Language skills
Programme length
1 years.
Study mode
Face-to-face learning
Application status
International students:
Students with Icelandic or Nordic citizenship:
- Are you interested in multicultural studies?
- Do you have experience working with immigrants or refugees?
- Do you want to build the skills you need to work with multicultural groups of refugees and immigrants?
- Do you want to acquire specialist knowledge in this field?
The micro-credential programme in multiculturalism, affairs of migrants and refugees is a 30 ECTS programme for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in the social, health or educational sciences.
The programme provides students with knowledge of the key theories, approaches and methods in social work used by those working with immigrants and refugees. Students acquire knowledge of the main trends and policies in research and academic debate within social work about issues affecting these two groups. The programme focuses on examining the circumstances of immigrants and refugees as a whole, including welfare services, employment and education, integration and social engagement, as well as national and local policy in these matters.
Programme structure
The programme is 30 ECTS and is organised as one year of part-time study.
The programme is made up of:
- Mandatory courses, 14 ECTS
- Elective courses, 16 ECTS
Organisation of teaching
This programme is taught in Icelandic and English but most textbooks are in English.
Teaching is in blocks, either streamed online or face-to-face on the UI campus.
Main objectives
The programme aims to meet the demand for professionals with improved skills and knowledge of issues affecting diverse groups of immigrants and refugees.
Other
It is possible to transfer credits from this programme to the research-based MA in social work, on the condition that admission requirements are met.
Applicants must hold a BA, BS, B.Ed. degree in social sciences, health sciences or educational sciences, with a grade point average of the Icelandic 7.25 (first class grades).
30 ECTS credits have to be completed for the qualification.
The following documents must accompany an application for this programme:
- CV
- Statement of purpose
- Certified copies of diplomas and transcripts
Further information on supporting documents can be found here
Programme structure
Check below to see how the programme is structured.
This programme does not offer specialisations.
- First year
- Fall
- Not taught this semesterReading course in spesialised area
- Refugees and asylum-seekers
- Spring 1
- Not taught this semesterMulticultural Social Work
Not taught this semester
First year | Fall
Reading course in spesialised area (FRG063F)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
4 ECTS, credits
Course Description
Reading course in spesialised area.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Prerequisites
First year | Fall
Refugees and asylum-seekers (FVS102M)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
6 ECTS, credits
Course Description
This course aims to increase professionals‘ and students‘ knowledge and understanding of refugees and asylum seekers from the perspective of social work, law and anthropology. The course will provide an overview of:
- Current issues in the field of refugees and asylum seekers with an emphasis on Iceland
- Key theories and concepts in forced migration
- Rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Icelandic legislation, internationall legislation and the relationship between human rights and the protection in legislation
- How gender and age and other social characteristics such as sexuality, disability, etc. shape positions and experiences
- Of different groups of refugees and asylum seekers s, such as quota refugees, asylum seekers, failed asylum seekers, victims of human trafficking etc.
- Of how multiple factors shape settlement experiences of individuals and families
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Prerequisites
Attendance required in class
Not taught this semester
First year | Spring 1
Multicultural Social Work (FRG008F)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description
The aim of the course is to increase specialized knowledge and skills in the field of work with diverse groups of refugees and immigrants in the field of social work. The situation of immigrants and refugees is discussed, as well as in the context of welfare services, education and employment. The course will focus on deepening students' knowledge, understanding and competence in cultural competence at work (cultural competence). Emphasis will also be placed on deepening students' knowledge of prevailing currents and policies in academic discussion, research and policy-making in refugee and immigration issues from a critical perspective.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
- Year unspecified
- Fall
- General Gender Studies
- Spring 1
- Not taught this semesterTheories of development
Year unspecified | Fall
General Gender Studies (KYN101F)
Free elective course within the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description
The course addresses the main issues in gender studies through the lens of diversity in modern societies. The gender perspective is applied to provide an overview of the status and condition of men and women. The origins and development of the fight for women’s rights and gender studies as an academic field. The main concepts of gender studies are introduced, including sex, gender, essentialism and constructivism. Finally, the course looks into how gender necessarily intersects with other social factors.
Teaching Arrangement: The course is based on flipped learning, which means that all lectures will be available on Canvas. On-campus and distance students attend weekly discussion sessions at the university or on Teams, and online students participate in weekly discussions on Canvas
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Online learning
Not taught this semester
Year unspecified | Spring 1
Theories of development (MAN019F)
Free elective course within the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description
This course deals with the main theories that have been presented to explain the division of the world into differently 'developed' areas and suggestions for their improvement. The concept of development will be examined, and economical, sociological, Marxist, feministic, post-theories and critical modernism theories on development will be discussed. There will also be a discussion on the Washington consensus and the post-Washington consensus along with perceptions of development as good governance and a corruption-free society. There will be an emphasis on the contribution of anthropology to theories of development and finally the interplay between theories of development and approaches in development co-operation will be explored.
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Online learning
First year
Additional information
Students' comments
Helpful content
Contact us
- Fall
- Not taught this semesterFRG063FReading course in spesialised areaMandatory (required) course4A mandatory (required) course for the programme4 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
Reading course in spesialised area.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesFVS102MRefugees and asylum-seekersMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThis course aims to increase professionals‘ and students‘ knowledge and understanding of refugees and asylum seekers from the perspective of social work, law and anthropology. The course will provide an overview of:
- Current issues in the field of refugees and asylum seekers with an emphasis on Iceland
- Key theories and concepts in forced migration
- Rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Icelandic legislation, internationall legislation and the relationship between human rights and the protection in legislation
- How gender and age and other social characteristics such as sexuality, disability, etc. shape positions and experiences
- Of different groups of refugees and asylum seekers s, such as quota refugees, asylum seekers, failed asylum seekers, victims of human trafficking etc.
