Join us for the 2027 edition of the Arctic Frontiers Student Forum and grab the opportunity to contribute to the dialogue about the Arctic, in the Arctic, by the Arctic! This year’s Student Forum is organised in collaboration with Háskóla Íslands á Hólum, with generous funding from the Nordic Atlantic Cooperation Fund (NORA) and Global Affairs Canada. The purpose of the Student Forum is to increase capacity and network amongst Arctic youth. Through the Student Forum, the participants get the opportunity to build professional skills, partake in cross-cultural exchange and develop their own visions for the future of the region.
The purpose of the Student Forum program is to increase capacity and network amongst Arctic youth. Through the Student Forum the participants get the opportunity to build skills, partake in cross-cultural exchange and develop their own visions for the future of the region.
The Program
The Student Forum program lasts from Sunday, January 31st, to February 6th, 2027, including travel days. The program is closely integrated with the 2027 Arctic Frontiers Conference: Information/Disinformation, and includes workshops, a group project, presenting ideas/findings, and social and cultural events. In an age where disinformation in and about the Arctic is rampant and distrust in science is growing, this year’s program aims to allow students to learn from and interact in knowledge-based discussions with leading voices in science, policy, and industry.
During this week, the participants will delve into pressing Arctic issues, raise awareness, provoke discussions, engage in networking opportunities, demonstrate innovative ventures taking place in the Arctic, and explore possible contributions from other Arctic youths.
To ensure participants are well-prepared, the program includes four mandatory webinars leading up to the conference. These webinars focus on developing the required skills to actively participate in the program and the 2027 Arctic Frontiers conference, but as well other relevant career skills. Targeted competences may include public speaking and networking. The first webinars usually take place in late October/November, while some are held in January.
Students interested in Arctic issues from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply!
The 2027 Student Forum covers all costs of the program, which includes registration to the 2027 Arctic Frontiers conference, accommodation during your stay, as well as all travel and meals for the duration of the program in Tromsø. For students studying at institutions in Northern Norway, travel costs are only covered from places in Norway, not from abroad. For students already living in Tromsø and/or studying at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, travel costs and accommodation are not included.
You will also be asked to share a room, in a separate bed, with one other participant of the same gender. We will ask who you are willing to share a room with once you are confirmed to the program. If you have any concerns or wish to discuss sleeping arrangements further, please contact the Youth Program Coordinators before submitting your application.
*Please note that participants must provide proof of sufficient travel and health insurance, covering the whole project period.
Eligibility
Must either be a Bachelor’s or Master’s student enrolled at one of the following Universities:
🔸Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet | University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway
🔸Nord Universitet | Nord University, Norway
🔸Sámi allaskuvla | Sámi University of Applied Sciences, Norway
🔸Háskóla Íslands á Hólum | The University of Iceland at Hólar
🔸Ilisimatusarfik | University of Greenland
🔸Fróðskaparsetur Føroya | University of the Faroe Islands
OR
🔸Attending a Canadian educational institution or is an Indigenous knowledge holder. Preference will be given to applicants belonging to the following groups: First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and/or people from or living in a Northern area. Northern area is defined as: the three Territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut), Nunavik (northern Québec), Nunatsiavut (northern Labrador), and the Churchill region of northern Manitoba.
Students enrolled in shorter programs or on similar levels are also eligible. The Student Forum program is held in English only.
Application Materials
CV/Resume to be copied into our application form
Answering the questions provided in the application form
Funding
The Arctic Frontiers Student Forum is generously funded by the following institutions:
- Nordic Atlantic Cooperation (NORA)
- Global Affairs Canada
Please consult the Terms and Conditions below, as well as the Code of Conduct, which must be followed by all participants.
Should you have any questions or encounter any issues when submitting your application, please email: afsf@arcticfrontiers.com
FAQ
What is the duration of the Student Forum program?
The Student Forum takes place from January 31st to February 6th, 2027, in Tromsø, Norway. Prior to the program, the participants must attend preparatory webinars (which will consist of four webinars that will be held between late October and late January). Some participants coming from remote areas might have to undertake an extra day or two for travel, which will be covered by the program.
What do I have to pay myself? What costs are included?
The program covers all costs of the program. This includes travel to and from, accommodation during, and registration for the 2027 Arctic Frontiers conference and meals from the 31st of January until the end of the program on the 6th of February, 2027. Accommodation and meals during layovers are also covered for some participants arriving from remote areas.
Participants must provide proof of sufficient travel and health insurance that covers the entire duration of the program, from their departure from their homebase to attend the 2027 Student Forum, until they return to their homebase after the end of the program on February 6th. The participants themselves must cover the cost of travel and health insurance.
Alcoholic beverages are not covered during the program, and the participants must adhere to the Arctic Frontiers Code of Conduct at all times. The participants must agree to the Terms and Conditions of the program.
Do I have to make my own hotel and travel arrangements?
Everything will be taken care of during the period of the program outlined above. All accommodation and travel will be arranged by the Arctic Frontiers Student Forum program for the duration of the program. You will only be required to provide necessary information for the organizers to arrange your travel and accommodation. For students studying at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway and/or already in Tromsø, travel and accommodation is neither covered nor provided.
What if I arrive earlier or need to stay longer?
You will have to book and pay for your own accommodation if you arrive in Tromsø before the program begins on the 31st of January 2027, and if you plan to stay in Tromsø longer than the 6th of February 2027. This does not apply if the only available flights from and to your home base falls outside this period.
What if I want to travel from a different place than my homebase/home university?
The Arctic Frontiers Student Forum organizers are open to discussing travel from different destinations, if the price of flight tickets from these areas is either the same as or cheaper than from your home base or home university. Please contact us in such cases. For students studying at institutions in Northern Norway, travel costs are only covered from places in Norway, not from abroad.
Can I, in addition to applying for the Student Forum, also submit an abstract to one of the 2027 Science Themes?
Of course! While the Student Forum is distinct from the Science program and its committees, we strongly encourage students with relevant research to consider submitting an abstract.
What if I need a visa to enter Norway?
If you are selected to participate in the 2027 Student Forum and require a visa to enter Norway and attend, we will help you. Please contact us.
Previous years' Student Forums
In the past years, the Arctic Frontiers Student Forum gathered bachelor’s and master’s students from across the Arctic for a six-day program in conjunction with the Arctic Frontiers conference. Hear from former participants in the videos below to get an impression of the 2026 and 2024 Student Forums!
In addition to attending the conference program, the students participated in career mentoring, an interdisciplinary group project, and workshops throughout the week. At the end of the week, participants delivered group presentations based on the Big Picture sessions, demonstrating their engagement with the conference.
Participating in the program helped build professional networks, and the conference setting enabled the students to approach senior professionals whom they otherwise would not have had the opportunity to speak to. Social events were an essential part of the informal learning experience.
