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Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Bergen, Norway World Rank #1598

Overview

English Name: Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
Control Type: Public
World Rank: #1598
Rank in Norway: #10
Front view of Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
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Within Norway's higher-education landscape, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences stands as a public university. It operates from Bergen, Norway as a higher-education provider.

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences's academic offerings include a small set of programmes, structured across bachelor's and master's programmes and delivered through multiple faculties. Each unit operates with its own admissions criteria within institutional standards.

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences has 17,000 students active in its programmes. The student body operates within its campus environment, supported by teaching and administrative staff across faculties.

Position #1598 globally and #10 within Norway captures Western Norway University of Applied Sciences's ranking footprint. The institution participates in Norway's academic ecosystem alongside other higher-education providers.

Location & Contact

The geographic and contact details below cover where Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is and how to reach its administrative offices. Campus emergency contact is typically distinct from general inquiries.

Address: P.O. Box 7030
Postal Code: 5020
Phone: 55585800
Social Media:

Academic Details

A snapshot of Western Norway University of Applied Sciences's academic profile — enrolment, staffing, and the bodies recognising its work. Useful as a benchmark when comparing against peer institutions or national leaders.

Academic Year: August to June
Accrediting Agency: Ministry of Education and Research (Kunnskapsdepartementet); Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (Nasjonalt organ for kvalitet i utdanningen – NOKUT)
Admission Requirements: Secondary school certificate (examen artium); Bergen test (Norwegian language)
Total Students: 17,000
Full-Time Academic Staff: 1,619
Academic Staff with Doctorate: 458

Degrees

Find the degree level matching your study stage at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. Bologna-process cycles (1st/2nd/3rd) map roughly to bachelor's, master's, and doctoral but with country-specific variations.

Bachelor's 8 programs

Bachelor's programmes build foundational expertise, preparing graduates for entry-level professional roles and further postgraduate study.

  • Business Administration
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Nursing
  • Rehabilitation and Therapy
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Work
  • Technology
Master's 12 programs

Master's programmes develop advanced specialised expertise, suited to senior industry positions and applied research.

  • Architecture
  • Art Education
  • Business Administration
  • Education
  • Energy Engineering
  • Music Education
  • Nursing
  • Nutrition
  • Physical Therapy
  • Social Work
  • Software Engineering
  • Teacher Training
Other 4 programs
  • Educational Sciences
  • Environmental Studies
  • Nautical Science
  • Software Engineering

Faculties & Divisions

The schools and divisions inside Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, with subject coverage for each, are listed below. Subject grouping reflects institutional research strengths and historical academic priorities.

Business Administration and Social Sciences (Faculty) 11 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Administration
  • Business Administration
  • Economics
  • Educational Administration
  • Health Administration
  • History
  • Marine Transport
  • Nautical Science
  • Real Estate
  • Sociology
  • Tourism

Common Career Paths

  • Business Analyst
  • Operations Manager
  • Strategy Consultant

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Education, Arts and Sport (Faculty) 17 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Art Education
  • Dietetics
  • Educational Technology
  • Foreign Languages Education
  • Handicrafts
  • Leisure Studies
  • Modern Languages
  • Music
  • Music Education
  • Physical Education
  • Preschool Education
  • Primary Education
  • Public Health
  • Secondary Education
  • Sports
  • Theatre
  • Translation and Interpretation

Common Career Paths

  • Teacher
  • Educational Administrator
  • Curriculum Specialist

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Engineering and Science (Faculty) 11 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Development Studies
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Environmental Studies
  • Laboratory Techniques
  • Marine Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Safety Engineering

Common Career Paths

  • Engineer
  • Project Manager
  • Technical Consultant

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Health and Social Sciences (Faculty) 8 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Child Care and Development
  • Ergotherapy
  • Midwifery
  • Nursing
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Public Health
  • Social Work

Common Career Paths

  • Researcher
  • Policy Analyst
  • Social Worker

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Programs Offered

Each programme at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is grouped by the degree it leads to. New programmes can take 6–12 months to propagate through search engines, so the live catalogue here is the authoritative list.

Master's Degree

3 programmes

At postgraduate taught level, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences runs 3 programmes. These master's degrees suit applicants ready to concentrate on a narrower field than their bachelor's covered.

