Maritime Operations, Micro and Nano Systems Technology, Health and Social Sciences
The University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) is one of Norway’s largest universities of applied sciences, with eight campuses in the south-eastern part of the country. It offers a wide range of programs, with a focus on applied research and close collaboration with regional partners.
The University of South-Eastern Norway, USN, was created in 2016 by merging Telemark University College with Buskerud and Vestfold University College, and it received university status in 2018. It has about 18,000 students and 1,800 staff, and around one student in ten comes from abroad. It is a multi-campus university with sites in Borre, Drammen, Kongsberg, Porsgrunn, Bø, Notodden, Ringerike and Rauland, spread across the counties around the Oslo fjord and Telemark.
The campus structure reflects regional needs. Kongsberg is known for engineering and technology, since the town hosts a cluster of high-technology companies in defence, maritime systems and offshore equipment. Porsgrunn has strong ties to the process industry, with research in energy and chemical engineering. Drammen focuses on health, social work, economics and business, while Borre hosts maritime studies, and Bø and Notodden are known for folk music, arts and culture.
USN teaches health sciences, teacher education, social sciences, engineering, business, maritime operations, humanities, and music and performing arts. The university has built a national profile in subsea technology, microsystems technology and process engineering, and it takes part in projects on the green transition in industry. Many programmes include practice periods, and part-time and online degrees are common.
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.
Costs are lower than in Oslo, and housing is available through student welfare organisations in each campus town. Students can choose between a small-town environment and larger commuter towns near the capital.
Domains taught:
Automation, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Marine Science, Nanotechnologies, Process Control, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
USN has strong partnerships with industry and the public sector in the region. The university is a key player in the development of the region’s knowledge-based economy.
Research:
USN’s research is practice-oriented and interdisciplinary. Key research areas include maritime operations, micro and nano systems technology, and health and social sciences.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
1800
Current students***:
18000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
35000
Pros
A large and modern university of applied sciences with a strong regional focus and a wide range of study options.
Cons
The university’s multi-campus structure can be a disadvantage for some students.
Best For
Students seeking a practice-oriented education with a strong regional connection and a wide variety of program choices.
Anyone who wants a second school in the same country with a similar spread of automation, electrical and electronics and software engineering can consider Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
For students who like the marine science, process control and engineering focus of this university but want another option nearby, University of Stavanger fits well: it is smaller, enrolling about 12,000 students against roughly 18,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Anyone who wants a second school in the same country with a similar spread of automation, electrical and electronics and engineering 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.
Oslo Metropolitan University works in much the same fields, chiefly software engineering, and it is slightly larger, at about 22,000 students against roughly 18,000 here, and is also a public institution.
University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway works in much the same fields, chiefly marine science, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers astroscience and geotechnics as well.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
A foreign alternative with a similar emphasis on process control, automation and electrical and electronics is Moscow Power Engineering Institute in Russia, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
A foreign alternative with a similar emphasis on process control, electrical and electronics and software engineering is University of Gävle in Sweden, and it has almost the same size, at about 16,000 students, and is also a public institution.
Sevastopol State University (Russia) works on the same fields as this institution, chiefly marine science, automation and electrical and electronics; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Linnaeus University in Sweden is the nearest foreign match on marine science, software engineering and engineering; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Students considering a move abroad can look at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, where nanotechnologies, software engineering and engineering also form the core, and it covers agriculture and ecology and sustainability as well, and has almost the same size, at about 18,357 students.
*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 USN?
The registered address is Raveien 215 in Borre, Norway. It has campuses in Drammen, Kongsberg, Porsgrunn, Bø, Notodden, Ringerike and Rauland.
When was it created?
In 2016, by merging Telemark University College with Buskerud and Vestfold University College. It received university status in 2018.
How large is it?
About 18,000 students and 1,800 staff.
What is Kongsberg known for?
Engineering and technology, with a cluster of companies in defence, maritime systems and offshore equipment.
What does USN teach?
Health sciences, teacher education, social sciences, engineering, business, maritime operations, humanities and music.
What research profiles does it have?
Subsea technology, microsystems technology and process engineering.
Where can you study folk music?
At the campuses in Bø, Notodden and Rauland.
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.
Is it cheaper than Oslo?
Yes. Costs are lower than in Oslo.
Environmental Impact, Health Sciences, Innovation, Marine Ecosystems, 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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