Nordic citizenship:
MS degree from the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, or equivalent.
The doctoral programme is primarily based on the doctoral candidate's independent research, culminating in the dissertation. However, the Ph.D. committee may require the candidate to take courses in addition to the research. 180 credits are required for the Ph.D. dissertation. Credits for courses are added to the credits required for the dissertation.
The following documents must accompany an application for this programme:
- CV
- Statement of purpose
- Research proposal
- Study plan
- Research project
- Reference 1, Name and email
- Reference 2, Name and email
- Supervisor/supervising teacher at the University of Iceland
- Certified copies of diplomas and transcripts
- Copy of grant or scholarship application and/or confirmation, if applicable
- Proof of English proficiency
Further information on supporting documents can be found here.
Applicants are required to:
- Find a departmental coordinator/supervisor and are advised to contact the teachers in the field they are interested in to find a supervisor.
- Have an idea for a research project before applying.
Supporting document - instructions
Statement of purpose
A short description of your motivation for applying for the graduate program ( ½- 1 page A4).
- state the reasons why you want to pursue graduate work in the field of your study programme
- state issues and problems you want to address
- state your professional goals
- briefly describe why you chose the University of Iceland
- please specify the name of your supervisor
Your statement of purpose, written in English, should be uploaded and submitted as a PDF file with your online application
Project plan
Students need to hand in a project plan before the end of the first semester, in collaboration with their supervisor.
Approved Project plan should be sent by email to project managers of graduate studies for documentation.
PhD Committee
Before the end of the first semester, the administrative supervisor shall propose doctoral committee members to the respective faculty's postgraduate study committee for approval.
PhD students are required to hand in information about the PhD committee by email to the project manager of PhD studies.
Email: phdsens@hi.is
Programme structure
Check below to see how the programme is structured.
This programme does not offer specialisations.
- Year unspecified
- Fall
- Final project
- Research in Geography and Tourism 1
- Research in Geography and Tourism 3
- Spring 1
- Final project
- Research in Geography and Tourism 2
- Research in Geography and Tourism 4
Year unspecified | Fall
Final project (LAN561L)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
0 ECTS, credits
Course Description
Description missingLanguage of instruction: Icelandic/English
Self-study
Part of the total project/thesis credits
Year unspecified | Fall
Research in Geography and Tourism 1 (LAN117F)
Free elective course within the programme
2 ECTS, credits
Course Description
The course is a venue for Master‘s students in geography and tourism to collectively discuss about scientific subjects and approaches in their fields. Students present their own research ideas and proposals, and scrutinize those of their peers. Selected theoretical or methodological approaches presently prominent in the disciplines are discussed and critically evaluated.
The students and course organisers meet in the second teaching week of the semester. The organisation of the Master‘s programmes is thoroughly explained, and checked whether that all new students have been allocated a supervisor and other formal requirements have been met. Ideas of new students about their own topics are briefly discussed. Also students and course organisers decide jointly which topics should be taken up for discussion later during the semester. Teachers select some key readings for those topics and make them available to students. The main part of the course consists of a two-day workshop held during the department‘s project week. The attendance of enrolled Master‘s students is mandatory. Doctoral candidates, post-doctoral fellows and academic staff are encouraged to attend also. At the workshop, the topics selected at the start of the semester are discussed in detail. Master‘s students present their research proposals, which are reviewed thoroughly by fellow students and teachers. Students who are getting close to completing the Master‘s programme reflect on their own experiences to those who have started more recently.
The course is mandatory for all Master‘s students in geography and tourism studies. It is held both in autumn and spring semesters. Each student should enrol and fully participate during three semesters, with 2 credits awarded for each time, and a total of 6 credits over the three semesters. Exemption from the rule of three semester participation can only be made if a student spends part of the study period on exchange abroad, or if a study period is shorter than four semesters.
Course evaluation is based on participation and activity in class.
