The University of Stavanger (UiS) is a public research university in western Norway with 13,647 students in 2025.[1] It received university status in 2005; before that it was Stavanger University College.[2] The QS World University Rankings 2027 place it in the 851–900 band.[3]
Students from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland do not pay tuition. Students from other countries pay NOK 60,000 or NOK 85,000 per year in 2026/27, depending on the programme.[4] Every student also pays a semester fee of roughly NOK 900.[5] International master’s applicants need an advanced English test result unless they are exempt.[6]
Key facts
| Official name | Universitetet i Stavanger (UiS) |
| Location | Stavanger, Norway; two campuses, Ullandhaug and Bjergsted[2] |
| Type | Public research university[2] |
| University status | January 2005; before that Stavanger University College (roots in Rogaland Regional College, 1969)[2] |
| Students | 13,647 (2025)[1] |
| Employees | 1,704 man-years (2025)[1] |
| Doctoral degrees completed | 94 in 2025; 5 PhD programmes[1] |
| Faculties | Six, including the UiS School of Business and Law, Science and Technology and Performing Arts[2] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Band 851–900 (exact position not published in the source)[3] |
| Tuition 2026/27, non-EU/EEA students | NOK 60,000 or NOK 85,000 per year, depending on the programme[4] |
| Tuition, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens | None; the semester fee still applies[7] |
| Semester fee | About NOK 900 per semester (subject to change); NOK 915 in autumn 2025 including a voluntary NOK 40[5] |
| English requirement (master’s) | Advanced level shown by an accepted test, e.g. IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with 6.0 in writing[6] |
| Official website | uis.no/en |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About the University of Stavanger
The University of Stavanger (Universitetet i Stavanger, UiS) was granted university status by the Norwegian government in January 2005. It grew out of Stavanger University College, which was formed in 1994 from several colleges, and it traces its roots to Rogaland Regional College, established in 1969.[2] UiS describes itself as having been a university for more than 20 years and says its Ullandhaug campus was reserved for a university area by local politicians in 1966.[1]
The university is organised in six faculties, among them the UiS School of Business and Law, Science and Technology, Health Sciences and Performing Arts, and has two campuses in Stavanger: Ullandhaug and Bjergsted.[2] Its strategic objectives are energy, health and welfare, learning for life and the green transition.[1]
How is the University of Stavanger ranked?
The QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, list UiS in the 851–900 band. The same aggregator shows 851–900 for the 2026 edition and 801–850 for 2025, so the placement is stable rather than rising.[3] Wikipedia also gives 851–900 for QS 2026.[2]
The aggregator lists Times Higher Education at 601–800 (2025 edition) and U.S. News at 751 (2027 edition).[3] We could not read the QS table itself, because topuniversities.com blocks automated access, so treat the band as reported by a third party. Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Stavanger?
UiS teaches in Norwegian and English. The 2026/27 price list for international fee-paying students names these English-taught programmes:[4]
- Business and economics (master’s): Economics and Business Administration, Economic Transformation and Innovation, Leadership in International Business, Sustainability Studies.
- Science and engineering (master’s): Computer Science, Data Science, Computational Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Marine and Offshore Technology, Environmental Engineering, Mathematics and Physics, Risk Analysis, Biological Chemistry, among others.
- Humanities and planning (master’s): English and Literacy Studies, City and Regional Planning.
- Arts: Dance (bachelor), Performing Arts (master’s), Music Performance and Music Production and Recording.
The list also includes many Norwegian-taught programmes, which appear only on the Norwegian version of the UiS website.[8] The programme list changes from year to year, so check the current offer on the UiS website before you apply.
How much does the University of Stavanger cost in 2026/27?
| Group | Tuition per year (60 ECTS) |
|---|---|
| Citizens of Norway, the EU/EEA and Switzerland | None |
| Other students, programmes in the lower price group (examples: Economics and Business Administration, Leadership in International Business, Sustainability Studies) | NOK 60,000 |
| Other students, programmes in the higher price group (examples: Computer Science, Data Science, Petroleum Engineering, Dance) | NOK 85,000 |
These are the 2026/27 prices in the UiS price overview.[4] The fee is set per 60 ECTS credits, which is one academic year of full-time study, and it is adjusted every year in line with inflation and Norway’s national budget.[8] Students who start in August 2027 will pay NOK 62,000 or NOK 88,000 for the same price groups, according to the current fee page, which was updated on 3 November 2026.[8]
How is the fee paid?
The fee must be paid in full before each academic year; instalments are not possible. Single subjects are priced by credits and by the programme they belong to.[8]
Who is exempt?
