Universities in Norway ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 29 Universities in Norway

The Kingdom of Norway is divided into 11 counties (Norwegian: fylker), which are further subdivided into 356 municipalities. The majority of higher education institutions meeting the uniRank selection criteria are located in the county of Oslo, which hosts the capital and largest city of Oslo. The following uniRank sub-rankings and league tables take into account all counties that include at least one Norwegian higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Akershus (1)  
Finnmark (1)  
Hedmark (1)  
Hordaland (4)  
More og Romsdal (2)  
Nordland (1)  
Oslo (11)  
Ostfold (1)  
Rogaland (1)  
Svalbard (1)  
Troms (1)  
Trondelag (2)  
Vest-Agder (1)  
Vestfold (1)  

Unlock your University's potential: spotlight your Institution on UniRank for leads, local recognition and branding. Enquiry now to feature your University here.

Overview of Norway Universities

Norway's higher education system comprises public universities, specialized university colleges and private institutions. All public universities offer tuition-free education to all students, including international applicants. The system emphasizes research-based teaching and offers degrees at bachelor's, master's and PhD levels. English-taught programs are widely available, particularly at graduate levels. Universities maintain strong industry connections and emphasize interdisciplinary studies.

Top 10 Norway Universities

1. University of Oslo (Universitetet i Oslo) - UiO
   Country Rank: 1 | World Rank: 130
   Location: Oslo, Oslo | Established: 1811
   Public | Research Active | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multiple disciplines | Levels: Bachelor, Master, PhD
2. Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norges teknisk-naturvitenskaplige universitet) - NTNU
   Country Rank: 2 | World Rank: 155
   Location: Trondheim, Trondelag | Established: 1996
   Public | Research Active | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multiple disciplines | Levels: Bachelor, Master, PhD
3. University of Bergen (Universitetet i Bergen) - UiB
   Country Rank: 3 | World Rank: 225
   Location: Bergen, Hordaland | Established: 1946
   Public | Research Active | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multiple disciplines | Levels: Bachelor, Master, PhD
4. UiT The Arctic University of Norway (UiT Norges arktiske universitet) - UiT
   Country Rank: 4 | World Rank: 560
   Location: Tromsø, Troms | Established: 1968
   Public | Research Active | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multiple disciplines | Levels: Bachelor, Master, PhD
5. Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet) - OsloMet
   Country Rank: 5 | World Rank: 979
   Location: Oslo, Oslo | Established: 2018
   Public | Research Active | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multiple disciplines | Levels: Bachelor, Master, PhD
6. Østfold University College (Høgskolen i Østfold) - HiØ
   Country Rank: 6 | World Rank: 1156
   Location: Halden, Ostfold | Established: 1994
   Public | Research Active | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multiple disciplines | Levels: Bachelor, Master
7. BI Norwegian Business School (Handelshøyskolen BI) - BI
   Country Rank: 7 | World Rank: 1359
   Location: Oslo, Oslo | Established: 1943
   Private | Research Active | Specialized
   Fields: Business, Management | Levels: Bachelor, Master, PhD
8. University of Stavanger (Universitetet i Stavanger) - UiS
   Country Rank: 8 | World Rank: 1442
   Location: Stavanger, Rogaland | Established: 1994
   Public | Research Active | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multiple disciplines | Levels: Bachelor, Master, PhD
9. University of South-Eastern Norway (Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge) - USN
   Country Rank: 9 | World Rank: 1555
   Location: Kongsberg, Vestfold | Established: 2016
   Public | Research Active | Comprehensive
   Fields: Multiple disciplines | Levels: Bachelor, Master, PhD
10. Norwegian University of Life Sciences (Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet) - NMBU
    Country Rank: 10 | World Rank: 1692
    Location: Aas, Akershus | Established: 1859
    Public | Research Active | Specialized
    Fields: Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences | Levels: Bachelor, Master, PhD

Analysis of University Types

Norway has 29 higher education institutions. Public universities dominate the landscape with 22 institutions (76% of total), while private institutions comprise 7 (24%). All top-ranked universities in Norway are public except for BI Norwegian Business School, which ranks 7th nationally.

Global Ranking and Standing

Two Norwegian universities (7% of total institutions) rank within the global top 200. Five institutions (17%) appear in the top 1,000 worldwide. This demonstrates the strong international reputation of Norway's top-ranked universities despite the country's relatively small higher education system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are Norwegian universities tuition-free?
Yes, public universities offer tuition-free education to all students regardless of nationality, though semester fees (500-1000 NOK) apply.

What are Norway's top universities?
The University of Oslo, Norwegian University of Science and Technology and University of Bergen consistently rank as Norway's top three institutions.

Do I need to speak Norwegian to study in Norway?
Many programs are offered in English, especially at master's level. However, learning basic Norwegian is recommended for daily life.

When do applications close for Norway universities?
Deadlines are typically December 1st for international students (August start) and March 15th for Nordic/EU/EEA applicants.

What makes Norway's education system unique?
Key features include tuition-free access, emphasis on independent research, student democracy in governance and strong industry-academia collaboration.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about Norwegian universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in Norway
  Explore the most traditional and long-established Norwegian post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in Norway
  Search for Norwegian higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• Norwegian Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular Norwegian town or city.
• Top Public Universities in Norway
  Discover Norwegian public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in Norway
  Find out about Norwegian private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in Norway
  Explore Norwegian not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in Norway
  Look for Norwegian for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top Norwegian Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in Norway have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Norwegian Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in Norway that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top Norwegian Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in Norway are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Norwegian Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in Norway with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.