Nord University
Name / Origin: Nord University (Norwegian: Nord Universiteit) was formed on 1 January 2016 through a merger of the University of Nordland and several university colleges (Nesna, Nord-Trøndelag).
Size & Staff / Students:
• As of latest data, approx. 11,000 students enrolled.
• Administrative & academic staff around 1,300 (or in some reports ~1,400)
Business School / Faculty:
Nord University houses Nord University Business School (Handelshøgskolen Nord, HHN) located in Bodø, with around 2,700 students, 220 staff, offering bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees in business / administrative disciplines.
Courses & Study Programmes:
Nord University offers a wide range of programmes at Bachelor, Master, and doctoral levels, across various disciplines and in multiple campuses.
- Business / Economics / Management: Offered by the Business School (HHN), with BSc and MSc in Business, accounting, auditing, IT + doctoral (PhD in Business) programmes.
- For students from EU/EEA/Switzerland, and under certain conditions (residence permit, asylum, etc.), they may be exempt from tuition fees.
- The university also charges a semester fee (covers student welfare services, etc.).
- No internal general scholarships or grants for tuition are offered by Nord University itself.
Because programmes vary by campus and language (Norwegian / English), one must check the university’s official programme pages for specific details (duration, credits, course list).
Tuition / Fees (Converted to USD equivalent where possible)
Fee Policy & Structure
- New legislation since Autumn 2023: For students from countries outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland, tuition fees are now required at many Norwegian public universities, including Nord University.
- For students from EU/EEA/Switzerland, and under certain conditions (residence permit, asylum, etc.), they may be exempt from tuition fees.
- The university also charges a semester fee (covers student welfare services, etc.).
- No internal general scholarships or grants for tuition are offered by Nord University itself.
Additional Costs
- Course literature / textbooks are additional cost beyond tuition.
Living expenses in Norway (housing, food, transport) are not trivial and often are a major component of students’ budgets (hundreds to over a thousand USD per month in many Norwegian towns).
Note: the semester fee is additional to tuition and is mandatory.
Admission Process & Requirements:
- For Non-EU/EEA citizens: Application window is 1 November to 1 December.
- For EU/EEA citizens: Application window is 1 February to 15 April.
- Applicants must submit their educational credentials, transcripts, proof of language proficiency, etc., within documentation deadlines.
Undergraduate (Bachelor) Admission
- Prospective students need to meet equivalent of upper secondary/higher secondary school credentials.
- If documentation is not in English, Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish, official translation may be required.
- Applicants must fulfill prerequisite courses (depending on programme) and meet English language requirements.
- Notification of acceptance:
- For non-EU applicants: results announced early April.
- For EU/EEA: results in early July.
Graduate (Master / PhD) Admission
- Must hold a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in the relevant field.
Some programmes may require a research proposal, portfolio (for creative/arts programmes), and demonstration of English proficiency.
PhD positions often are paid/funded roles rather than tuition-based – many Norwegian universities treat PhD candidates as employees rather than students, so they are typically exempt from tuition fees and receive a salary. (General practice in Norway)
Other Admission Notes
- After being admitted, international students must accept the offer within 7 days in the application portal.
- For non-EU/EEA students: a residence/study permit (visa) must be arranged before arrival; proof of funds, valid admission, etc.
- On arrival, registration with local police and obtaining an ID number or “D number” (if staying < 6 months) is required.
Rankings & Reputation
- EDURank (2025): Nord University is placed 12th in Norway (domestic) and ~2,316th globally.
- US News / World Report: Nord University ranked ~1,344 in the Best Global Universities list.
- SCImago Institutions Rankings: Nord University is listed among Norway’s institutions (rank order ~13 for Norway).
- Shanghai / Academic Subject Rankings: In subject rankings:
- Public Administration / Social Sciences: 101–150 band.
- Biotechnology: 201–300 band.
- Nursing: 201–300 band.
- Ecology / Environmental Sciences: 401–500 band.
These rankings suggest that while Nord University is not among the top global elite institutions, it holds moderate visibility especially in its subject niches (e.g. environmental, public administration) and has stronger regional standing in Northern Norway.
Campus & Facilities
Nord University is distributed across multiple campuses, each serving different faculties and specializations. Below are campus and facility highlights.
- Bodø (Mørkved campus): The principal campus, housing large parts of faculties (especially business, social sciences). Also the site of Nord University Business School.
- Levanger: Known for its setting (on Trondheim Fjord), with proximity of student housing, sports hall, and good local connectivity (train stop).
- Campus Helgeland (Mo i Rana): Located in Mo i Rana, campus Helgeland serves students there; its location is close to local amenities (shops, cafés, transport including airport).
- Smaller campuses/locations (Sandnessjøen, Namsos, Nesna, etc.) often serve regional/local programmes, sometimes specialised or more applied courses.
- Facilities & Student Services:
- Student housing organized via Studentinord, particularly near campuses.
- Library and research facilities distributed per campus.
- Welfare services via student welfare organizations (health, counseling, sports) supported by semester fees.
- Labs, studios, media production facilities for creative programmes (e.g. for Film/TV, Animation) in relevant campus sites (e.g. Levanger).