Engineering, Teacher Education, Health and Social Sciences
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) is one of the largest higher education institutions in Norway, with campuses in Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndal and Stord. It has a strong focus on professional education, with a close relationship with regional industry.
The Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, HVL, was formed in 2017 by merging three university colleges: Bergen, Stord/Haugesund and Sogn og Fjørdane. It has about 17,000 students and 1,800 staff, and around one student in ten comes from abroad. The campuses are in Bergen, Haugesund, Stord, Sogndal and Førde, along the western coast of Norway, with the head office on Inndalsveien in Bergen.
HVL focuses on professional degrees. The main fields are teacher education, health and social care, nursing, engineering, business and economics, maritime studies, music and sport. Bergen is the largest campus, with the engineering and health programmes, while Sogndal has a profile in teacher training, tourism and the environment, and Stord and Haugesund are connected to maritime and offshore industries. The university also has a research profile in climate, energy, coastal environment and health.
Many programmes are connected to practice, with periods in hospitals, schools and companies. The university runs a large number of part-time and online courses for adults who want to upgrade their qualifications. Research is applied and regional, in cooperation with the municipalities, hospitals and industries of western Norway, and the university gives doctoral degrees in selected fields.
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.
Student life is different in each town: Bergen is a larger city with a lively cultural scene, while Sogndal and Førde offer fjord landscapes and winter sports. Housing is managed by local student welfare organisations.
HVL has a close collaboration with the private and public sectors in Western Norway. Many of its programs are developed in partnership with regional employers to ensure their relevance to the needs of the workforce.
Research:
HVL’s research is practice-oriented and focused on solving challenges in the region. Key research areas include responsible innovation, sustainable energy, and public health.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
1800
Current students***:
17000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
30000
Pros
A large and comprehensive university of applied sciences with a strong regional focus. Good job prospects for graduates.
Cons
The university is spread across five campuses, which can be a disadvantage for some students.
Best For
Students who are looking for a professional education with a strong connection to regional industry and good job prospects.
University of South-Eastern Norway is the closest domestic counterpart for automation, electrical and electronics and software engineering; it covers marine science and nanotechnologies as well, and has almost the same size, at about 18,000 students.
In terms of fields, Oslo Metropolitan University is the nearest neighbour, with software engineering again at the core; it covers sound engineering and ergonomics and UX as well, and is slightly larger, at about 22,000 students against roughly 17,000 here.
Where this university leans on automation, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics, University of Agder does the same, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers robotics and data analytics as well.
Among national alternatives, Norwegian University of Science and Technology stands out for its focus on civil engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
In terms of fields, University of Stavanger is the nearest neighbour, with mechanical engineering and engineering again at the core; it covers marine science and geotechnics as well, and is slightly smaller, at about 12,000 students against roughly 17,000 here.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
University West in Sweden is the nearest foreign match on automation, manufacturing and mechanical engineering; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Abroad, University of Gävle (Sweden) covers civil engineering, manufacturing and mechanical engineering in a comparable way, and it covers logistics and industrial design as well, and has almost the same size, at about 16,000 students.
Dagestan State Technical University, based in Russia, is built around civil engineering, automation and mechanical engineering much like this university, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers geotechnics as well.
On content, Munster Technological University in Ireland and this institution are close, as both teach civil engineering, mechanical engineering and software engineering; it is also a public institution, and also offers associate degree, certificate and diploma programmes.
Technological University Dublin brings a Ireland setting to the same core fields, civil engineering, automation and mechanical engineering, and it covers food science and data analytics as well, and is larger, enrolling about 29,700 students against roughly 17,000 here.
*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 HVL?
The head office is at Inndalsveien 28 in Bergen, Norway. Campuses are in Bergen, Haugesund, Stord, Sogndal and Førde.
When was it formed?
In 2017, by merging three university colleges: Bergen, Stord/Haugesund and Sogn og Fjørdane.
How large is it?
About 17,000 students and 1,800 staff.
What does it teach?
Teacher education, health and social care, nursing, engineering, business, maritime studies, music and sport.
What is the Sogndal campus known for?
Teacher training, tourism and environmental studies in a fjord setting.
Does it offer part-time or online courses?
Yes, for adults who want to upgrade their qualifications.
What research does it do?
Applied research in climate, energy, coastal environment and health.
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.
Where do students live?
In housing managed by local student welfare organisations.
Engineering, Health Sciences, Innovation, Research and Development, Sustainable Development
*: 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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