The University of Stavanger (UiS) is a public research university in Stavanger, Norway. It was established in 2005. The university has a strong focus on petroleum engineering, offshore technology, and educational sciences.
The University of Stavanger, UiS, is a public university in the oil and energy capital of Norway. It was founded in 1969 as Rogaland Education Centre, became a university college in 1994 and received university status in 2005. It has about 12,000 students and 1,700 staff, and around one student in ten comes from abroad. The campus is at Ullandhaug, a short bus ride from the centre of Stavanger, on a hill with views of the fjord and the city.
The university has a clear profile in energy and technology. Petroleum engineering, offshore technology, subsurface geoscience, risk and safety, and renewable energy are the strongest fields, and the university works with the energy industry, including Equinor and the many service companies in the Stavanger region. The industry provides internships, guest lectures and research funding. Students in these fields have good job prospects, even if the sector changes with the energy transition.
Other faculties cover social sciences, education and sport, arts and humanities, health sciences, and business. The university is known for studies of literacy and reading, offshore safety, marine ecology and societal security. Research on carbon storage, hydrogen and wind energy is growing, and the Norwegian Research Centre, NORCE, works with the university on applied projects in energy and the environment.
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.
Stavanger is a small city with a high cost of living because of the oil industry. Housing is managed by the student welfare organisation SiS. The coast offers hiking and the Preikestolen rock formation is within reach for weekend trips.
Domains taught:
Engineering, Geotechnics, Marine Science, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Process Control, Robotics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
UiS has close collaborations with the petroleum industry in the region, including major companies like Equinor. It is a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU).
Research:
UiS is a leading university in petroleum engineering and offshore technology. It also has strong research groups in educational sciences and health and social care.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
1700
Current students***:
12000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
20000
Pros
Strong ties to the petroleum industry, a modern campus, and a good track record in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Cons
The university’s strong focus on the petroleum industry might not be attractive to all students, especially those with an interest in renewable energy.
Best For
Students interested in a career in the petroleum and energy sector, and those looking for a modern university with a focus on innovation.
Among national alternatives, University of Agder stands out for its focus on robotics, mechanical engineering and engineering, and it covers automation and electrical and electronics as well, and has almost the same size, at about 13,000 students.
Think of University of South-Eastern Norway when marine science, process control and engineering is the priority: it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers nanotechnologies and automation as well.
Anyone who wants a second school in the same country with a similar spread of marine science and geotechnics can consider University of Bergen, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
A good alternative in the same country is University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway, which likewise covers marine science and geotechnics; it is slightly larger, at about 16,500 students against roughly 12,000 here, and is also a public institution.
The comparison with University of Oslo is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on geotechnics, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Beyond national borders, Russian State University of Oil and Gas stands out as a comparable school for geotechnics, process control and mechanical engineering; it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers chemistry and automation as well.
Seen from abroad, Ufa State Petroleum Technological University (Russia) is a close relative on subject matter, since geotechnics, process control and mechanical engineering are central to both, and it covers chemical engineering and automation as well, and is larger, enrolling about 19,000 students against roughly 12,000 here.
For a study option in Sweden with a comparable spread of process control, robotics and mechanical engineering, University West is the reference point: it is slightly larger, at about 15,000 students against roughly 12,000 here, and is also a public institution.
University of Barcelona in Spain is the nearest foreign match on leading, groups and health; it is far larger, with about 62,995 students against roughly 12,000 here, and is also a public institution.
University of Aveiro, in Portugal, takes a similar route through marine science, materials and engineering; it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and covers chemistry and telecommunications as well.
*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 Stavanger?
At Ullandhaug in Stavanger, Norway, with the address Kjell Arholms gate 41.
When was it founded?
In 1969 as Rogaland Education Centre. It became a university in 2005.
How large is it?
About 12,000 students and 1,700 staff.
What is UiS best known for?
Petroleum engineering, offshore technology, subsurface geoscience, risk and safety, and renewable energy.
Which companies work with it?
Equinor and many service companies in the Stavanger region.
What other fields does it cover?
Social sciences, education, sport, humanities, health sciences and business.
What is NORCE?
The Norwegian Research Centre, which works with the university on applied projects in energy and the environment.
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 Stavanger expensive?
Yes. It has a high cost of living because of the oil industry.
Environmental Impact, 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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