Høgskulen på Vestlandet

Key Highlights

• Public Norwegian university college operating across five west-coast campuses
• Established in 2017 through the merger of three university colleges
• Approximately 16,500 students and 1,900 employees institution-wide
• Profession-oriented teaching and research linked to industry and public services

Student Life & Environment

Student life at the Bergen campus centers on Kronstad and the adjoining Kronverket student house. Kronverket contains spaces for student organizations, a volunteer-run pub, and a concert venue. Bergen Teknikersamfund supports activities in areas such as music, theatre, media, and sport, while the campus sports association lists football, volleyball, tennis, badminton, padel, squash, and running among its activities. Sammen, the regional student welfare organization, provides services including housing, sports facilities, counselling, psychological support, health-related reimbursements, and childcare. Campus-based resources also include a library, study guidance, career guidance, and counselling. Participation and services can vary by student category, so students should confirm eligibility directly. Housing is arranged through Sammen rather than owned directly by HVL. Full-semester exchange students receive a housing guarantee when they follow HVL’s instructions and apply by the published deadline. For the current housing guidance, those deadlines are 15 May for autumn and 1 November for spring. Full-degree students do not receive the same stated guarantee; HVL gives 15 April as the application deadline for accommodation without a guarantee.

Location & Surroundings

Campus Bergen is at Kronstad, just south of Bergen’s city center, with its main address at Inndalsveien 28. The campus opened in 2014 in and around six former railway halls, combining preserved industrial buildings with newer teaching space. A former carpentry workshop now houses the library, while a former engine workshop was converted into a large student café. Academic facilities include 35 simulation laboratories used in health sciences, sports, and engineering, as well as indoor and outdoor sports facilities. This makes Kronstad particularly relevant for students whose programs involve laboratory, simulation, or practical learning, though applicants must still confirm that their chosen program is assigned to Bergen. Bergen is an urban coastal setting surrounded by mountains and fjords. HVL’s student-life guidance points students toward hiking, cultural activities, and regional events. Weather and outdoor conditions can change quickly, so students planning mountain activities should follow Norwegian safety guidance and budget for suitable clothing and equipment.

Costs & Career Outcomes

All registered students currently pay a semester charge of NOK 850: NOK 650 goes to the student welfare organization and NOK 200 is a copying and learning-materials fee. This amount was confirmed on HVL’s semester-registration page in July 2026. Books, housing, food, transport, insurance, and personal expenses are additional. Citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland, exchange students from partner institutions, and PhD candidates are among the groups HVL lists as exempt from tuition. Most newly admitted students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must pay program-based tuition unless they qualify for a statutory exemption. HVL’s public tuition page still labels its category rates as applying to 2025/2026, with annual amounts ranging from NOK 130,000 to NOK 500,000 and selected named programs priced or exempted separately. Because no official 2026/2027 fee schedule was located, prospective students should obtain the applicable amount from HVL before accepting an offer. HVL states that it does not offer scholarships for these tuition charges. Career preparation reflects the institution’s profession-oriented mission and collaboration with industry and public services. Bergen students can use HVL career guidance for help with career choices, CVs, and applications. Outcomes will vary substantially by field, Norwegian-language ability, professional authorization requirements, and work-permit status; HVL does not publish a single institution-wide salary or placement figure on the reviewed pages.