Master in Techno-Anthropology, MSc

Master in Techno-Anthropology, MSc is one of 3 English-taught Anthropology programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 3 institutions. 3 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 4,000 to EUR 6,700; this programme lists EUR 5,100 a year. 2 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

The Master's in Techno-Anthropology at Aalborg University is a two-year programme taught in English. It is 120 ECTS, with 1 ECTS equal to 27.5 hours of work. You learn to understand both the technical side and the human side of new solutions, and how the two are connected in practice. The programme is based on the Aalborg Model of Problem-Based Learning: you analyse specific problems in context and propose, discuss and often implement solutions.

What you study

The programme focuses on the interaction between people and technology, and on digital transformations in society. You work with technology assessment, innovation, technology-driven change, use of technology and technology ethics. You learn to manage complex socio-technical issues that involve many stakeholders.

In the first year, each semester combines courses and a group project. The first semester (TAN7) looks at technological transformations in private, public and community organisations. Courses are Framing Techno-Anthropological Transformation, Digital Anthropology, and Introduction to Scripting, Data Mining, and Machine Learning. The second semester focuses on facilitating technological transformations, with attention to controversial technological developments and emerging products and practices. Courses are Facilitating Techno-Anthropological Transformations, Digital Controversy Mapping, and Emerging Science and Technology.

On the third semester you do a 30 ECTS project in an external setting. You can choose a project while based in an external organisation or company, an action research project, a digital ethnographic fieldwork-based project, or an interdisciplinary project on sustainable development. You can also take this semester abroad, either as a project-oriented study in an external organisation or at a partner university. Partner options include the University of Twente, Istanbul Technological University and Delft University of Technology. The fourth semester is the Master's thesis (30 ECTS), where you can analyse empirical material from your third-semester fieldwork or start a new project. You work in groups of up to 3 people.

How the programme is organised

Courses take up about half of each first-year semester; the rest is group project work. The third semester is a major project in an external organisation, with workshops held through the semester to support you methodically, theoretically and personally. The final semester is the thesis. The programme is offered in Aalborg.

Who it suits

The programme is relevant if you have a Bachelor's in techno-anthropology, engineering or social sciences, or a professional bachelor's degree in health sciences, for example as a nurse or midwife. It suits people who want to work as a link between engineers, users, decision-makers and developers, and who want to make technology more meaningful, responsible and useful.

Admission, language and next steps

Teaching is in English. The programme is open to applicants with the backgrounds listed above. For admission details and requirements, see the programme's admission page. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland study free of charge; other students pay a fee set by the institution. Applications for master's programmes go directly to the institution. A free e-course introduces key theoretical and methodological topics, especially for students without a Bachelor's in Techno-Anthropology; it has an introduction and 7 modules, with about 6 hours per week for 3 weeks. To enrol, email Introt-a@plan.aau.dk with the subject 'Enrol me'.

Master’s applications go straight to Aalborg University, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, residence permits and housing.