BIOS5226 – Natural History Collections – Diversity in time and space

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

The course will introduce students to cutting-edge collection management and collection-based research. We will explore the history of Natural History Collections in general and that of the Natural History Museum in Oslo in particular, as well as historic and current use of collections. You will explore critical questions in conservation management, collecting traditions, changing views on collecting and current use of collections. Students will gain hands-on experience with research specimens and the metadata associated with them, in addition to learning about international and national legislations that applies to Natural History Collections.

Learning outcome

  • Have knowledge of how Natural History collections and their data are used in research
  • Laws and legislations that regulates the collections, incorporating objects and loans
  • Have in-depth knowledge of a selected collection
  • Have knowledge about best practice of collection management
  • Know the history behind, the ethics around and future challenges for Natural history collections
  • Use of national and international collections databases
  • AI-based methods in collection management

Admission to the course

Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may apply to take this course as a single course student.

The courses BIOS5226 and BIOS9226 have joint admission. Applicants are ranked by the following criteria:

1. PhD students and master students at the MN faculty who have the course as part of the approved curriculum. Students at NHM and IBV will have priority.

2. Other PhD students and visiting PhD students.

3. Students with admission to single courses on master’s level and exchange students

Applicants are ranked by credits in each group; all applicants within 1st rank before applicants in 2nd etc. If admission is limited to a fixed number of participants, admission will be decided by drawing lots for students who are ranked equally

Recommend one or more systematic courses in biology and mineralogy.

Teaching

  • Lectures at the Natural History Museum (Campus Tøyen and Økern)
  • Practical training in how the different collections are organized (compulsory)
  • Internship 10 working days in one collection (compulsory)

Examination

  • Final oral exam counts for 100%.

Practice and mandatory report from internship, must be approved and completed before the student can attend the exam.

Examination support material

No examination support material is allowed.

Language of examination

Oral examination in Norwegian or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 14, 2026 10:39:16 PM

Facts about this course

Level
Master
Credits
10
Teaching
Autumn
The subject is taught every other autumn, with the next time being autumn 2026.
Examination
Autumn
Teaching language
English

Contact

Department of Biosciences