Language of instruction: Icelandic/English
Face-to-face learning
Attendance required in class
Year unspecified | Fall
Research in Geography and Tourism 3 (LAN301F)
Free elective course within the programme
2 ECTS, credits
Course Description
The course is a venue for Master‘s students in geography and tourism to collectively discuss about scientific subjects and approaches in their fields. Students present their own research ideas and proposals, and scrutinize those of their peers. Selected theoretical or methodological approaches presently prominent in the disciplines are discussed and critically evaluated.
The students and course organisers meet in the second teaching week of the semester. The organisation of the Master‘s programmes is thoroughly explained, and checked whether that all new students have been allocated a supervisor and other formal requirements have been met. Ideas of new students about their own topics are briefly discussed. Also students and course organisers decide jointly which topics should be taken up for discussion later during the semester. Teachers select some key readings for those topics and make them available to students. The main part of the course consists of a two-day workshop held during the department‘s project week. The attendance of enrolled Master‘s students is mandatory. Doctoral candidates, post-doctoral fellows and academic staff are encouraged to attend also. At the workshop, the topics selected at the start of the semester are discussed in detail. Master‘s students present their research proposals, which are reviewed thoroughly by fellow students and teachers. Students who are getting close to completing the Master‘s programme reflect on their own experiences to those who have started more recently.
The course is mandatory for all Master‘s students in geography and tourism studies. It is held both in autumn and spring semesters. Each student should enrol and fully participate during three semesters, with 2 credits awarded for each time, and a total of 6 credits over the three semesters. Exemption from the rule of three semester participation can only be made if a student spends part of the study period on exchange abroad, or if a study period is shorter than four semesters.
Course evaluation is based on participation and activity in class.
Language of instruction: Icelandic/English
Face-to-face learning
Attendance required in class
Year unspecified | Spring 1
Final project (LAN561L)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
0 ECTS, credits
Course Description
Description missingLanguage of instruction: Icelandic/English
Self-study
Part of the total project/thesis credits
Year unspecified | Spring 1
Research in Geography and Tourism 2 (LAN219F)
Free elective course within the programme
2 ECTS, credits
Course Description
The course is a venue for Master‘s students in geography and tourism to collectively discuss about scientific subjects and approaches in their fields. Students present their own research ideas and proposals, and scrutinize those of their peers. Selected theoretical or methodological approaches presently prominent in the disciplines are discussed and critically evaluated.
The students and course organisers meet in the second teaching week of the semester. The organisation of the Master‘s programmes is thoroughly explained, and checked whether that all new students have been allocated a supervisor and other formal requirements have been met. Ideas of new students about their own topics are briefly discussed. Also students and course organisers decide jointly which topics should be taken up for discussion later during the semester. Teachers select some key readings for those topics and make them available to students. The main part of the course consists of a two-day workshop held during the department‘s project week. The attendance of enrolled Master‘s students is mandatory. Doctoral candidates, post-doctoral fellows and academic staff are encouraged to attend also. At the workshop, the topics selected at the start of the semester are discussed in detail. Master‘s students present their research proposals, which are reviewed thoroughly by fellow students and teachers. Students who are getting close to completing the Master‘s programme reflect on their own experiences to those who have started more recently.
The course is mandatory for all Master‘s students in geography and tourism studies. It is held both in autumn and spring semesters. Each student should enrol and fully participate during three semesters, with 2 credits awarded for each time, and a total of 6 credits over the three semesters. Exemption from the rule of three semester participation can only be made if a student spends part of the study period on exchange abroad, or if a study period is shorter than four semesters.
Course evaluation is based on participation and activity in class.
Language of instruction: Icelandic/English
Face-to-face learning
Attendance required in class
Year unspecified | Spring 1
Research in Geography and Tourism 4 (LAN416F)
Free elective course within the programme
2 ECTS, credits
Course Description
The course is a venue for Master‘s students in geography and tourism to collectively discuss about scientific subjects and approaches in their fields. Students present their own research ideas and proposals, and scrutinize those of their peers. Selected theoretical or methodological approaches presently prominent in the disciplines are discussed and critically evaluated.
