University of South-Eastern Norway

About University of South-Eastern Norway

USN is a multi-campus institution rather than a university centered exclusively in Kongsberg. Its eight locations are Bø, Drammen, Hønefoss or Ringerike, Kongsberg, Notodden, Porsgrunn, Rauland, and Vestfold. These settings range from urban centers to smaller inland, mountain, and coastal communities. Applicants should therefore evaluate the particular programme and campus together: housing, transport, social scale, local industry, and available facilities differ substantially across the network. The present university was established on 4 May 2018. USN’s official profile reports about 17,000 students and 1,900 employees. It organizes teaching and research through four main academic units: the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences; the Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Educational Sciences; the Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences; and the School of Business. USN emphasizes education connected to professional practice, business, and public services. The university offers full-time, part-time, campus-based, and online options, although these formats are programme-specific. Its regional structure can suit students who prefer a smaller campus community or proximity to a particular industrial or professional cluster. It also means that prospective students must not assume that every subject, English-taught option, or student service is available in Kongsberg. The official programme listing should be used to confirm the exact study location and delivery mode before applying.

Admissions depend on the programme, degree level, citizenship or residence category, and sometimes the applicant’s country of education. USN separates full-degree applications from exchange applications. Exchange candidates must be nominated by a partner home university; independent full-degree applicants do not require nomination. For EU/EEA applicants, USN’s current general page states that applications open on 1 February and close on 15 April. Applicants outside the EU/EEA, applicants who require a student visa, and applicants to the specified Smart Systems Integrated Solutions route use a separate process that opens on 1 October. The public overview does not display a universal closing date for that group, so applicants must follow the deadline shown in the applicable cycle and programme instructions. Non-EU/EEA full-degree applicants apply through USN’s Søknadsweb portal and may submit only one application for one course under the procedure described by USN. Required materials vary by country and programme. Applicants must review both the country-specific rules and general documentation requirements, including any English-language evidence. Some programmes impose additional academic or document conditions. Documents must be uploaded by the applicable deadline, and USN warns that unverifiable documents may lead to rejection. Admission does not by itself complete immigration requirements. Students requiring a Norwegian study permit must follow the current immigration authority rules, document sufficient funds, arrange valid insurance, and address tuition obligations where applicable. Deadlines and evidence should always be rechecked for the intended intake.

USN offers education at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Its official institutional overview describes more than 300 bachelor’s and master’s degree courses and PhD programmes in six subject fields. The academic portfolio covers arts, craft and music; business and management; health and social care; humanities and languages; IT and information systems; maritime studies; natural and environmental sciences; optometry; teacher education; social sciences; sport; and technology and engineering. The university’s applied orientation is visible in its links with employers and public institutions. USN states that many students complete bachelor’s or master’s theses with private-sector, public-sector, or other partner organizations. Some designated business bachelor and industry master pathways combine study with paid work, but these arrangements are not standard features of every degree and applicants should check the individual programme description and eligibility conditions. Campus Kongsberg has a narrower local portfolio than the university as a whole. Its official campus page identifies computer science, engineering, economics and management, and architectural lighting design among the fields taught there. Other disciplines are based at different USN locations. Programme pages remain the authoritative source for curriculum, campus, study load, language, prerequisites, and whether a course is offered full-time, part-time, or online. International applicants should also distinguish the university’s total portfolio from its English-language selection. USN advertises English-taught master’s and PhD opportunities and exchange study, but the database statement that the institutional language of instruction is English should not be interpreted as applying to every bachelor’s or campus programme.

Key Highlights

• Accredited by NOKUT in Norway’s university category
• Eight campuses across south-eastern Norway
• Established under its current university identity on 4 May 2018
• Approximately 17,000 students and 1,900 employees reported by USN

Student Life & Environment

Student experience at USN is campus-specific. Across the network, the Student Welfare Organisation in South-East Norway, known as SSN, provides student accommodation, canteens and cafés, fitness facilities, counselling, financial advice, and support for student activities and certain health expenses. Housing is not automatic: students should apply through SSN, compare availability at the assigned campus, and avoid assuming that USN itself can secure private accommodation. Kongsberg offers a relatively compact student environment. USN’s 2026 campus-life information reports about 1,350 students there. Student organizations include the Kongsberg Student Society, the Trimius sports club, programme associations, a board-game club, a knitting group, engineering-related organizations, and other voluntary groups. The student society organizes events and local discounts, while the student pub hosts activities such as quizzes and themed evenings. Outdoor recreation includes year-round hiking and access to the local ski area. USN identifies three student-housing buildings in Kongsberg with 237 residences, all within walking distance of campus. This is useful capacity but not a guarantee of a room. New students can also use orientation activities and study groups to meet peers. For autumn 2026, most USN programmes began on 10 August, while Rauland began on 17 August; future entrants should consult the current semester-start page rather than carrying these dates into a later year.

Location & Surroundings

Campus Kongsberg is located at Hasbergs vei 36 in the Krona knowledge and culture building, close to the center of Kongsberg. The town combines an established industrial history with a substantial technology sector. For students in computing, engineering, and management-related subjects, proximity to local companies may create opportunities for employer contact, projects, and professional networking, although USN does not promise placements or jobs. The campus is integrated into a smaller town rather than an isolated residential estate. USN reports that Kongsberg train station is approximately a 15–20 minute walk away, while buses stop at Krona immediately outside the campus. Its 2026 student-life page describes an Oslo train journey of roughly an hour and a half. Cafés, shops, cultural venues, and the student pub are available in the town center, while nearby landscapes support hiking and skiing. This record’s city field should be read as the location of one USN campus. Students admitted to programmes in Bø, Drammen, Hønefoss, Notodden, Porsgrunn, Rauland, or Vestfold will live and study in a different local setting.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Tuition treatment depends principally on the student’s status. USN states that students from outside the EEA and Switzerland generally pay tuition, subject to exemptions. Listed exemptions include exchange students, PhD candidates, certain cooperation-programme or Students at Risk scholarship recipients, Erasmus Mundus Joint Programme students in Smart Systems Integrated Solutions, and people meeting specified Norwegian residence conditions. Tuition levels differ by programme and may be revised annually, so an applicant should use the amount attached to the exact 2026/2027 offer or programme rather than a general historical range. Every student may also face semester-related charges. USN’s semester-start FAQ displayed a total of NOK 885 when researched in August 2026: a NOK 600 student-welfare fee, NOK 235 Kopinor charge, and optional NOK 50 SAIH contribution. The page warns that these amounts can change and that some programmes have additional materials or study-specific costs. Accommodation, food, transport, insurance, a required personal laptop, and study-permit financial documentation are separate considerations. SSN offers purpose-built accommodation, but availability and prices vary by campus and property. Private housing can cost more and may require a multi-month deposit; USN states that it cannot assist students in finding private housing. Career preparation is based more on applied learning and regional partnerships than on guaranteed outcomes. USN describes employer events, guest contributors from public and private organizations, collaborative theses, and selected degrees that combine study with salaried work. Kongsberg’s proximity to technology companies may be valuable for networking. No verified graduate salary, placement-rate, or employer-outcome figures were found, so students should assess programme-specific internships, professional recognition, and Norwegian-language expectations directly.