Høgskulen på Vestlandet

About Høgskulen på Vestlandet

HVL is an independent state university college operating across five locations on Norway’s west coast. It was formed in 2017 by merging Bergen University College, Stord/Haugesund University College, and Sogn og Fjordane University College. Norway’s Ministry of Education continues to list HVL among the state university colleges funded for 2026, confirming its current public and operating status. The institution reports approximately 16,500 students and 1,900 employees across Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndal, and Stord. Its profile is oriented toward professions and working life, with education and research connected to industry and public-sector partners. Major subject areas include health and social sciences, teacher education, engineering, maritime studies, culture and sports, natural and social sciences, economics, and management. Prospective students should treat HVL as one multi-campus institution rather than assume that every subject is offered in Bergen. Program pages identify the applicable campus, curriculum, entry requirements, and teaching language. The Bergen campus at Kronstad is the institution’s urban location and includes teaching, library, sports, laboratory, and student-social facilities. The institution’s Norwegian name remains Høgskulen på Vestlandet, while Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is used on its English-language website.

Admission routes depend on level, citizenship, language, and applicant status. HVL states that undergraduate programs are taught in Norwegian. Applicants to Norwegian-language programs must satisfy the national higher-education entrance requirements and document both Norwegian and English. One accepted Norwegian route is Norskprøven at B2 in all four skills, although country-specific education rules may impose additional requirements. For English-taught international master’s programs beginning in autumn 2026, applicants generally needed a relevant bachelor’s degree and any program-specific subject or grade requirements. Non-EU/EEA applicants applied through Søknadsweb from 1 October to 1 December 2025. EU/EEA applicants generally applied from 1 February to 1 March 2026, with a 15 April 2026 deadline listed for Maritime Operations. These dates apply specifically to 2026 entry and should not be reused for 2027 without checking the new cycle. Applicants outside the Nordic countries normally must document English proficiency. HVL’s 2026 guidance accepts IELTS Academic 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, Pearson PTE Academic 59, or specified Cambridge results, subject to stated test-format rules and exemptions. Exchange admission is separate: applicants must come from a partner institution and be nominated before applying. Published exchange deadlines are 15 April for autumn and 15 October for spring. PhD applicants need an appropriate research project, proposed supervision, funding arrangements, and program-specific academic qualifications.

HVL awards bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees under institutional study and examination regulations effective from August 2025. Its academic portfolio spans health and social sciences, engineering and maritime studies, teacher education, culture and sports, natural and social sciences, economics, and management. The applied profile is visible in preparation for regulated or established professions and in collaboration with employers and public institutions. Language and location require careful checking. HVL states that its undergraduate programs are offered only in Norwegian, so international applicants to bachelor’s study must document Norwegian proficiency. For 2026 entry, its English-taught master’s selection includes Climate Change Management, Healthy Ageing and Rehabilitation, Maritime Operations, and Theatre in social and community contexts. Fire Safety Engineering, Software Engineering, and Sustainable Energy Technology were listed for EU/EEA applicants only. Availability and campus differ by program. HVL also offers four PhD programs: Bildung and Pedagogical Practices, Computer Science, Health, Function and Participation, and Responsible Innovation and Regional Development. General PhD admission normally requires a relevant 120-ECTS master’s degree or equivalent, including independent work of at least 30 ECTS, alongside program-specific academic requirements. Exchange students have a broader English-taught course catalogue: the published autumn 2026 and spring 2027 list contains bachelor’s- and master’s-level options across several fields, with many based in Bergen.

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.