The University of South-Eastern Norway is a public university with multiple campuses across south-eastern Norway. USN was founded as a university in 2018 and the new university was created through the development and merging of earlier university college institutions, giving USN a strong regional, professional and applied education identity. The university has campuses in Bø, Drammen, Kongsberg, Notodden, Porsgrunn, Rauland, Ringerike and Vestfold. The multi-campus structure makes USN among the most regionally connected universities in Norway, with education and research linked to local industry, public services, technology environments, culture, business, education, health and sustainability.

USN is especially well suited for students seeking applied and career-oriented higher education rather than a purely traditional university model. The university has strong academic fields in business and management, technology, engineering, computer science, maritime studies, ecology, environmental management, human rights, multiculturalism and sustainability, industrial IT, automation, energy, sensor systems, nursing, education, arts, music, design and social sciences. Its programs are often aligned with regional employers, public agencies, professional practice and real world challenges.

English-taught masters programs for international students at USN. These are: computer science, digital transformation, electrical power engineering, ecology and environmental management, human rights and multiculturalism, innovation and technology management, industrial IT and automation, maritime management, process, energy and environmental technology, sensor systems and innovation and sustainability management. These programs are for students who have a bachelor’s degree and want to gain applied master-level education in Norway.

Most bachelor’s programs at the University of South-Eastern Norway are taught in Norwegian, so international bachelor applicants generally need Norwegian proficiency unless a program is specifically offered in English. However, bachelor level fee status continues to be important as non-EU/EEA/Swiss students admitted to tuition liable programmes may be required to pay tuition fees. The official USN tuition page does not contain every bachelor program separately. Students are asked to contact the university if the program is not listed. So confirm bachelor fees program wise before sending final application.

The research profile of USN is practical and regionally relevant. It is applied in fields such as industrial technology, energy, environmental science, maritime operations, educational research, health and welfare, entrepreneurship, culture, social development, sustainability and digital transformation. The Kongsberg connection is particularly relevant to the university’s subjects of engineering, technology, industry and systems. It also provides support to health, business, teacher education, the culture, environmental studies and regional development on its other campuses.

Students from Norway, the EU/EEA and Switzerland are generally not charged tuition fees. Generally, students from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland pay fees unless they qualify for an exemption. USN presents some examples of selected tuition fees for studies starting in 2026. For instance, several master's programs in management and social sciences will cost NOK 60,000 annually, whereas selected master's programs in technology and science will cost NOK 90,000 annually. Some arts programmes of 1 year are listed at NOK 50 000 a year. Accurate bachelor or unlisted program fees should be confirmed directly with USN as not all programs are listed.

All in all, USN is a good option for students who want a practical public university in Norway, with regional campuses, applied learning, strengths in technology and business, a focus on sustainability, and some master’s programs taught in English.