Fire Safety 2 years 120 ECTS credits English
Are you interested in a unique master's degree program concerning Fire Safety? Do you want to contribute to a more fire safe society? With a master's degree in Fire Safety you will have the competence to handle advanced and complex fire safety issues. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, campus Haugesund, has educated well over 500 fire safety engineers over the last 20 years. We offer a Master's program in Fire Safety Engineering as one of only eight institutions in the world. Fire Safety is becoming more and more important in today's society, and the need for knowledge and competence in this field is increasing rapidly. The primary objective of this master's program is to provide industry and society with highly qualified candidates who through in-depth knowlede in the field can contribute to a more fire safe society. One of the most important aspects in this context is measures to reduce risks related to major accidents. The master's program is organized in close contact with industry partners focusing particularly on fire technical issues.
Duration: 2 years
Credits: 120 ECTS credits
Healthy Ageing and Rehabilitation 2 years 120 ECTS credits English
The Master's Programme in Healthy Ageing and Rehabilitation is an innovative, online learning programme in English, focusing on interprofessional issues related to healthy ageing and rehabilitation. The goal of the programme is to provide students with foundational knowledge and skills necessary for healthy ageing and rehabilitation practice, research and policy development from a global and interprofessional perspective. Upon completion you will be a competent scholar capable of leadership and interprofessional practice in the field. The master's programme aims to improve students' understanding of diverse evolving needs of ageing populations by providing a critical, global perspective on healthy ageing and rehabilitation. The programme is designed to provide the core research competencies as well as to cover a wide range of topics related to healthy ageing and rehabilitation globally ensuring needed breadth and depth of relevant knowledge. The programme is a cohort-based, two-year, full-time programme (120 ECTS) in English. To earn the degree students are required to take six courses (for the total of 80 ECTS) and complete a Master's Thesis (40 ECTS). The programme is fully online with a two-weeks mandatory hybrid session in each year. During the hybrid session students who can travel to Bergen participate in person on campus, while students who can`t travel to Bergen participate online. The study is flexible and most of the time the students work on their own. There is however, a bi-weekly two hours online, synchronous session for all students.
Duration: 2 years
Credits: 120 ECTS credits
Climate Change Management 2 years 120 ECTS credits English
The world is facing difficult climate challenges, with more extreme weather, floods and rock or snow avalanches. The Master in Climate Change Management gives you sought-after and interdisciplinary competence in how we can achieve a sustainable transition and greener behaviour. Why study Climate Change Management? With its proximity to fjords, mountains and glaciers, as well as avalanche and flood-exposed terrain, Sogndal is the perfect laboratory for studying climate change. In Sogndal you will have close interaction with an internationally oriented research environment that has broad competence in climate, nature, and sustainability. We look at climate challenges and climate adaptation through a holistic lens, where both natural science and social science perspectives are emphasized. In your master's thesis, you can specialize in a topic you are particularly interested in.
Duration: 2 years
Credits: 120 ECTS credits

Associate, Certificate & Other Qualifications

1 programme

This group collects Western Norway University of Applied Sciences's 1 programme of certificates, diplomas, and foundation or associate programmes — practical entry points or stepping stones toward a degree.

Art, culture and creativity in kindergarten 30 ECTS credits English
Credits: 30 ECTS credits

How to apply to Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Practical steps to apply to Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, suitable as a starting checklist before contacting the admissions team directly.

  1. 1
    Browse the programme catalogue

    Western Norway University of Applied Sciences's catalogue includes 4 programmes. Browse by level, identify candidates matching your prior qualifications, and note their entry requirements for the next step.

  2. 2
    Check eligibility for your chosen programme

    Entry requirements vary by programme and degree level. Verify academic minimums, language tests (if international), and any additional documents required for Western Norway University of Applied Sciences's admissions process.

  3. 3
    Get your documents ready

    Typical documents include academic transcripts, identity proof (passport or national ID), language proficiency test scores, a personal statement or motivation letter, and recommendation letters. International applicants should account for translation and notarisation time.

  4. 4
    Apply through the official channel

    Submit your completed application through Western Norway University of Applied Sciences's official website at www.hvl.no. Most institutions use an online portal — register an account, complete the application form, and upload your prepared documents. Keep copies of all submissions and confirmation receipts.

  5. 5
    Reach out and track your application

    Follow up to confirm your application was received and is being processed. Reach the institution by phone at 55585800. Admissions teams may request interviews or additional documents — respond promptly to keep your application active.

Frequently Asked Questions about Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Common questions students ask about Western Norway University of Applied Sciences — answers pulled straight from the institution's published profile.

What city is Western Norway University of Applied Sciences in?

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences operates from Bergen, Norway.

What is Western Norway University of Applied Sciences's control type?

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences operates as a public institution.

How big is Western Norway University of Applied Sciences's student body?

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences serves approximately 17,000 students.

What is Western Norway University of Applied Sciences's ranking?

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is ranked #1598 globally and #10 in Norway.

What qualification levels does Western Norway University of Applied Sciences offer?

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences delivers bachelor's and master's programmes across its academic units.

Is Western Norway University of Applied Sciences accredited?

Yes, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences is recognised by Ministry of Education and Research (Kunnskapsdepartementet); Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (Nasjonalt organ for kvalitet i utdanningen – NOKUT).

What is Western Norway University of Applied Sciences's official website?

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences's official website is www.hvl.no.

Top-Ranked Universities in Norway

The institutions topping Norway's rankings give national context for Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. Context matters because employer perception in Norway often correlates with national rankings.

Faculties at Nearby Universities

Universities close to Western Norway University of Applied Sciences typically fall within the same regional student-transit zones, where transit discounts and shared passes reduce living costs across the cluster.

Universities Often Compared with Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Yield rates (proportion of admitted students who enroll) cluster among peer institutions. High-yield universities signal strong applicant preference compared to peers at the same selectivity level.

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