The students and course organisers meet in the second teaching week of the semester. The organisation of the Master‘s programmes is thoroughly explained, and checked whether that all new students have been allocated a supervisor and other formal requirements have been met. Ideas of new students about their own topics are briefly discussed. Also students and course organisers decide jointly which topics should be taken up for discussion later during the semester. Teachers select some key readings for those topics and make them available to students. The main part of the course consists of a two-day workshop held during the department‘s project week. The attendance of enrolled Master‘s students is mandatory. Doctoral candidates, post-doctoral fellows and academic staff are encouraged to attend also. At the workshop, the topics selected at the start of the semester are discussed in detail. Master‘s students present their research proposals, which are reviewed thoroughly by fellow students and teachers. Students who are getting close to completing the Master‘s programme reflect on their own experiences to those who have started more recently.
The course is mandatory for all Master‘s students in geography and tourism studies. It is held both in autumn and spring semesters. Each student should enrol and fully participate during three semesters, with 2 credits awarded for each time, and a total of 6 credits over the three semesters. Exemption from the rule of three semester participation can only be made if a student spends part of the study period on exchange abroad, or if a study period is shorter than four semesters.
Course evaluation is based on participation and activity in class.
Language of instruction: Icelandic/English
Face-to-face learning
Attendance required in class
Year unspecified
- Fall
- LAN561LFinal projectMandatory (required) course0A mandatory (required) course for the programme0 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionDescription missingSelf-studyPrerequisitesPart of the total project/thesis creditsLAN117FResearch in Geography and Tourism 1Elective course2Free elective course within the programme2 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The course is a venue for Master‘s students in geography and tourism to collectively discuss about scientific subjects and approaches in their fields. Students present their own research ideas and proposals, and scrutinize those of their peers. Selected theoretical or methodological approaches presently prominent in the disciplines are discussed and critically evaluated.
The students and course organisers meet in the second teaching week of the semester. The organisation of the Master‘s programmes is thoroughly explained, and checked whether that all new students have been allocated a supervisor and other formal requirements have been met. Ideas of new students about their own topics are briefly discussed. Also students and course organisers decide jointly which topics should be taken up for discussion later during the semester. Teachers select some key readings for those topics and make them available to students. The main part of the course consists of a two-day workshop held during the department‘s project week. The attendance of enrolled Master‘s students is mandatory. Doctoral candidates, post-doctoral fellows and academic staff are encouraged to attend also. At the workshop, the topics selected at the start of the semester are discussed in detail. Master‘s students present their research proposals, which are reviewed thoroughly by fellow students and teachers. Students who are getting close to completing the Master‘s programme reflect on their own experiences to those who have started more recently.
The course is mandatory for all Master‘s students in geography and tourism studies. It is held both in autumn and spring semesters. Each student should enrol and fully participate during three semesters, with 2 credits awarded for each time, and a total of 6 credits over the three semesters. Exemption from the rule of three semester participation can only be made if a student spends part of the study period on exchange abroad, or if a study period is shorter than four semesters.
Course evaluation is based on participation and activity in class.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in classLAN301FResearch in Geography and Tourism 3Elective course2Free elective course within the programme2 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course is a venue for Master‘s students in geography and tourism to collectively discuss about scientific subjects and approaches in their fields. Students present their own research ideas and proposals, and scrutinize those of their peers. Selected theoretical or methodological approaches presently prominent in the disciplines are discussed and critically evaluated.
The students and course organisers meet in the second teaching week of the semester. The organisation of the Master‘s programmes is thoroughly explained, and checked whether that all new students have been allocated a supervisor and other formal requirements have been met. Ideas of new students about their own topics are briefly discussed. Also students and course organisers decide jointly which topics should be taken up for discussion later during the semester. Teachers select some key readings for those topics and make them available to students. The main part of the course consists of a two-day workshop held during the department‘s project week. The attendance of enrolled Master‘s students is mandatory. Doctoral candidates, post-doctoral fellows and academic staff are encouraged to attend also. At the workshop, the topics selected at the start of the semester are discussed in detail. Master‘s students present their research proposals, which are reviewed thoroughly by fellow students and teachers. Students who are getting close to completing the Master‘s programme reflect on their own experiences to those who have started more recently.
