The Arctic region is rapidly increasing in global significance. Climate change is transforming environmental conditions in unprecedented ways, creating new challenges and opportunities related to logistics, resource exploitation, and commercial development, while simultaneously exerting pressure on indigenous and local communities and vulnerable ecosystems. At the same time, geopolitical and strategic issues are increasingly brought to the forefront of international political agendas.

Many of the challenges experienced in the Arctic are also evident in Antarctica and are particularly pronounced in the Himalayan region. NVP has therefore chosen to apply a unified framework that connects the Arctic, Antarctic, and Himalayan regions as the overarching theme for the Svalbard Summer Schools 2026–2027–2028, all to be held in Longyearbyen, Svalbard.

Summer School 2026 – The Global Arctic

The 2026 Summer School will commence with a ‘one-pole’ perspective on the Global Arctic, illustrating how the Arctic is deeply interconnected with the rest of the world. The programme will explore how globalization, climate change, and transboundary pollution influence science, commerce, security, and geopolitics in and beyond the Arctic region.

This summer school will establish the conceptual foundation for a ‘two-pole’ focus in the subsequent 2027 Summer School, where similarities and differences between the Arctic and the Himalayan region will be particularly relevant and informative. The curriculum is highly interdisciplinary, and a key objective of the summer school is to train early-career researchers to think across disciplinary boundaries and engage with applied and complex societal challenges.

Practical information

The summer school will be held in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Accommodation will be provided in shared double rooms for participants. A self-catering kitchen is available at the student housing.

The target group for the NVP Summer School 2026 – The Global Arctic is PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Selection will be based on the relevance of the applicant’s current research, as well as personal motivation and relevant experience. 

Participants are required to pay a tuition fee of NOK 6,000, which covers accommodation, selected meals in Longyearbyen, and field activities. Participants must cover their own travel expenses to and from Longyearbyen, any visa-related costs, and some meals in Longyearbyen (primarily breakfast and snacks).

Application procedure

Applications must be submitted to the Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research (NVP) via the online application form. Applications should include:

• A CV

• A cover letter outlining the applicant’s academic background, motivation, and relevance of the summer school to their research

Application deadline: 8 March 2026
Notification of selected candidates: by 31 March 2026