Arctic Indigenous Cinema

Programme overview

Degree: Master of Arts (Art and Design)
Credits: 120 ECTS
Duration of studies: 2 years
Application period: September 1, 2025 – September 11, 2025 (by 3pm Finnish time)
Student selection results: October 20, 2025 at the latest
Study right begins: January 2026

What will you learn?

During the degree, the student will develop knowledge, artistic skills and competence in: 

• The dramaturgy, narrative forms and expression of film, moving image genres and media art 
• Screenwriting for moving images, film, and interactive media works 
• Directing processes and production practices in fiction film, documentary film and media art
• Different artistic skills in film-making or more broadly in the audiovisual field
• Academic research in Indigenous storytelling from a theoretical or artistic research tradition 

 To be eligible you must have: 

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in media, visual arts, drama, theatre, or journalism OR another relevant field. The relevance and eligibility of a degree from another field will be determined by the admission committee.
• A good command of the English language for academic purposes (demonstrating language proficiency).
• The Faculty of Art and Design may, under special circumstances, approve an alternative way of demonstrating eligibility criteria beyond those listed above. 
• An applicant who has completed a first-cycle degree in a relevant field of study from an institution of higher education, entitling her/him to apply for master’s degree studies in her/his home country, may apply to master’s degree studies

Career Opportunities

 Career options are open to graduates, for example:

• Working in the film and media industry
• Working independent creative consultancy and expert in Indigenous Cinema in different institutions and companies
• Academic research, researcher or development project management
  
  

Studying in Lapland

While mingling with our friendly teachers and students from all over the world and making your own academic path, you will have achieved your goals before you even know it. The extraordinary Aurora Borealis, amazing blue moment - kaamos, delightful midnight sun in summertime, mystical polar nights in wintertime, and many other natural wonders make Rovaniemi one of the most unique places to study in the world.

More information:

How to apply?

>> All applications via Studyinfo
>> More information on applying, start here

Admissions criteria and student selection for 2026

Structure of studies

Arctic Indigenous Cinema (120 ECTS) Master's Degree Study Structure:

• Orientation Studies 5 ECTS cr.
• Mandatory Studies Arctic Indigenous Cinema 90 ECTS cr.
• Elective Studies 25 ECTS cr.
  

Research focus

Arctic Indigenous Cinema and Indigenous issues in a northern context. 

Learning outcomes: 

The learning outcomes of this masters programme are:

• expertise in the cinema expression and moving image genres 
• competence in film scriptwriting, developing and directing moving image projects 
• advanced skills in Indigenous cinema and media content creation  
• research and evaluation skills in Indigenous cinema and media 
• academic skills at master’s degree level 
  

Description
The Arctic Indigenous Cinema programme responds to the need for competence building and bringing new talent into the field of Indigenous storytelling, particularly within higher education, in the scope of audiovisual media. The programme focuses on Indigenous storytelling through film and moving images. Students are encouraged to find their narrative voice and tell meaningful stories by being equipped with cinematic tools and skills. Indigenous identity and perspectives form the foundation for both artistic practice and academic research within the programme.

Thesis

The master’s thesis is a scientific thesis, which can also include an artistic production part. The student becomes skilled in independent data acquisition, creative problem solving, scientific thinking, and in managing appropriate research methods. In the seminar, the students utilise their research process to get acquainted with the literature and research methods related to their field. The scientific thesis must demonstrate a good command of the principles, theme, and methods of applied cinema/moving image/media/visual art or other relevant topics in scientific communication and the ability to generate new knowledge. The cinema production or another artistic work as part of the thesis must demonstrate skills in high-quality and creative applied cinema/moving image/media/visual art activity and in producing a related analysis (scientific part).

Go International at University of Lapland

As a student at the University of Lapland, you can get international experience for example by going for an exchange or doing an internship abroad, participating on a short mobility, becoming a My Global Diary Ambassador or an international tutor! In addition to language and cultural knowledge international experience gives you many acquirements for your future career. Our goal is that each student gets a degree, which gives you acquirements for internationality and strengths in international labour markets. The goals of international competencies will be discussed with your teacher tutor and will be planned as a part of your personal study plan. Student exchange is always planned carefully in a way, that all credits done abroad can be transferred as a part of your degree. You can do a minor abroad, individual courses that are a part of your degree, an internship or specialisation studies, which are not offered in the University of Lapland. 

Get to know the international possibilities and find the right choice for you to gain international experience! 
Go International at University of Lapland

The central aim of the programme is to create a platform for northern stories and future creators who can transform traditional Indigenous storytelling methods into contemporary audiovisual media, distribution channels, and platforms. In this two-year master`s degree programme, students engage in studies that intersect theory, practice and a strong working-life orientation in the field of cinema and moving images. The student's commitment to the process of creating and gradually developing their storytelling skills is central to the programme, supported by a diverse range of academic content from multiple perspectives. The studies combine practical screenwriting, production-based project work, variations in film studies and academic research.

The Arctic Indigenous Cinema programme is also planned to build close relationships with the professional field, including production companies and distribution channels, so that students can receive valuable, up-to-date feedback, practices, and networks from the industry and experienced professionals.

The University of Lapland's expertise in scientific research provides a solid theoretical foundation for academic skills and supports in deepening the student’s thinking on issues of Indigenous storytelling. In their Master's thesis work, students may focus on research questions based on their interests, and they can choose whether their thesis leans towards a theoretical or artistic research tradition.

The language of instruction and teaching is English. The teaching is delivered partly through distance and hybrid learning, with scheduled intensive on-site sessions in Rovaniemi, Finland. These on-site periods range from a few weeks up to a maximum of three months during the semester. The first year of studies is more intense with longer in-presence learning periods, while the second year allows more remote learning possibilities, including the master’s thesis and the project. When possible, on-site periods are scheduled during the times of lower tourist seasons for reasonable accommodation expenses.