Norwegian University of Life Sciences

About Norwegian University of Life Sciences

NMBU is an independent Norwegian state university and a recognized degree-granting higher-education institution. NOKUT lists it among Norway’s universities, a category permitted to establish programmes at every degree level, while the Norwegian government identifies NMBU separately among state universities and university colleges. Its main campus is in Ås, where the university’s agricultural predecessor began teaching in 1859. The institution’s present form reflects several stages of development. The Norwegian College of Agriculture acquired university status as the University of Life Sciences in 2005. In 2014 it merged with the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science and adopted the Norwegian University of Life Sciences name. Veterinary teaching and associated facilities moved from Oslo to Ås in 2021, consolidating the university’s principal activities there. NMBU’s defining feature is the breadth with which it approaches biological resources, environmental change, food systems, animal health, land use, and sustainability. Its portfolio connects traditional strengths in agriculture, forestry, plant and animal sciences with biotechnology, veterinary medicine, economics, development studies, landscape and spatial planning, data science, and engineering. This makes it most relevant to students seeking interdisciplinary study around living systems and the management of natural resources. Prospective international students should examine programme-level language information carefully: the English-language portfolio is meaningful but narrower than the university’s complete Norwegian-language offering.

Admission is programme- and applicant-specific. For NMBU’s English-taught International Environment and Development Studies bachelor’s degree, the published requirements include a recognized higher-education entrance qualification and documented English proficiency. Its programme page lists 1 December for international applicants, including EU/EEA applicants, and 15 April for Norwegian and Nordic applicants. Candidates should confirm that these dates apply to their intended 2027 entry cycle before submitting. For the international master’s process, NMBU publishes a portal period from 15 October to 1 December, with studies beginning the following August. Applicants may select up to two programmes. All required documents and admission conditions must be satisfied by the deadline. General master’s eligibility includes three years of higher education beyond the basic entrance requirement, an academically relevant background, and grades comparable to a Norwegian C. Individual programmes may impose more specific subject prerequisites. English-language evidence is governed by NMBU’s detailed documentation rules; prior study in English does not automatically produce an exemption in every circumstance. Applicants should check the country-specific entrance rules, the programme page, and the university’s English-language requirements before applying. Some countries require transcripts to be sent directly by the awarding institution or an approved verification channel. International students who need a Norwegian study permit should also allow time for tuition payment, proof of funds, and immigration processing after receiving an offer.

NMBU awards bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Its study portfolio spans environmental sciences, food science, biotechnology, agriculture, forestry, sustainable resource management, veterinary medicine, economics, development studies, landscape and spatial subjects, and selected areas of science and technology. Teaching is organized across specialist academic environments, and NMBU states that its education is research-based. English-language availability varies substantially by level. NMBU’s published international portfolio includes one English-taught bachelor’s degree, International Environment and Development Studies, alongside a broader selection of two-year English-taught master’s degrees. The bachelor’s programme is a 180-ECTS, full-time Bachelor of Science combining environmental and social sciences. Its curriculum includes development and environmental questions, ecology, research methods, scientific writing, electives, and possible field or exchange study. Other bachelor’s and integrated professional programmes are commonly taught in Norwegian, so an English-language database label should not be interpreted as applying to every degree. At master’s level, applicants can find English-taught options in fields including animal sciences, aquaculture, data science, applied economics and sustainability, environmental governance, global development, international relations, and related life-science areas. Exact availability should be checked in the current programme catalogue because admissions status can change; the 2026/27 tuition table, for example, identifies Urban Agriculture as not admitting new students. Doctoral education is also active, with PhD study administered through the relevant faculties. Students comparing programmes should review the required academic background, language standard, course structure, thesis expectations, and any laboratory, fieldwork, or professional components on the individual programme page.

Key Highlights

• Independent state university recognized by NOKUT
• Principal campus located in Ås, south of Oslo
• Institutional roots in higher agricultural education opened in 1859
• Current university name adopted following the 2014 veterinary-school merger

Student Life & Environment

Student life is concentrated around the Ås campus and the surrounding university town. NMBU describes roughly 70 student associations and clubs covering interests such as music, dance, politics, sport, food, and photography. New students are introduced to campus and association life through Buddy Week. The student-run UKA in Ås festival is another established part of the local student community. The Student Welfare Association in Ås, SiÅs, provides welfare services and accommodation close to campus. Housing formats include single rooms with shared facilities, rooms with private bathrooms, studios, couples’ flats, and family flats. International students receive priority in the accommodation process, but a room is not guaranteed. Allocation depends on availability and waiting-list position, so students are advised to apply promptly after accepting admission. Contract lengths and included furnishings vary by unit. Campus living places teaching spaces, training facilities, social activities, and outdoor areas within a compact setting. Private rentals are also available in Ås, although students considering off-campus housing should check public-transport access and commuting costs. Part-time employment should not be treated as assured financing: NMBU cautions that work can be difficult to obtain without Norwegian-language ability and recommends arriving with sufficient funds.

Location & Surroundings

NMBU’s principal campus is in Ås, a compact university town in Akershus, approximately 40 kilometres south of Oslo. The university presents Ås as walkable and bicycle-friendly, with student housing close to academic facilities. The campus occupies a substantial historic park landscape and combines older university buildings with modern teaching, research, and veterinary facilities. Rail service links Ås with Oslo, making the capital accessible for cultural activities, travel connections, and wider employment or professional events. NMBU’s current pages describe the journey as roughly 17–19 minutes by train, although students should consult the transport operator for the timetable applicable to their travel date. Oslo Airport can also be reached by public transport, normally with onward connections. The setting will suit students who prefer a smaller town and campus-centred routine while retaining access to a major city. Those renting away from campus should investigate the specific bus or rail connection before signing a lease, since public transport is not equally convenient in every part of Ås.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026/27, NMBU charges tuition to students who are citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland unless an exemption applies. The published annual rate for many listed bachelor’s and master’s programmes is NOK 80,000 for 60 ECTS. Veterinary medicine and specified veterinary programmes are listed at NOK 275,000 per year. Fees depend on programme category, so applicants should use the official table rather than assuming one university-wide amount. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens, exchange students from partner universities, and several other defined groups are exempt. NMBU states that it does not offer scholarships covering tuition fees. Tuition is separate from living expenses. NMBU’s current guidance presents an illustrative semester budget of NOK 24,000 for accommodation, NOK 15,000 for food, NOK 7,000 for books and supplies, NOK 3,500 for transport, and NOK 14,000 for other expenses. These are planning estimates rather than guaranteed costs. Its tuition page also cites NOK 166,859 as the study-permit living-funds requirement for 2025/26; applicants must check the immigration authority’s updated requirement for 2026/27. Career outcomes depend strongly on programme and Norwegian-language ability. The English-taught environment and development bachelor’s points toward government, nongovernmental, development, environmental, and resource-management work, as well as further study. Other NMBU disciplines prepare students for sector-specific paths in food systems, biosciences, animal health, environmental management, technology, and research. Prospective students should assess professional recognition, language expectations, internships, and programme-specific career information before enrolling; no general salary or placement rate was verified.