The University of Agder (UiA) is a public university with campuses in Kristiansand and Grimstad, Norway. The university is known for its close relationship with regional industry and its focus on co-creation and innovation.
The University of Agder, UiA, has campuses in Kristiansand and Grimstad, in the south of Norway, a region known as Sørlandet. It received university status in 2007, and its roots go back to regional colleges founded in the 1970s. It has about 13,000 students and 1,400 staff, and around one student in ten comes from abroad. The main campus is at Gimlemoen in Kristiansand, and the engineering campus is in Grimstad, about an hour away.
The Kristiansand campus teaches humanities and education, social sciences, business and law, fine arts, music and performing arts, health sciences and teacher training. The music programmes and the Faculty of Fine Arts are known for training musicians, singers and actors for the national scene. Grimstad hosts engineering and science, including mechatronics, information and communication technology, renewable energy and maritime studies.
Research is applied and connected to regional industries. The university has a centre for artificial intelligence research, CAIR, and it works with companies on offshore operations, mechatronics, energy systems and digital technology. Its social science departments carry out studies on migration, health, working life and regional development, and its teacher education is among the largest in 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.
Kristiansand is a coastal city with beaches and a mild climate by Norwegian standards. Rents are lower than in Oslo, and student housing is managed by the student welfare organisation SiA.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Automation, Data Analytics, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
UiA has a strong collaboration with the regional business community, particularly in the fields of technology and health. It is a member of the European University Association (EUA).
Research:
UiA’s research is focused on five main areas: e-health, mechatronics, integrated emergency management, cultural studies, and education. The university has a strong focus on applied research in collaboration with external partners.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
1400
Current students***:
13000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
25000
Pros
A university with a close relationship with industry, a focus on innovation and co-creation, and a good student environment.
Cons
The university has a relatively low international ranking and may not be as well-known as some of the larger Norwegian universities.
Best For
Students looking for a modern university with a close connection to industry and a focus on applied research and innovation.
Also strong in automation, mechanical engineering and electrical and electronics, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences makes a sensible second look at home; it is slightly larger, at about 17,000 students against roughly 13,000 here, and is also a public institution.
On content, University of Stavanger and this university are close, as both teach robotics, mechanical engineering and engineering; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Oslo Metropolitan University follows much the same lines as this university, with data analytics and AI and machine learning as common ground, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
University of South-Eastern Norway follows much the same lines as this institution, with automation, electrical and electronics and engineering as common ground, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
Norwegian University of Science and Technology sits close to this university on mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics and AI and machine learning; it covers marine science and civil engineering as well, and is far larger, with about 43,550 students against roughly 13,000 here.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Seen from abroad, Mälardalen University (Sweden) is a close relative on subject matter, since robotics, automation and mechanical engineering are central to both, and it is slightly larger, at about 16,000 students against roughly 13,000 here, and is also a public institution.
On content, University West in Sweden and this institution are close, as both teach robotics, automation and mechanical engineering; it covers process control and manufacturing as well, and is slightly larger, at about 15,000 students against roughly 13,000 here.
Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (China) works on the same fields as this university, chiefly robotics, electrical and electronics and data analytics; it also offers mba programmes and covers finance and life sciences as well.
Looking internationally, Technical University of Denmark in Denmark is where mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics and AI and machine learning get a comparable treatment; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers civil engineering and bioengineering as well.
Politecnico di Bari in Italy shares the robotics, automation and mechanical engineering orientation of this university, and 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 the University of Agder?
The main campus is at Gimlemoen 25 in Kristiansand, Norway. A second campus is in Grimstad.
When did it get university status?
In 2007.
How large is it?
About 13,000 students and 1,400 staff.
What does Kristiansand teach?
Humanities, education, social sciences, business, law, fine arts, music, health sciences and teacher training.
What does Grimstad teach?
Engineering and science, including mechatronics, information technology, renewable energy and maritime studies.
What is CAIR?
The university's centre for artificial intelligence research.
What is UiA known for?
Music and performing arts, teacher education, mechatronics and applied research with regional industries.
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. Rents are lower than in Oslo.
Health Sciences, Innovation, Renewable Energy, Research and 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.
Innovation.world is not affiliated with this school/university. We recommend to contact them directly on their website for any special request.
To complete or correct any information here or share your opinion, please comment below or > send us a direct message <.
