The largest study locations in Norway

Published:

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has most students, but a number of new higher education institutions have been included in the top ten as a result of mergers in recent years.

In the academic year 2017/18, a total of 293 000 students were enrolled in higher education in Norway and abroad. This is an increase of 4 000 students from the year before, according to updated figures from Students in higher education.

Close to 277 500 students were enrolled in higher education in Norway, and another 15 500 students were studying abroad.

Structural changes in the higher education sector have led to several mergers at institutional level in recent years. As a result, ‘new’ educational institutions are now among the top ten in terms of student numbers in higher education.

Half the students enrolled in the six largest institutions

Almost 40 000 students were enrolled in NTNU, making it by far the largest institution in 2017. Another 27 500 students were studying at the University of Oslo. Both BI Norwegian Business School and Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences hosted approximately 20 500 students.

Figure 1. Students in selected higher educational institutions in Norway. 2017

Studens 2017
Nord university 11580
University of Agder 12690
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences 15855
UiT - The Arctic University of Norway 16284
University of Bergen 17087
University College of Southeast Norway (USN) 17730
Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences 20332
BI Norwegian Business School 20719
University of Oslo 27540
Norwegian University of Science and Technology 39887

In 2016, Buskerud and Vestfold University College was number ten in terms of student numbers. After merging with Telemark University College to become the University College of Southeast Norway (USN), they are now the fifth largest higher educational institution in 2017, with 17 700 students.

The Western Norway University of Applied Sciences – former Bergen University College, Stord/Haugesund University College and the Sogn and Fjordane University College – is also ranked in the top ten in 2017, with close to 16 000 students.

Read also on ssb.no

Statistics