NLA Høgskolen

About NLA Høgskolen

NLA Høgskolen is a privately owned, publicly accredited Norwegian university college. It is organized as a limited company and owned by seven Christian organizations and denominations. The institution describes education, research, dissemination and development work as its core activities, grounded in a Christian understanding of human dignity, responsibility and service. Prospective students should consider this explicit value profile when deciding whether the learning environment suits them; the college also states that its education is open to people regardless of worldview. The institution traces its Bergen origin to Norsk Lærerakademi, established in 1968 with studies in Christianity and later pedagogy. Teacher education developed separately before the Bergen institutions merged in 2010. A further merger in 2013 brought together colleges associated with teacher education, theology, music, journalism and communication. NLA now operates under common leadership across four principal campuses—two in Bergen and one each in Oslo and Kristiansand—and study centres in Trondheim and Stavanger. NLA reports more than 3,000 students and approximately 300 employees. Bergen is the largest study location, but the database record should be understood as representing the institution as a whole rather than an independent Bergen college. Programs and facilities are campus-specific, so applicants should verify the stated location, teaching language, delivery format and any required attendance on the individual 2026 program page before applying.

Admissions depend on the program and applicant category. Most Norwegian-taught year programs, bachelor’s degrees and teacher-education programs use Samordna opptak, Norway’s coordinated admissions service. NLA uses its own Søknadsweb process for many single courses, continuing-education and online offerings, two-year master’s degrees and most performance-music programs. General higher-education entrance qualification is required for relevant entry-level programs, and individual courses may add subject, audition, grade, professional-experience, language or documentation conditions. Applicants aged at least 25 in the admission year who lack the standard entrance qualification may be considered through Norway’s prior-learning route where relevant education and experience compensate for the usual requirements. For the English-taught international master’s process, NLA requires an appropriate bachelor’s background and supporting documentation. Its published application materials include identification, degree certificates, transcripts, English-test results, relevant upper-secondary documentation and a one-page motivation letter. For the cycle described on the current official page, deadlines are 1 February for non-EU/EEA applicants, 15 April for EU/EEA applicants and 1 June for Norwegian and other Nordic citizens. These dates apply to the specified international master’s route, not automatically to Norwegian-taught or locally admitted programs. Applicants should consult the individual 2026 program listing for the correct portal and deadline. Meeting minimum eligibility does not guarantee admission where qualified applicants must be ranked. Required documents must be uploaded through the application portal rather than sent by ordinary email unless NLA specifically instructs otherwise.

NLA’s academic portfolio combines professional education with humanities, social sciences, media, music and business-related subjects. Across the institution, current offerings include teacher and kindergarten-teacher education, pedagogy, theology, religion and philosophy, intercultural studies, journalism and communication, music, sport, economics, innovation, marketing and leadership. The precise mix varies substantially by campus. In Bergen, Kalfaret hosts teacher education and studies including sport, economics, innovation and leadership, while Sandviken is associated with pedagogy, theology and religion, intercultural studies and some economics teaching. Official 2026 materials confirm both bachelor’s and master’s provision. Most year programs, bachelor’s degrees and teacher-education routes use Norway’s coordinated admissions system, while NLA’s local admissions process covers programs such as two-year master’s degrees, continuing education, online subjects, single courses and most performance-music studies. Current Bergen graduate examples include the two-year Master in Theology and the Master in Educational Leadership. The latter requires relevant prior higher education and a grade average of C or better; requirements differ by program. Teaching language must be checked carefully. Programs offered through Norway’s coordinated admissions system are taught in Norwegian and carry Norwegian-language requirements. NLA separately offers designated English-taught studies, including international master’s programs in Theology and Ministry and Global Journalism. Professional programs may include compulsory, supervised practice. NLA works with public and private schools and other approved placement settings; students may face police-certificate, suitability or health-documentation requirements, depending on the profession.

Key Highlights

• Accredited private university college owned by seven Christian organizations and denominations
• Institutional roots in Bergen date to 1968
• More than 3,000 students across locations in five Norwegian cities
• Bergen contains two campuses under the institution’s common leadership

Student Life & Environment

Student life in Bergen is divided between the Kalfaret and Sandviken campuses. NLA describes both as relatively central, with Kalfaret approximately five to seven minutes from Bergen railway station and Sandviken just outside the city core. Students may need to move between the two sites for some subjects, particularly within the business portfolio, so timetable and travel implications should be checked before choosing housing. The Bergen campuses provide libraries, canteen space and places for independent study. NLA organizes an orientation or mentor program at the beginning of the semester and reports student societies, international activities and social events during the academic year. Its Christian character is visible in campus life through activities such as brief devotional gatherings and celebrations associated with religious holidays. Participation expectations for any particular activity should be distinguished from formal course attendance requirements. Bergen students are affiliated with Sammen, the regional student-welfare organization, which provides services including housing, health support and fitness facilities. NLA also lists student-democracy structures consisting of a student parliament for all locations and councils at individual campuses. Current recreational activities advertised in Bergen include weekly futsal, volleyball and padel, with occasional climbing, swimming and running. Availability can change between semesters, so these should be treated as current examples rather than guaranteed long-term offerings.

Location & Surroundings

NLA’s Bergen operation uses two addresses: Kalfarveien 31 in Kalfaret and Amalie Skrams vei 3 in Sandviken. Kalfaret sits close to Bergen railway station and the city centre. Sandviken lies north of the central core and is also described by NLA as centrally positioned. Both locations provide relatively direct access to urban services and Bergen’s surrounding outdoor environment. The two-campus arrangement matters academically. Teacher and kindergarten-teacher education are based at Kalfaret, while pedagogy, Christianity, religion and theology, intercultural studies and foundational philosophy courses are associated with Sandviken. Most economics teaching is at Kalfaret, but some classes may take place at Sandviken. Applicants should therefore confirm the primary teaching site for their program rather than assuming every course attached to the Bergen record meets in one building. Bergen’s wider student infrastructure is shared with students from other institutions. Sammen provides welfare services, and the city’s student portal lists organizations, cultural events, museums, festivals, hiking and swimming opportunities. NLA notes good public-transport access and limited private-car parking around its campuses.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For the 2026/2027 academic year, NLA lists an ordinary study fee of NOK 4,300 per semester. Students also pay a semester fee to the relevant student-welfare organization; NLA gives a range of NOK 550–690 depending on location. Some programs have higher or otherwise program-specific charges, and fees may be adjusted annually, so applicants should check the individual study page. NLA states that its approved studies qualify for support through the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund, subject to that agency’s rules. The dedicated 2026/2027 page for the English-taught master’s programs in Global Journalism and Theology and Ministry lists NOK 4,300 per semester for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and NOK 30,000 per semester for other nationalities, plus the welfare fee. The non-EU/EEA figure was published subject to parliamentary approval of a legislative change, and exemptions may apply. NLA states that it does not offer scholarships to international students. These figures should not be generalized to every program. Housing and normal living expenses are separate. Bergen students can seek housing and other services through Sammen; NLA says incoming international students in Bergen are usually guaranteed housing if they apply by the relevant deadline, but this should not be assumed for all degree-seeking students. Career preparation varies by subject. Teacher, kindergarten-teacher and certain theology routes incorporate supervised professional practice, while other programs connect to fields such as journalism, communication, church and nonprofit work, educational leadership and business. NLA cautions that placements can involve extra travel costs and, in some cases, journeys of up to 1.5 hours from a student’s residence.