UiT The Arctic University of Norway is one of Norway's most distinctive institutions of higher education and a major public research university. The university was founded in 1968 with the aim of improving higher education, research, professional training and regional development in Northern Norway. Today UiT has a strong national and international profile within Arctic research, northern communities, indigenous studies, marine science, climate change, health sciences, technology, law, education, social sciences, humanities and natural sciences.

The university’s main campus is located in Tromsø, a city renowned for its Arctic culture, research, northern lights, marine industries, polar science, and international academic collaboration. UiT also has campuses and study locations in Alta, Harstad, Narvik, Hammerfest, Kirkenes and other regional centers in Northern Norway. This broad northern presence gives UiT a special role in supporting education, health care, technology, public administration, culture and research in the Arctic region.

UiT is especially good if you want to study the Arctic and the North. Academic profile: marine biotechnology, fisheries, geosciences, climate research, indigenous studies, peace and conflict transformation, law of the sea, public health, psychology, computer science, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, technology and safety, biomedicine, molecular sciences, mathematics, physics, tourism, multilingualism. Located in a unique environment, the university offers students access to natural laboratories such as Arctic ecosystems, coastal communities, polar environments, marine resources and northern societies.

UiT is very relevant at master's level for international students. At the moment, the university has not got any English-taught bachelor's degree programs for international applicants, but it does have a few English-taught master's programs. These programs are suitable for students with a relevant bachelor degree and who want to study in a research driven Arctic university environment. Teaching often involves independent study, research assignments, thesis work, field-based learning, laboratory work, seminars and interdisciplinary discussions.

One of the strongest points is the research environment at UiT. The university addresses issues such as Arctic sustainability, climate change, ocean science, Indigenous knowledge, northern health, law of the sea, space science, fisheries, tourism, technology, safety and societal transformation. UiT is particularly useful for students who want to combine academic study with the issues of the world, for example climate, resources, culture, health, security and sustainable development.

Tuition fees Normally, students from Norway, the EU/EEA and Switzerland do not have to pay tuition fees at public universities. If you are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss student you will normally have to pay tuition fees unless you are exempt. UiT introduces new reduced tuition fee categories for international students from August 2026. Category 1 programs are about NOK 100 500 per year, Category 2 programs are about NOK 150 500 per year and Category 3 programs such as medicine, dentistry and aviation studies are about NOK 351 000 per year. There is no tuition for some programs, such as the Master of Philosophy in Indigenous Studies.

In short, UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a good choice for students looking for a public Norwegian university with a unique Arctic identity, English-taught master’s programs, research-based teaching and strong academic relevance in climate, ocean, health, law, technology and northern studies.

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a public research university located in Tromsø. It is Norway’s most northerly university and one of the Arctic’s leading academic institutions. The university was founded in 1968 to strengthen the higher education and research capacity in Northern Norway. Since then it has developed into a full university with programs in science, technology, health, law, social sciences, humanities, education, business and the arts.
The location of the university gives it a special academic character. In Tromsø and Northern Norway, you can visit Arctic environments, coastal communities, the Indigenous Sámi culture, marine ecosystems, polar research sites, northern healthcare challenges and climate-related study areas. Hence UiT has a unique role in comparison with universities in Southern Norway or central Europe. Students can study global issues from a northern and Arctic perspective. 

UiT is particularly recognized for research in the Arctic, marine sciences, law of the sea, Indigenous studies, fisheries, geosciences, health sciences, public health, technology, aerospace engineering, computer science, peace studies and northern tourism. Its research and teaching are often linked to real challenges in the region and the world. This makes the university ideal for students who desire academic study with strong social relevance.

International students tend to apply to English taught master’s programs at UiT. Most bachelor programs are offered in Norwegian and UiT does not currently offer bachelor degree programs taught in English for international applicants. Master’s programs typically require a relevant bachelor’s degree, English language proficiency, and academic background relevant to the program. PhD positions are generally advertised as funded research jobs.

If you want an academic environment with a combination of research, nature, culture and northern innovation, UiT is an excellent choice. Graduates can find employment in research, public administration, environmental organizations, health services, marine industries, technology companies, legal organizations, NGOs, education, tourism and international Arctic-related institutions.

• Choose the preferred UiT program from the official study list. • Confirm whether the program is open for international applicants. • Review academic requirements, English language requirements, and documentation rules. • Prepare degree certificates, transcripts, passport details, English language proof, CV, motivation letter, and other program-specific documents. • Apply through UiT’s international admission system before the deadline. • Upload all required documents correctly. • Wait for the admission result according to UiT’s timeline. • If admitted, accept the offer and follow enrollment instructions. • Non-EU/EEA/Swiss students should arrange tuition payment, proof of living funds, residence permit application, housing, insurance, and travel. • PhD applicants should apply to advertised doctoral vacancies or follow faculty-specific doctoral admission instructions. Admission Details • Main Intake: Autumn • Bachelor’s Language: Mostly Norwegian • English Bachelor Availability: UiT currently does not offer English-taught bachelor’s degree programs for international applicants • Master’s Language: Selected programs available in English • Application Type: Program-specific admission • Bachelor’s Requirement: Upper secondary education equivalent to Norwegian standards • Master’s Requirement: Relevant bachelor’s degree • PhD Requirement: Relevant master’s degree and research admission • English Requirement: Required for English-taught programs • Tuition Fee Rule: Non-EU/EEA/Swiss students usually pay tuition fees • Scholarship Availability: UiT does not offer scholarships or financial aid for full-degree students • Residence Permit: Required for many non-EU/EEA/Swiss students