List of universities in Norway explained

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

Universities have the right to establish study programmes at all levels and all subjects.

School^[5]	Location(s)	Control	Established
		State	1994*
		State	1859
		State	1996*
		State	2018*
		State	1994*
		State	1948
		State	1811
		State	2016*
		State	1994*
		State	1972

Specialized universities

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	Location(s)	Control	Established
		Private	1943
		Private	1907
		State	1994*
		State	1973
		State	1936
		State	1968
		State	1996
		State	1968
		Private	2016*

University colleges / Universities of applied sciences

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.

Location(s)	Control	Established
	Private	2005
	Private	1898*
	State	2017*
	Private	1994
	Private	1914
	Private	1968
	State	2017*
	State	1992
	Private	2008
	Private	1947*
	State	1989
	State	1994*
Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndalsfjøra, Stord.	State	2017*
	State	1994*

University colleges with accredited study programs

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	Location(s)	Control	Established
		Private	1987
		Private	1927
		Private	1986
		Private	2001
		County	2015
		Private	2018
		Private	1987
		Private	1986
		Private	1979
		Private	2009
		Private	1981
		Private	1998
		Private/County	1985
		Private	2015
		State	1937

Notes

Web site: Maktkamp mellom gamle og nye universiteter endte med Sunniva Whittaker som ny UHR-leder . no.
Web site: Regjeringen svekker de nye universitetene, i strid med Stortingets pålegg . no.
Web site: De "nye" universitetene snakker ned grunnforskningen, ifølge professor . 10 January 2022 . no.
Web site: Husebekk om nye universiteter: — et prosjekt det er vanskelig å lykkes med . 17 November 2020 . no.
Web site: 11 March 2024 . Higher education institutions .

External links

https://universityimages.com/list-of-universities-in-norway/