The course is mandatory for all Master‘s students in geography and tourism studies. It is held both in autumn and spring semesters. Each student should enrol and fully participate during three semesters, with 2 credits awarded for each time, and a total of 6 credits over the three semesters. Exemption from the rule of three semester participation can only be made if a student spends part of the study period on exchange abroad, or if a study period is shorter than four semesters.
Course evaluation is based on participation and activity in class.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in class- Spring 2
LAN561LFinal projectMandatory (required) course0A mandatory (required) course for the programme0 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionDescription missingSelf-studyPrerequisitesPart of the total project/thesis creditsLAN219FResearch in Geography and Tourism 2Elective course2Free elective course within the programme2 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course is a venue for Master‘s students in geography and tourism to collectively discuss about scientific subjects and approaches in their fields. Students present their own research ideas and proposals, and scrutinize those of their peers. Selected theoretical or methodological approaches presently prominent in the disciplines are discussed and critically evaluated.
The students and course organisers meet in the second teaching week of the semester. The organisation of the Master‘s programmes is thoroughly explained, and checked whether that all new students have been allocated a supervisor and other formal requirements have been met. Ideas of new students about their own topics are briefly discussed. Also students and course organisers decide jointly which topics should be taken up for discussion later during the semester. Teachers select some key readings for those topics and make them available to students. The main part of the course consists of a two-day workshop held during the department‘s project week. The attendance of enrolled Master‘s students is mandatory. Doctoral candidates, post-doctoral fellows and academic staff are encouraged to attend also. At the workshop, the topics selected at the start of the semester are discussed in detail. Master‘s students present their research proposals, which are reviewed thoroughly by fellow students and teachers. Students who are getting close to completing the Master‘s programme reflect on their own experiences to those who have started more recently.
The course is mandatory for all Master‘s students in geography and tourism studies. It is held both in autumn and spring semesters. Each student should enrol and fully participate during three semesters, with 2 credits awarded for each time, and a total of 6 credits over the three semesters. Exemption from the rule of three semester participation can only be made if a student spends part of the study period on exchange abroad, or if a study period is shorter than four semesters.
Course evaluation is based on participation and activity in class.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in classLAN416FResearch in Geography and Tourism 4Elective course2Free elective course within the programme2 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe course is a venue for Master‘s students in geography and tourism to collectively discuss about scientific subjects and approaches in their fields. Students present their own research ideas and proposals, and scrutinize those of their peers. Selected theoretical or methodological approaches presently prominent in the disciplines are discussed and critically evaluated.
The students and course organisers meet in the second teaching week of the semester. The organisation of the Master‘s programmes is thoroughly explained, and checked whether that all new students have been allocated a supervisor and other formal requirements have been met. Ideas of new students about their own topics are briefly discussed. Also students and course organisers decide jointly which topics should be taken up for discussion later during the semester. Teachers select some key readings for those topics and make them available to students. The main part of the course consists of a two-day workshop held during the department‘s project week. The attendance of enrolled Master‘s students is mandatory. Doctoral candidates, post-doctoral fellows and academic staff are encouraged to attend also. At the workshop, the topics selected at the start of the semester are discussed in detail. Master‘s students present their research proposals, which are reviewed thoroughly by fellow students and teachers. Students who are getting close to completing the Master‘s programme reflect on their own experiences to those who have started more recently.
The course is mandatory for all Master‘s students in geography and tourism studies. It is held both in autumn and spring semesters. Each student should enrol and fully participate during three semesters, with 2 credits awarded for each time, and a total of 6 credits over the three semesters. Exemption from the rule of three semester participation can only be made if a student spends part of the study period on exchange abroad, or if a study period is shorter than four semesters.
Course evaluation is based on participation and activity in class.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in class
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