Enriching local communities in Northern Norway

Each year, international students at UiT are the first to kick off the academic year with Debut Week International.

This year saw particularly strong attendance, as the number of international students grew from 574 in 2024 to 711 in 2025.

A new development is that UiT campuses in Harstad and Narvik stand out with significant growth in the number of new international students.

At UiT in Harstad, 19 new exchange students have arrived, compared to just one in 2024. This growth largely occurred after the School of Business established three new English-taught courses, which most of the students are now pursuing.

At the IVT Faculty in Narvik, there is also a renewed momentum, with 75 international students, 38 of whom are exchange students. In 2024, the number of international students stood at just 21.

The international students at UiT come from 41 different countries, with 528 being exchange students and 183 degree students enrolled in bachelor's and master's programmes.

The countries with the highest number of exchange students are Germany (99), France (78), Denmark (59), and Sweden (33).

The students have made a great choice. They will receive high-quality education, an Arctic perspective on knowledge, and the opportunity to experience Northern Norwegian culture, hospitality, and breathtaking nature. It’s essentially a triple win.

Portrait photo — Rikke Gürgens Gjærum, Prorector for Education at UiT. Foto: Jørn Berger Nyvoll / UiT

Knowledge without borders

Rikke Gürgens Gjærum, Prorector for Education at UiT, welcomed the international students with an opening speech.

"I shared my own experiences of being a student abroad. It is both daunting and inspiring at the same time – everything is new: the language, the culture, and the environment. They are standing on the threshold of a new life, and we here in the north will give them a warm welcome," says Gjærum.

For her, a core principle of academia is that science is global in its scope and practice, and that knowledge knows no borders.

"That students from different countries study together is, in essence, the most natural thing in academia," she states.

Gjærum, with years of experience as a lecturer, has often observed that students from other countries ask questions that others do not.

"This elevates the curiosity of the entire lecture hall to a new level. Diverse students enrich one another," she emphasises.

Numbers about international students at UiT

In 2025, there are 711 new international students at UiT.
They are studying at campuses in Tromsø, Narvik, Harstad, Alta, Bodø, and Svalbard.
They come from 41 countries.
Most students are from Germany, France, Denmark, and Sweden.
528 are exchange students.
183 are degree students.
268 exchange students are from EU countries (including Turkey) via Erasmus.
Among the degree students, 149 are from EU countries.

Very satisfied with recruitment

Gjærum believes that the new international students can have many positive experiences in Northern Norway, academically, culturally, and personally. She is very pleased with the efforts made to recruit new students from around the world.

"It’s absolutely fantastic. The students have made a great choice. They will receive high-quality education, an Arctic perspective on knowledge, and the opportunity to experience Northern Norwegian culture, hospitality, and breathtaking nature. It’s essentially a triple win. Life has many facets, and as a young student, you are here to both learn and grow, to learn to live an independent life, and to find your own path in the world," she says.

Contributing to societal development

According to Gjærum, student exchange also contributes to the development of Northern Norway, economically, culturally, and in terms of knowledge-building.

"For Northern Norway, it is important that international students choose to study with us. UiT is an international university and contributes knowledge globally. Additionally, the workforce needs skilled individuals – we need brainpower, innovation, and residents. And we must remember that students from other countries bring new perspectives and cultural viewpoints that enrich local communities in Northern Norway," Gjærum concludes.

Bredesen, Kim kim.bredesen@uit.no Rådgiver

Published: 06.08.25 00:00 Updated: 06.08.25 13:01

International cooperation Studentliv / Studier Worklife