Exchange students from partner universities, holders of a permanent residence permit in Norway, and people with certain protection, family or other close ties to Norway are exempt. You apply for an exemption only after you have received and accepted an offer.[9][7] Students who started before autumn 2023 are not affected by the fees.[7]
Semester fee and living costs
All students pay a semester fee, including those who are exempt from tuition.[8] The FAQ for international students gives NOK 900 per semester, subject to change.[5] The student pages gave NOK 915 for autumn 2025, made up of NOK 285 Kopinor fee, NOK 590 for the student welfare organisation and a voluntary NOK 40 for humanitarian work.[10] Students who need a study permit must also move NOK 170,368 (the March 2025 figure, adjusted yearly) to a student deposit account held by UiS to show they can cover living costs in the first year.[5] UiS does not offer scholarships for incoming international students.[5] For more on costs in Norway, see our Norway guide.
How do you apply to the University of Stavanger?
International applicants apply for a master’s programme through Søknadsweb, the national application portal. Applying is free, you can apply for only one master’s programme, and you may create only one user profile; if you create more than one, all applications are deleted.[5]
- Grades: a bachelor’s degree with an average equivalent to a Norwegian C, roughly an American B. Some programmes and some countries have higher minimums. Every foreign education is assessed individually.[5]
- Documents: CV, official transcripts, diplomas, proof of English (or of an exemption), upper secondary diploma and passport page, all as PDF files. UiS does not ask for missing documents, and incomplete applications are rejected.[11]
- Funds: since 2025 UiS no longer asks for proof of living costs in the application. The study-permit application after admission does require it.[11]
- Result: international applicants should hear back within May.[5]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year; the application window for each citizenship group is set out in the UiS international FAQ.[5] Whether you count as an international or a local applicant depends on your citizenship, language skills and education, not on a Norwegian residence permit.[5]
Which language level do you need?
Applicants to the international master’s programmes must prove advanced English with a test recognised by UiS. The page lists these minimums:[6]
| Test | Minimum |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT, taken before 21 Jan 2026 | 90 total, 22 in writing |
| TOEFL iBT, taken from 21 Jan 2026 | 4.5 total, 4.5 in writing |
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall, 6.0 in writing |
| PTE Academic | 62 overall, 53 in writing |
| Cambridge | C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency |
UiS does not accept IELTS General, IELTS Indicator or online IELTS, MyBest Scores, TOEFL Essentials or ITP, or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition.[6] Duolingo is not accepted either.[5] Test results must be uploaded to Søknadsweb.[6]
You do not need a test if, for example, you completed at least one year of high school or university in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the UK, the USA or New Zealand, or a bachelor’s degree (or 60 ECTS of a master’s) taught in English in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden. Some countries are also exempt; see the UiS country list. You must still upload proof of the exemption.[6] For programmes taught in Norwegian, the requirements are on the Norwegian version of the site, which we did not read.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the University of Stavanger free for international students?
How much is the semester fee at UiS?
What English test score does UiS require?
How is the University of Stavanger ranked?
It is in the 851–900 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027, according to the aggregator XuanXiao. We could not read the QS table directly.[3]
Can I apply to more than one master’s programme at UiS?
International applicants can apply for one master’s programme only, and they must not create more than one Søknadsweb profile.[5]
More about studying in Norway
- Norway: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Norway
- BI Norwegian Business School
- MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society
- Nord University
- Norwegian Academy of Music
- Norwegian School of Economics (NHH)
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
- NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO)
- OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway
- University of Agder
- University of Bergen
- University of Oslo
- University of South-Eastern Norway
Sources
[1] University of Stavanger: Facts and figures (page updated 5 May 2026; figures for 2025)
[2] Wikipedia: University of Stavanger (history, faculties, campuses and QS 2026 band)
[3] XuanXiao: University of Stavanger rankings (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (aggregator page showing QS 2027 851–900; QS edition released 18 Jun 2026; page without a date)
[4] University of Stavanger: Prices for the study year 2026/2027 (PDF) (document without a printed date; prices for 2026/27)
[5] University of Stavanger: FAQ for international students (page updated 22 Sep 2026)
[6] University of Stavanger: English language requirements for international applicants (page updated 27 Oct 2026)
[7] University of Stavanger: Tuition fees for international students (page updated 11 Sep 2026)
[8] University of Stavanger: How much are the tuition fees? (page updated 3 Nov 2026; rates from August 2027)
[9] University of Stavanger: Exemptions from paying tuition fees (page updated 3 Nov 2026)
[10] University of Stavanger: Entitlements and obligations (semester payment) (page updated 24 Nov 2025; amounts for autumn 2025)
[11] University of Stavanger: Documentation requirements for international applicants (page updated 21 Oct 2026)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.