- Of how multiple factors shape settlement experiences of individuals and families
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in class- Spring 2
Not taught this semesterFRG008FMulticultural Social WorkMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe aim of the course is to increase specialized knowledge and skills in the field of work with diverse groups of refugees and immigrants in the field of social work. The situation of immigrants and refugees is discussed, as well as in the context of welfare services, education and employment. The course will focus on deepening students' knowledge, understanding and competence in cultural competence at work (cultural competence). Emphasis will also be placed on deepening students' knowledge of prevailing currents and policies in academic discussion, research and policy-making in refugee and immigration issues from a critical perspective.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites- Fall
- KYN101FGeneral Gender StudiesElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The course addresses the main issues in gender studies through the lens of diversity in modern societies. The gender perspective is applied to provide an overview of the status and condition of men and women. The origins and development of the fight for women’s rights and gender studies as an academic field. The main concepts of gender studies are introduced, including sex, gender, essentialism and constructivism. Finally, the course looks into how gender necessarily intersects with other social factors.
Teaching Arrangement: The course is based on flipped learning, which means that all lectures will be available on Canvas. On-campus and distance students attend weekly discussion sessions at the university or on Teams, and online students participate in weekly discussions on Canvas
Face-to-face learningOnline learningPrerequisites- Spring 2
Not taught this semesterMAN019FTheories of developmentElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThis course deals with the main theories that have been presented to explain the division of the world into differently 'developed' areas and suggestions for their improvement. The concept of development will be examined, and economical, sociological, Marxist, feministic, post-theories and critical modernism theories on development will be discussed. There will also be a discussion on the Washington consensus and the post-Washington consensus along with perceptions of development as good governance and a corruption-free society. There will be an emphasis on the contribution of anthropology to theories of development and finally the interplay between theories of development and approaches in development co-operation will be explored.
Face-to-face learningOnline learningPrerequisites
Year unspecified- Fall
- Not taught this semesterFRG063FReading course in spesialised areaMandatory (required) course4A mandatory (required) course for the programme4 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
Reading course in spesialised area.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesFVS102MRefugees and asylum-seekersMandatory (required) course6A mandatory (required) course for the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThis course aims to increase professionals‘ and students‘ knowledge and understanding of refugees and asylum seekers from the perspective of social work, law and anthropology. The course will provide an overview of:
- Current issues in the field of refugees and asylum seekers with an emphasis on Iceland
- Key theories and concepts in forced migration
- Rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Icelandic legislation, internationall legislation and the relationship between human rights and the protection in legislation
- How gender and age and other social characteristics such as sexuality, disability, etc. shape positions and experiences
- Of different groups of refugees and asylum seekers s, such as quota refugees, asylum seekers, failed asylum seekers, victims of human trafficking etc.
- Of how multiple factors shape settlement experiences of individuals and families
Face-to-face learningPrerequisitesAttendance required in class- Spring 2
Not taught this semesterFRG008FMulticultural Social WorkMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThe aim of the course is to increase specialized knowledge and skills in the field of work with diverse groups of refugees and immigrants in the field of social work. The situation of immigrants and refugees is discussed, as well as in the context of welfare services, education and employment. The course will focus on deepening students' knowledge, understanding and competence in cultural competence at work (cultural competence). Emphasis will also be placed on deepening students' knowledge of prevailing currents and policies in academic discussion, research and policy-making in refugee and immigration issues from a critical perspective.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites- Fall
- KYN101FGeneral Gender StudiesElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The course addresses the main issues in gender studies through the lens of diversity in modern societies. The gender perspective is applied to provide an overview of the status and condition of men and women. The origins and development of the fight for women’s rights and gender studies as an academic field. The main concepts of gender studies are introduced, including sex, gender, essentialism and constructivism. Finally, the course looks into how gender necessarily intersects with other social factors.
Teaching Arrangement: The course is based on flipped learning, which means that all lectures will be available on Canvas. On-campus and distance students attend weekly discussion sessions at the university or on Teams, and online students participate in weekly discussions on Canvas
Face-to-face learningOnline learningPrerequisites- Spring 2
Not taught this semesterMAN019FTheories of developmentElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse DescriptionThis course deals with the main theories that have been presented to explain the division of the world into differently 'developed' areas and suggestions for their improvement. The concept of development will be examined, and economical, sociological, Marxist, feministic, post-theories and critical modernism theories on development will be discussed. There will also be a discussion on the Washington consensus and the post-Washington consensus along with perceptions of development as good governance and a corruption-free society. There will be an emphasis on the contribution of anthropology to theories of development and finally the interplay between theories of development and approaches in development co-operation will be explored.
Face-to-face learningOnline learningPrerequisites
The University of Iceland collaborates with over 400 universities worldwide. This provides a unique opportunity to pursue part of your studies at an international university thus gaining added experience and fresh insight into your field of study.
Students generally have the opportunity to join an exchange programme, internship, or summer courses. However, exchanges are always subject to faculty approval.
Students have the opportunity to have courses evaluated as part of their studies at the University of Iceland, so their stay does not have to affect the duration of their studies.
An education in this area can open up opportunities in:
- Welfare services
- Social work
- Employment and education
- National and local government
This list is not exhaustive
Faró is the organisation for social work students at the University of Iceland.
Students appreciate the University of Iceland for its strong academic reputation, modern campus facilities, close-knit community, and affordable tuition.
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School of Social Sciences
Weekdays 9 am - 3 pm
Student and Teaching Service
The School office offers support to students and lecturers, providing guidance, counselling, and assistance with various matters.
You are welcome to drop by at the office in Gimli or you can book an online meeting in Teams with the staff.