Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

About Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

HVL is a state university college serving western Norway through five campuses rather than a single Bergen site. The institution was established in 2017 when Bergen University College, Stord/Haugesund University College and Sogn og Fjordane University College merged. This structure gives students access to a large institution while retaining campuses that differ substantially in size, setting and academic mix. Official autumn 2025 figures record 16,855 students: 11,080 in Bergen, 2,330 in Sogndal, 1,775 in Haugesund, 945 in Stord and 720 in Førde. Prospective students should therefore assess the specific programme campus, not just the institution as a whole. Bergen offers the largest academic and urban environment, while the other locations provide smaller study communities connected to regional employers and public services. HVL describes its profile as profession- and workforce-oriented. Its education includes established professional fields such as nursing, teaching and engineering, alongside maritime studies, business, social sciences, environmental subjects, culture and sport. Research is conducted with industry and public-sector partners, reinforcing the applied focus. The institution reported 1,831 staff and 30 doctorates awarded in 2025, demonstrating active teaching and doctoral operations. HVL remains open and active for 2026, with current programme admissions, course applications and semester-start information published on its official website.

Admission routes depend on degree level, citizenship, teaching language and programme. HVL directs applicants to individual programme pages because academic prerequisites can differ. International master’s applicants generally need a relevant bachelor’s degree, and some programmes impose subject-specialization or grade requirements. Applicants outside the Nordic countries may also need to document English proficiency. HVL’s current English requirement accepts IELTS Academic with an overall score of at least 6.0, alongside specified alternatives and exemptions; letters from universities simply asserting proficiency are not accepted. For English-taught master’s programmes beginning in autumn 2026, non-EU/EEA applicants used Søknadsweb from 1 October to 1 December 2025. EU/EEA applicants generally applied from 1 February to 1 March 2026, although Maritime Operations had a 15 April deadline. British citizens were handled under the non-EU/EEA timetable. These dates apply to the 2026 intake and should not be reused for 2027 without checking an updated admissions page. HVL states that undergraduate programmes are taught in Norwegian, so applicants must document Norwegian proficiency and normally use the relevant Norwegian admissions route. Exchange applications follow separate procedures through partner institutions. PhD programmes likewise have their own admission processes. Applicants should confirm the correct applicant category before submission because HVL states that applications filed in the wrong citizenship group will not be considered.

HVL’s academic portfolio is organized through three faculties: Education, Arts and Sport; Health and Social Sciences; and Technology, Environmental and Social Sciences. Official 2025 figures list 49 bachelor’s programmes, 38 master’s programmes, five PhD programmes, 18 one-year programmes and about 150 continuing-education offerings. Programme availability varies by campus and delivery format, so students should verify the current study plan and location for their intended course. The institution’s subject coverage includes teacher education, nursing and other health professions, engineering, computing, maritime studies, environmental sciences, social sciences, economics, management, culture and sport. Its applied orientation is visible in professional qualifications and collaboration with employers and public services. HVL’s strategy also emphasizes student-active teaching and student participation in research. The five named doctoral programmes cover Bildung and Pedagogical Practices; Computer Science; Health, Function and Participation; Nautical Operations; and Responsible Innovation and Regional Development. This confirms a research pathway beyond taught master’s study, although doctoral admission follows separate programme procedures. Language requires particular attention. HVL states that its undergraduate programmes are offered only in Norwegian and require documented Norwegian proficiency. English-language opportunities include selected master’s degrees, PhD programmes, exchange courses and some other offerings. The database’s general English-language label should therefore not be interpreted as meaning that every degree is taught in English. Applicants should consult the individual 2026/2027 programme page for curriculum, campus, attendance requirements and teaching language.

Key Highlights

• Public state university college operating across five campuses in western Norway
• 16,855 students recorded in autumn 2025, including 11,080 in Bergen
• Established in 2017 through the merger of three university colleges
• Profession- and workforce-oriented teaching linked to industry and public services

Student Life & Environment

Student experience differs across HVL’s five campuses, making campus selection an important part of programme choice. Bergen is the largest location and provides the broadest urban setting. Its Kronstad campus occupies a modern complex built in and around former railway halls and is served directly by Bergen’s light-rail network. Smaller campuses may offer closer-knit study environments, while Sogndal is especially associated with outdoor recreation and access to fjords and mountains. Students can participate in campus organizations and elected representation. The Western Norway Student Council includes representatives from all five campuses, giving the multi-campus student body a formal channel in institutional decision-making. New students also encounter buddy activities, campus introductions and student-organization events; Bergen’s 2026 start-of-study programme ran from 10 to 16 August. HVL provides free study and career guidance, including help with education plans, examinations, exchange, CVs and job applications. Student welfare services in Bergen are delivered through Sammen and include housing, sports facilities, psychological and social counselling, and other health-related support. Full-semester exchange students in Bergen can receive a housing guarantee when they follow HVL’s process and apply by the stated deadline. Full-degree students do not receive that guarantee and should apply early.

Location & Surroundings

Although the database record identifies Bergen, HVL is a multi-campus institution with locations in Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndal and Stord. Bergen is by far the largest, enrolling 11,080 of the institution’s 16,855 students in autumn 2025. Its main Kronstad campus lies south of the city centre in a redeveloped railway complex. Bergen offers a combination of city amenities and access to Norway’s western coastline and mountain landscape. The campus has its own Bybanen light-rail stop, and both light-rail lines connect Kronstad with the city centre. Line 1 continues to Bergen Airport and also serves the Fantoft student-housing area, simplifying travel for students without a car. The other campuses provide distinct regional settings. Sogndal is a compact fjord community with outdoor recreation nearby; Haugesund and Stord serve coastal and maritime regions; and Førde is a smaller inland-western centre. Since programmes are not uniformly offered at every campus, applicants should base location decisions on the programme listing rather than assuming study will take place in Bergen.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Fee liability depends strongly on citizenship and programme. HVL states that students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must generally pay tuition unless an exemption applies. Its latest published schedule is for 2025/2026, not 2026/2027, so those figures should be treated as historical guidance rather than confirmed current prices. The listed annual categories ranged from NOK 130,000 to NOK 500,000, with named 2025/2026 English-taught programmes priced at NOK 180,000 or NOK 260,000. Maritime Operations, the Erasmus Mundus Theatre SPACEs programme, exchange students from partner institutions and PhD students were among the stated exempt groups. HVL says it offers no scholarships and cannot arrange student funding. Applicants should obtain the applicable 2026/2027 amount from their admission documentation before making a financial commitment. Housing is separate from tuition. In Bergen, full-degree students could apply for Sammen housing by 15 April under the latest published guidance, but without a housing guarantee. Full-semester exchange students had guarantee deadlines of 15 May for autumn and 1 November for spring when following HVL’s designated process. Rent and living costs were not stated on the selected current university pages, so students should use Sammen’s live listings and budget for food, transport, insurance and residence-permit requirements. HVL’s career value is primarily tied to applied professional education and employer collaboration. Free career guidance includes CV and application review and discussion of further study and employment options. Outcomes such as salaries or placement rates are not published in the selected sources and should not be inferred.