Health Sciences, Teacher Education, Digitalization
Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet) is a young, modern university located in the heart of Oslo. It has a strong focus on professional education, with programs in health sciences, education, social sciences, and technology.
Oslo Metropolitan University, OsloMet, is a young university with long roots in professional education. It was formed in 2018 from Oslo and Akershus University College, itself the product of a merger in 2011 of several colleges that taught nursing, teacher training, social work, engineering and journalism. It has about 22,000 students and 2,200 staff, and around one student in ten comes from abroad. The main campus is at Pilestredet, close to the centre of Oslo, with a second campus at Kjeller outside the city.
OsloMet describes itself as the Metropolitan University, since it places its research on the challenges of large cities. Programmes include health and nursing, social work, education, engineering, technology and design, journalism, library and information science, and business. Many degrees lead directly to a profession, and students work in schools, hospitals and companies during their studies. This approach gives graduates good job prospects in the capital region.
Research focuses on applied questions in welfare, health and migration, urban development, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and sustainable technologies. The Work Research Institute and the Norwegian Social Research Institute have long records in studies of working life and welfare. The university has a large doctoral programme, and it is a major provider of teachers and nurses for Norway.
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.
Oslo is expensive, and students often work part-time. Housing is provided by the student welfare organisation SiO, and the campus at Pilestredet is a short walk from Oslo Central Station.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Ergonomics and UX, Industrial Design, Project Management, Software Engineering, Sound Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
OsloMet has close collaborations with the public and private sectors in the Oslo region, and many of its programs include work placements and internships.
Research:
OsloMet’s research is focused on professional practice and a number of societal challenges. Key research areas include health and welfare, education, and digitalization.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
2200
Current students***:
22000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
40000
Pros
A modern university with a strong focus on professional education, a central location in Oslo, and a diverse and inclusive student environment.
Cons
As a relatively new university, OsloMet may not have the same level of international recognition as some of the older Norwegian universities.
Best For
Students who are looking for a professional education with a strong connection to the workplace and a focus on solving societal challenges.
Where this university leans on software engineering, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences does the same, and it is slightly smaller, at about 17,000 students against roughly 22,000 here, and is also a public institution.
On content, University of Agder and this institution are close, as both teach data analytics and AI and machine learning; it is smaller, enrolling about 13,000 students against roughly 22,000 here, and is also a public institution.
For students who like the software engineering focus of this institution but want another option nearby, University of Oslo fits well: it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers astroscience and geotechnics as well.
Both schools build their programmes around software engineering, and University of South-Eastern Norway is the one to compare first within the country, since it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
University of Bergen overlaps with this university on data analytics, so the two are easy to compare, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers marine science and geotechnics as well.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Goldsmiths, University of London, based in the United Kingdom, is built around sound engineering, ergonomics and UX and industrial design much like this institution, and it is smaller, enrolling about 10,500 students against roughly 22,000 here, and is also a public institution.
A foreign alternative with a similar emphasis on industrial design, project management and data analytics is Kristianstad University in Sweden, and it is smaller, enrolling about 14,000 students against roughly 22,000 here, and is also a public institution.
On content, Linköping University in Sweden and this institution are close, as both teach industrial design, data analytics and AI and machine learning; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
For a study option in the United States with a comparable spread of sound engineering, industrial design and data analytics, New York University is the reference point: it is larger, enrolling about 60,000 students against roughly 22,000 here, and is private, whereas this university is public.
Beyond national borders, University of North Texas stands out as a comparable school for sound engineering, industrial design and data analytics; it covers life sciences as well, and is larger, enrolling about 44,000 students against roughly 22,000 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 OsloMet?
The main campus is at Pilestredet 46 in Oslo, Norway. A second campus is at Kjeller.
When was it formed?
In 2018, from Oslo and Akershus University College.
How large is it?
About 22,000 students and 2,200 staff.
What does it teach?
Nursing and health, teacher training, social work, engineering, technology, design, journalism and business.
Why is it called Metropolitan?
Its research is focused on the challenges of large cities.
What kind of degrees does it offer?
Many degrees lead directly to a profession, such as nurse, teacher or social worker.
What research does it do?
Welfare, health, migration, urban development, digitalisation and sustainable technologies.
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 provided by SiO, or in private rentals.
Health Sciences, Innovation, Research and Development, User-Centered Design
*: 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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