About the RVS courses

 RVS normally hosts three courses each year: 

• One thematic course in spring and one in fall: Centred on a current and relevant theme across academic disciplines. Usually held at one of the partner institutions campuses, with one overnight stay. 
• Summer school, with the three recurring themes Theory/Analysis/Argumentation. Held at Metochi Study Centre (UiA) at Lesbos, Greece, one week mid August. 

For information about course dates, see the RVS course calendar. For detailed program, practicalities, etc.: See the RVS Canvas (for members). 

Thematic courses spring and fall 

The spring and autumn courses have addressed issues, and brought participants in contact with lecturers, that are at the forefront of research across social science disciplines. Plenary sessions are combined with group work where participants present and respond to short papers. The courses are planned by a committee with participants from the host institution, one other member institution, one or two Ph.D. students, and RVS staff. 

Spring and fall courses are usually held at one of the partner university campuses. They usually start with lunch on one day, and ends around 3 pm the day after. 

Examples of themes in the period 2017 – 2024: Values, Religion and Emotions. Intercultural Encounters: Migration, Minority and majority relations. Comparison, representation. Religious Literacy. Life Trajectories and Cultural Values. Interdisciplinary research. Critique and normativities. Lived religion. Religion and politics. Religion, nature and materiality. Meaning and emotions. 

Each thematic course is quivalent to 3 ECTS if full paper is approved.

The RVS summer school 

The research school’s signature course is the Summer school at Metochi, the University of Agder’s study center at Lesbos, Greece. This week-long course is held over a three-year cycle: 

The Summer school program consists of lectures and paper groups, in addition to siestas, meals and excursions. The detailed program is developed by academic staff who represent several of the member institutions and disciplines. 

The Summer school has given Ph.D. students and academic staff an experience of intensive immersion in methodological and theoretical issues, paired with the challenge of articulating both their own research and responding to other projects, and building community and friendships across disciplines, institutions, and countries. The evaluation from PhD students to the week is very positive, as it is a unique opportunity to spend time with fellow PhD-students, supervisors and speakers in order to discuss issues relating to the PhD-process.

Equivalent to 2 ECTS for participation; additional 3 ECTS with approvedfull paper.

Read about the beautiful Metochi Study Centre

Price 

RVS work hard to make the course fees as low as possible. Members only pay for their own travel and food/accommodation. We aim to further subsidize the fee and cut the cost for PhD students who must travel to & find accommodation in the course city. 

Ca. cost for Spring and Fall course: NOK 1 000 - 2 000. 

Ca. cost for Summer school: NOK 12 000 - 15 000. Includes group travel from Oslo to Lesbos, all travel and accommodation and almost all meals during the week. 

ECTS 

• Spring/Fall courses: Equivalent to 3 ECTS if full paper is approved.
• Summer school: Equivalent to 2 ECTS for participation; additional 3 ECTS with approved full paper.