Why did the governance of the life of populations become a central concern for modern states and what have the consequences been for life? Beginning in 2012, the University of Lapland will enable students to answer these questions by offering the first ever master's degree programme in Global Biopolitics. The University of Lapland is host to a unique community of research and teaching expertise in this area.

The programme provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the politics of ‘life’ through a training in the theories and concepts of biopolitics, as formulated by Michel Foucault and other key thinkers such as Gilles Deleuze, Giorgio Agamben, Antonio Negri and Roberto Esposito.

The master's degree programme in Global Biopolitics is a 2-year research-based programme. The  programme will focus on the importance of biopolitics for the development of issues accross the Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, and International Politics especially. The programme will examine how ‘biopolitics’ provides a distinctive way of understanding how states and other political powers have learnt to govern populations in the global era, as well as how biopolitical governance has developed in constitution of global problems.

The course will engage students in the study of a broad range of biopolitical issues, historical and contemporary, practical and theoretical, from a variety of perspectives, but with particular attention to the importance of biopolitics for problems of war, peace, violence, security, and development.

What will you learn?

Students will learn how the concept of biopolitics opens up new and distinctive perspectives for political theorists and the critique of power, naming distinct forms of power and domains of struggle, and how the concept and problem of the political is changing as a result.

Ready to apply?

The Master's Degree Programme in Global Biopolitics (120 ECTS) consists of major subject studies in international relations including a master's thesis (40 ECTS).

Graduates will be awarded a Master of Social Sciences (M. Soc. Sc.) degree.
 
To be eligible for the master's degree programme in Global Biopolitics, you must have:
 
• Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS)  in the field of social sciences or in the relevant field of humanities
• good command of English language.

Only those applications which fulfil these requirements will be evaluated.

Student Selection

Student intake for the master’s degree programme in Global Biopolitics is max 10 students. Student selection is based on the Application Form and required enclosures, and carried out by a selection committee at the University of Lapland. The most academically qualified applicants will be granted admission. Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the application form and supporting documents. The principal criterion for admissions will be the content of applicant’s previous studies, which should enable the applicant to continue his/her studies in global biopolitics. In addition, applicant’s success in previous studies (grades), interest and motivation will be considered. Results of the selection process will be announced by April 26th 2012. Information about results and beginning of the education will be announced to all applicants by letter and by email.

Important Dates and Timelines

Study Period: 01.09.2012 – 30.09.2014
Application Period: 1 December 2011 – 17 February 2012
Student Selection Results: 26 April 2012
Accepting the Study Place By: 31 July 2012

For further information

If you have questions concerning the studies, the admission requirements and the application process, feel free to Contact Us