Through “Healthy Choices and the Social Gradient” we want to increase our knowledge of the complex interaction between health behaviour, social inequality in health and adjustable risk factors. We aim to contribute to better public health and reduced health inequalities between social strata, geographical areas, and gender. In 2019, the Research Council of Norway granted research funding to the project “Healthy choices and the Social Gradient”, which will run from 2019 to 2026. We have both national and international partners.

Our work is in line with the national guidelines that govern UiT’s role in facilitating students’ success in their studies. The Report (or white paper) establishes that students should have a good and inclusive learning environment, thrive in their everyday studies, and have good living conditions in order to succeed in their studies. Furthermore, the Report states that students should play a more active part in their own education. Our collaboration with the Student Parliament and the Arctic Student Welfare Organisation to prevent loneliness and psychological problems among students is also in line with national guidelines. The project also contributes to UiT's ambition that students should experience the university as an attractive and inclusive place to learn.