University of South-Eastern Norway

Key Highlights

• State-run Norwegian university with university status granted on 4 May 2018
• About 17,000 students and 1,900 employees reported by USN
• Eight established campuses plus a location in Gol opened in 2024
• NOKUT’s April 2026 decision found USN’s quality-assurance work compliant

Student Life & Environment

Student life is distributed across USN’s campuses rather than concentrated in one residential university town. The Student Welfare Organisation in South-East Norway, known as SSN, supports USN students with accommodation, campus food services, fitness facilities, bookshops, free counselling, financial advice and certain health-related or student-activity support. Availability differs by campus, so housing and service details should be checked directly with SSN before committing to a location. Drammen offers a comparatively urban experience. The campus sits in the Papirbredden knowledge park beside the Drammenselva river and is close to the city centre. USN reports 385 student homes within walking distance. Campus facilities and nearby services include a library with academic-writing support, a café, a bookshop and access to a nearby fitness centre at a student rate. The local student society organizes social events, orientation activities, sports and volunteering through the student house. Other campuses have their own student societies, facilities and local character. Students should therefore compare more than academic content: housing supply, transport, sports and social opportunities can differ substantially between an urban campus such as Drammen and smaller locations such as Bø or Rauland. Exchange and international students can also expect campus-specific information after admission rather than a single uniform residential arrangement.

Location & Surroundings

USN operates across southeastern Norway, spanning several counties and communities. Its campuses are located in Bø, Drammen, Hønefoss, Kongsberg, Notodden, Porsgrunn, Rauland and Vestfold, with an additional location in Gol. Applicants should base location decisions on the actual campus assigned to their program, since commuting between these places is not equivalent to moving around one unified campus. The database record identifies Drammen, where USN occupies the Papirbredden knowledge park at Grønland 58. The site is beside the Drammenselva river in the city centre and places classrooms near housing, shopping and public transport. USN describes Drammen railway station as approximately a ten-minute walk from campus, with rail connections including Oslo, Kongsberg, Skien, Kristiansand, Stavanger and Bergen. Student accommodation is also within walking distance. Drammen combines a compact urban environment with access to riverside paths, parks and nearby hiking at Spiraltoppen. Students seeking a technology-oriented town, a smaller student community, maritime surroundings or a more rural arts setting may find another USN campus better aligned with their priorities. Program location should be confirmed before comparing housing or travel costs.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Tuition depends mainly on the student’s status and program. For study beginning in August 2026, USN states that citizens of Norway, the EU/EEA and Switzerland do not pay tuition. Exchange students, PhD candidates and several other defined groups are also automatically exempt, while applicants with specified Norwegian residence or work histories may qualify through an exemption application. Students outside the exempt categories should obtain a program-specific figure before accepting an offer. USN’s published August 2026 examples list annual fees of NOK 50,000 for two one-year music programs, NOK 60,000 for several named master’s programs in management and related fields, and NOK 90,000 for selected computing, engineering and environmental master’s programs. These examples do not establish one institution-wide tuition price. Living expenses, housing, travel, books, insurance and any applicable student-welfare charges require separate budgeting. SSN offers student accommodation, food outlets, fitness and welfare services, but prices depend on campus and housing unit. Career preparation is embedded in USN’s profession- and business-oriented model. Some business-bachelor and industry-master pathways combine academic study with paid work, while programs in areas such as health, teaching, engineering and maritime studies are designed around professional or sector needs. Availability and employment arrangements are program-specific. USN does not provide a single verified institution-wide placement rate or graduate salary on the cited pages, so applicants should assess curricula, practical components and employer links at program level rather than infer a uniform career outcome.