NTNU is Norway’s largest university, with a main profile in science and technology. Established in its current form in 1996, its history dates back to 1760. NTNU is headquartered in Trondheim, with campuses in Gjøvik and Ålesund.
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, is the largest university in Norway, with about 43,500 students and 9,000 staff, and roughly one student in ten from abroad. Its main base is Trondheim, in the middle of the country, where the Gløshaugen campus holds engineering and natural sciences and the city centre campus holds humanities and social sciences. Since 2016 it also includes the former university colleges of Gjøvik and Ålesund.
NTNU grew out of the Norwegian Institute of Technology, founded in 1910, and the University of Trondheim, and it traces its scientific roots to the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters of 1760. Lars Onsager, Nobel laureate in chemistry in 1968, and Ivar Giaever, Nobel laureate in physics in 1973, studied at the institute. May-Britt and Edvard Moser received the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of grid cells in the brain, which they found at the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience at NTNU.
The university is Norway’s main centre for engineering and technology. Fields include energy and petroleum, marine and ocean technology, materials, industrial design, architecture, information technology and medicine, with the St. Olav’s Hospital next to campus. It also teaches humanities, education, economics and social sciences. Close ties with the research institute SINTEF, based in Trondheim, give students access to industrial projects and technology transfer.
Public universities in Norway have long been free for all students, but tuition has now been introduced for most students from outside the EEA, so check the current rules. Every student pays a small semester fee. Bachelor’s programmes are in Norwegian, and Norwegian language skills are required, while many master’s programmes are in English. Applications for undergraduate studies go through the national system, and international students often apply directly.
Trondheim is a student city with a lively culture of volunteers who run festivals and clubs. Winters are dark and long, and housing is managed by the student welfare organisation SiT.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Marine Science, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
NTNU has a wide range of partnerships with both Norwegian and international companies and universities. It is a member of several international university networks, including CESAER and the Nordic Five Tech alliance and has a strategic cooperation with SINTEF.
Research:
NTNU’s research is focused on technology and the natural sciences, with strategic areas in sustainability, energy, oceans, and health. The university participates in over 600 EU Framework Programme projects and hosts numerous national research centers and over 100 laboratories.
Famous Alumnis:
Lars Onsager, Ivar Giaever, May-Britt Moser, Edvard Moser
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
8960
Current students***:
43550
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
45000
Pros
Largest university in Norway with a strong focus on technology and engineering, extensive research activities, and a robust international network.
Cons
The university’s multi-campus and multi-city structure can be a drawback for some, and its large size might feel impersonal.
Best For
Students looking for a top-tier, research-focused education in technology and engineering with extensive international connections.
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is the closest domestic counterpart for civil engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
In terms of fields, University of Oslo is the nearest neighbour, with software engineering again at the core; it covers astroscience and geotechnics as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 28,000 students against roughly 43,550 here.
Anyone who wants a second school in the same country with a similar spread of mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics and AI and machine learning can consider University of Agder, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
The comparison with University of Bergen is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on marine science, and it covers geotechnics and ecology and sustainability as well, and is smaller, enrolling about 18,500 students against roughly 43,550 here.
University of South-Eastern Norway works in much the same fields, chiefly marine science, electrical and electronics and software engineering, and it is smaller, enrolling about 18,000 students against roughly 43,550 here, and is also a public institution.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
For a study option in Denmark with a comparable spread of civil engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics, Technical University of Denmark is the reference point: it covers bioengineering and ecology and sustainability as well, and is far smaller, with about 13,400 students against roughly 43,550 here.
Looking internationally, Lviv Polytechnic National University in Ukraine is where civil engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics get a comparable treatment; it is slightly smaller, at about 30,000 students against roughly 43,550 here, and is also a public institution.
Looking internationally, Lund University in Sweden is where civil engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics get a comparable treatment; it covers nanotechnologies and industrial design as well, and has almost the same size, at about 44,000 students.
Beyond national borders, National Technical University of Ukraine Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute stands out as a comparable school for mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics and AI and machine learning; it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers aerospace and telecommunications as well.
Looking internationally, University of Belgrade in Serbia is where civil engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics get a comparable treatment; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is NTNU?
The main campus is at Høgskoleringen 1 in Trondheim, Norway. It also has campuses in Gjøvik and Ålesund.
How large is NTNU?
About 43,500 students and 9,000 staff, which makes it the largest university in Norway.
When was it formed?
Its roots lie in the Norwegian Institute of Technology of 1910 and the University of Trondheim. The present NTNU was formed in 1996 and expanded with a merger in 2016.
What is NTNU best known for?
Engineering, technology, energy, marine technology, materials, architecture and neuroscience.
Which Nobel laureates are linked to it?
Lars Onsager and Ivar Giaever studied at the institute, and May-Britt and Edvard Moser received the 2014 Nobel Prize for the discovery of grid cells.
What is SINTEF?
A large research institute based in Trondheim that works closely with NTNU and industry.
Is there tuition?
Tuition has now been introduced for most students from outside the EEA. Every student pays a small semester fee. Check the current rules.
In which language are courses taught?
Bachelor's programmes in Norwegian, and many master's programmes in English.
How do you apply?
Through the national admission system for undergraduate studies, and often directly for international students.
Where do students live?
In housing managed by the student welfare organisation SiT, or in private rentals.
Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Innovation, Product Development, Renewable Energy, Research and Development, Robotics
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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