The University of Agder (UiA) has 13,000 students and 1,400 faculty and staff members. It is one of the most modern universities in Norway, and it is still growing and consolidating its position for its high-quality research and study programmes both on national and international level.

We work hard to develop the university further, in order to preserve our traditions of good teaching and a sense of closeness between the students, employees and the workplace.

The students of UiA have consistently reported, in several surveys carried out throughout the years, being among Norway's most satisfied students. They highlight the quality and relevancy of the programmes, competent lecturers and a student village which is "just the right size". 

The largest study programmes at UiA, such as nursing, engineering, elementary school teaching, and economics, are highly job-oriented. A closer relationship between these academic programmes and companies, organisations, cultural institutions and social life, leads to a shorter road between studies and work life in Southern Norway.

Our researchers put a lot of effort into achieving research results of high national and international quality. Strong research groups will be central to achieve UiA's aims within research, development, and artistic development work. In 2027, the university will have several research centres that have achieved status as national or internationally leading centres. In addition, UIA will have efficient research groups covering the entire range of development stages.

UiA is the first to introduce education in Mechatronics (bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree) and Renewable Energy (bachelor’s). Southern Norway has world leading actors in offshore technology, who collaborate in developing the studies. The collaboration secures businesses the competence they need, and provides students with relevant education and exciting job opportunities.

UiA is allotted a Centre for Excellence in Higher Education (SFU): Centre for Research, Innovation and Coordination of Mathematics Teaching (MatRIC). MatRIC will be a national centre, which will lead innovation and research in teaching and education in mathematics for the natural sciences, engineering, economics and teacher education, and application programs. SFU is a national prestigious arrangement allotted to those who can exhibit excellent quality and innovative training in education.

Nearly 50% of those who apply to study at the University of Agder come from other regions, which contributes to higher population figures and competence development. UiA works closely with industries, public businesses and the cities in the region, in order to secure relevant workforce, jobs and studies.

The University of Agder is particularly concerned with the fact that a good start is crucial to having a good time at university. Therefore, in collaboration with SiA (Studentskipnaden i Agder), STA (the Student organisation in Agder), the board of the buddy system, and the student villages, we put a lot of effort into providing a solid buddy system, a festival at the beginning of the academic year, start-up courses, and specialised services.

We want our students to continue being among the country’s most satisfied – and providing a good beginning is a great starting point!

Since 1993, the University of Agder has offered studies and courses in very special surroundings at the study centre Metochi. Metochi is an annexed monastery on the Greek island Lesbos. 

Following the foundation of the study centre, UiA has arranged a series of seminars and courses at Metochi every year. The centre is also frequently used by other universities, colleges and organizations. The study centre is run on a non-profit basis.

Metochi Study Centre aims to contribute to the growth of academical insight and human understanding, through courses, conferences, seminars and studies.

In last decade, UiA has worked closely with NHO (the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise) and the region’s industries trades to accommodate the need for more women in technological fields. That has resulted in a record high number of women studying engineering and technology.

“Girls and technology are an educational fairytale, that is extremely important to the industry in Norway,” says Kristin Skogen Lund, leader of NHO.

“The miniature hospital” at Grimstad campus is one of Norway’s most modern and innovative educational environment in health care in Norway. As a nursing student at UiA, you get a miniature version of health care in Norway at your place of study, with access to the foremost technology in education.

Not one university in Norway offers as many options and great flexibility for this kind of education as UiA. We have the opportunity to offer this due to the university’s vast and good academic environment, which is integrated into the lecturer educations.

Lecturer educations at UiA date back to 1839 - which means that this university has 175 year old roots.

Music students at UiA are thriving with the newest of facilities in our studios, scenes and rehearsal rooms. Renowned musicians are lecturers, renowned musicians graduate, and UiA can now offer degrees as high as PhDs in performing rhythmic music. As the only university offering this in Norway, performing music students can choose to use a laptop as their instrument and work with electronic music.

The School of Business and Law at UiA is among the country’s leading business schools. UiA is the university with the most graduating business of commerce students in the country and has offered education in business for 25 years.

Recent numbers show that nine out of ten students enter working life quickly and get jobs in the course of four months after graduating. We believe many of our students choose us exactly because our good academic environment, our reputation, and our profile as a vocational university. Many come to UiA to receive a job-oriented education. 

In the spring of 2015, UiA was allotted a Centre for Excellence in outstanding innovation (SFI) within offshore mechatronics. Mechatronics Innovation Lab (MIL) is a part of the national infrastructure for pilot testing and experimental development of products, systems and services especially within the offshore industry but also within manufacturing and material processing industries.

The purpose of establishing MIL is to strengthen the ability of tech companies in Norway to innovate, by offering a variety of required test services which today only exist abroad or do not exist at all. This will reduce the time-to-market when introducing new products and technologies and will, in turn, strengthen the competitiveness of the companies.

UiA owns the largest collection of beat art outside of the US, together with the secondary school Kristiansand Katedralskole Gimle. The art can be experienced by students, employees and visitors on a daily basis, as it is a part of the decorations on campus. The beat collection was donated to the university by Reidar Wennesland, a local doctor who had close contact with the art community in San Francisco, as some of the artists’ doctor and beneficiary.

Different educations offer different possibilities. UiA gives you the possibility of studying economy in China, teaching in the Netherlands, biology in Australia, paramedicine in Greece, technology in Germany, music in Hungary, language in Spain, or nursing in Botswana.

We offer exchange programmes all over the world with our quality proofed exchange agreements.

The UiA campuses are designed after the American campus models, with everything in one place.

Short distances, open areas, and many meeting places for students and employees. On campus, you have everything you need as a student: student housing, a bookshop, a library, group meeting rooms, study halls, student activity areas, a cafeteria, health services, and even a kindergarten for students with children.

Both campuses are located central and close to the city and industries, as well as hiking areas and the sea.

UiA is the first university in Norway to offer digital exams on such a large scale. Digital exams came into full force starting in the fall of 2014.

Our students highlight the cafeteria as the most important meeting area at UiA, and it has been named the country’s best student cafeteria several times. Considering that knowledge comes from human contact, we are very committed to creating meeting areas for students – no matter what they study or what year they are in. That is why both campuses have one cafeteria for all students and employees.

Did you know that the cafeteria manager at the Grimstad campus used to be the sous chef at a Michelin star restaurant? Or that the Norwegian champion chef and barista from the Norwegian student union both work at the cafeteria in Kristiansand?

UiA is fortunate to have such a well-functioning student union. SiA (Studentsamskipnaden i Agder) has proved to be the best, based on national surveys, and works hard to fulfill the vision of contributing to make Southern Norway known for being the best place to study.

SiA runs student housing, the student cafeteria, the bookshop, the fitness center, health care services, the student kindergarten, student activity houses, and other cultural events – such as the festival that occurs at the beginning of each academic year.

We are proud that our students experience an open door-policy at UiA. UiA aims to be an open, informal and future-oriented university, that promotes good relations between students and employees.

Southern Norway has the highest amount of sunny days in the country, making Kristiansand and Grimstad great locations to study all year around. Sea and forest are at the doorstep of both campuses, providing the perfect escape to nature. 

The region is also experiencing strong financial growth, it is at the top in export and entrepreneurship, and offers exciting occupational prospects.

The south is where you get the energy to create!

We truly admire the enthusiasm, spirit, curiosity, and sense of critique of our students. They inspire and challenge us in the best way. 

Nothing beats the months of January and August, when the campuses are filled with students who are returning from Christmas and summer holidays. 

We really do miss our students during vacations – it gets too quiet here without them!