This list of universities in Norway presents the country's universities, giving their locations, ownership, and years of establishment.
Denmark-Norway only had one university, the University of Copenhagen. In 1811, the Royal Frederick's University (now the University of Oslo) was established, based on the traditions and curriculum of the University of Copenhagen and effectively as a Norwegian successor institution. It remains the country's highest ranked university, and was Norway's only university until 1946. In the postwar era the University of Bergen, the University of Trondheim (now NTNU), and the University of Tromsø were founded. These universities are known as the "old universities".
Norway also has a number of university colleges, that are traditionally focused on vocational programs such as nursing or teacher education. Several of these colleges have received university status in recent years, and are referred to as "new universities," in contrast to the "old universities." [1] [2] [3] [4]
Most of the university colleges were created in 1994, following the university college reform. The University of Tromsø is the world's northernmost. Schools with an asterisk (*) have been created as the result of a merger.
Universities have the right to establish study programmes at all levels and all subjects.
School [5] | Location(s) | Control | Established |
---|---|---|---|
Nord University | Bodø, Levanger, Mo i Rana, Namsos, Nesna, Steinkjer, Stjørdalshalsen, Vesterålen | State | 1994* [note 1] |
Norwegian University of Life Sciences | Ås | State | 1859 [note 2] |
Norwegian University of Science and Technology | Gjøvik, Trondheim, Ålesund | State | 1996* |
OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University | Kjeller, Oslo | State | 2018* |
University of Agder | Grimstad, Kristiansand | State | 1994* [note 3] |
University of Bergen | Bergen | State | 1948 |
University of Inland Norway | Blæstad, Elverum, Evenstad, Hamar, Kongsvinger, Lillehammer, Rena, Tynset | State | 2017* |
University of Oslo | Oslo | State | 1811 |
University of South-Eastern Norway | Bø, Drammen, Kongsberg, Notodden, Porsgrunn, Rauland, Hønefoss, Horten | State | 2016* |
University of Stavanger | Stavanger | State | 1994* [note 4] |
University of Tromsø | Alta, Bardufoss, Bodø, Hammerfest, Harstad, Kabelvåg, Kirkenes, Mo i Rana, Narvik, Svalbard, Tromsø | State | 1972 |
In the Norwegian education system, a specialized university is an educational institution at university level within narrower subject areas, with the same type of responsibilities and powers for education, research and research training. Specialized Universities can accredit study programmes at bachelor’s degree level in all subject areas. They can also accredit study programmes at all levels in subjects in which they have been granted the right to award doctoral degrees.
School [5] | Location(s) | Control | Established |
---|---|---|---|
BI Norwegian Business School | Bergen, Oslo, Stavanger, Trondheim | Private | 1943 |
MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society | Oslo | Private | 1907 |
Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics | Molde, Kristiansund | State | 1994* |
Norwegian Academy of Music | Oslo | State | 1973 |
Norwegian School of Economics | Bergen | State | 1936 |
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences | Oslo | State | 1968 |
Oslo National Academy of the Arts | Oslo | State | 1996 |
Oslo School of Architecture and Design | Oslo | State | 1968 |
VID Specialized University | Bergen, Helgeland, Oslo, Sandvika, Stavanger, Tromsø | Private | 2016* |
University colleges / Universities of applied sciences can accredit study programmes at bachelor’s degree level in all subject areas. They can also accredit study programmes at all levels in subjects in which they have been granted the right to award doctoral degrees.
School [5] | Location(s) | Control | Established |
---|---|---|---|
Ansgar University College | Kristiansand | Private | 2005 |
Bergen School of Architecture | Bergen | Private | 1986 |
Fjellhaug International University College | Oslo | Private | 1898* |
Lovisenberg Diaconal University College | Oslo | Private | 1994 |
Kristiania University College | Bergen, Oslo | Private | 1914 |
NLA University College | Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo | Private | 1968 |
Norwegian Defence University College | Bergen, Lillehammer, Oslo, Trondheim | State | 2017* |
Norwegian Police University College | Bodø, Kongsvinger, Oslo, Stavern | State | 1992 |
Norwegian School of Leadership and Theology | Oslo, Stavanger | Private | 2008 |
Queen Maud University College | Trondheim | Private | 1947* |
Sámi University of Applied Sciences | Kautokeino | State | 1989 |
Volda University College | Volda | State | 1994* |
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences | Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndalsfjøra, Stord. | State | 2017* |
Østfold University College | Fredrikstad, Halden | State | 1994* |
The following list includes colleges with accredited study programmes, i.e. institutions which are not designated as higher education institutions as such, but which have been accredited for one (or more) studies at higher education level. An institution can, for example, have a bachelor's degree in a specific study accredited by NOKUT without the institution itself being accredited at that level. Institutions with accredited study programs can use the designation "university college", even if they do not have institutional college accreditation. They also fall under the Universities and Colleges Act, and can use the protected title of professor.
School [5] | Location(s) | Control | Established |
---|---|---|---|
Atlantis medisinske høgskole | Oslo | Private | 1987 |
Barratt Due Institute of Music | Oslo | Private | 1927 |
Høgskulen for grøn utvikling | Bryne | Private | 2001 |
Høyskolen for yrkesfag | Gjøvik, Porsgrunn | County | 2015 |
Lillehammer Institute of Music Production and Industries (LIMPI) | Lillehammer | Private | 2018 |
Noroff University College | Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Stavanger | Private | 1987 |
The Norwegian Gestalt Institute | Sandvika | Private | 1986 |
The Norwegian Institute of Children's Books | Oslo | Private | 1979 |
NSKI University College | Oslo | Private | 2009 |
Rudolf Steiner University College | Oslo | Private | 1981 |
Oslo New University College | Oslo | Private | 1998 |
Skrivekunstakademiet | Bergen | Private/County | 1985 |
University College of Dance Art | Oslo | Private | 2015 |
University College of Norwegian Correctional Service | Lillestrøm | State | 1937 |
BI Norwegian Business School,a is a Norwegian specialized university that provides education and conducts research primarily in the fields of business and economics, marketing, strategy, management, and administration. BI is organized as a self-owned foundation whose sole purpose is teaching and research. With over 20,000 students, BI's main campus is located in Nydalen, Oslo, with regional campuses in Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger.
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