“They see Northern Norway as a land of opportunity”

Debut Week International is being held at UiT, one week before the semester begins for Norwegian students. During the introduction, international students are given an overview of everything they need to know to manage in Northern Norway. They can also take part in a city walk and an excursion to Kvaløya.

Of the 7,839 new students starting at UiT this autumn, 703 have an international background. The vast majority of international students come from EU and Nordic countries. The largest numbers of students come from Germany, France, Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain.

Portrettfoto av kvinne — Rikke Gürgens Gjærum, Pro-Rector at UiT. Foto: Tommy Skum Hansen / UiT

A land of opportunity

In recent years, UiT has received an increasing number of applicants from abroad: 753 in 2024, 864 in 2025 and 1,046 this year.

Rikke Gürgens Gjærum, Pro-Rector for Education at UiT, believes that this development indicates that UiT has a strong international position.

She also points out that UiT plays a key role in research and education in areas such as climate, sustainability, technology, health, preparedness and societal development in the High North.

“Many people see Northern Norway as a land of opportunity. I think many students find that the combination of academic quality, close contact with academic staff, safety, a high quality of life and spectacular nature makes their time studying with us quite special. There may be few other universities in the world that can offer precisely this combination. After all, we are the world’s northernmost university,” Gjærum emphasises.

A richer learning environment

In Gjærum’s view, international students enrich and broaden academic, cultural and social diversity, both at UiT and in the host municipalities.

“Knowledge knows no national borders. In teaching, we often find that international students bring new perspectives and ask quite different questions from Norwegian students. This leads to more reflection and discussion. Quite simply, it provides a richer learning environment for all of us,” she says.

Building alliances in the North

Gjærum also sees it as an important goal to strengthen exchanges with the Nordic neighbouring countries in the years ahead. She notes that Norway has deep historical ties with its neighbours, that we face similar societal challenges, and that we have long traditions of cooperation in many areas of society.

“I would therefore argue that student exchange in the Nordic region has ripple effects far beyond the seminar rooms on campus. Building alliances and relationships in the North is also a matter of preparedness, something we are all concerned with at the moment,” she says.

Gruppefoto i audiotorium. — Students from many countries gathered at UiT in Tromsø during Debut Week International. Foto: Kim Bredesen / UiT

International semester start

703 international students will begin at UiT in autumn 2026
Of these, 547 are exchange students and 156 are degree students
The vast majority come from EU and Nordic countries
The largest numbers of students come from Germany, France, Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain
56 of the students are from countries outside the EU

Need for international expertise

Nearly half of the international students who graduate from UiT The Arctic University of Norway choose to work and settle in Northern Norway. Gjærum stresses that UiT is actively working to highlight career opportunities in Northern Norway for new international students.

“The fact that nearly half of UiT’s international graduates remain and work in Northern Norway after completing their education shows precisely that the region offers opportunities that many people from other countries wish to seize,” says Gjærum.

She adds that UiT will continue to help develop more meeting places between students and employers, including through work placements, internship schemes, guest lectures, company visits and events.

“When students establish contact with working life at an early stage, the chances increase that they will settle in the region after their studies. UiT does not exist in a vacuum, and we do not conduct research on a deserted island. We are, and will continue to be, a driving force in the North by facilitating educational development and skills development in Northern Norway. International students are an important part of the future expertise the region needs,” Gjærum concludes.

Bredesen, Kim kim.bredesen@uit.no Rådgiver

Published: 06.08.26 10:16 Updated: 06.08.26 10:46

International cooperation Studentliv / Studier Worklife