UNIS is the core of the Svalbard Science Centre, an international arctic centre of expertise in research and education, inaugurated in April 2006. Other professional and scientific institutions on Svalbard, such as The Norwegian Polar Institute, EISCAT and Svalbard Science Forum, are also located in the building.

Campus facilities
UNIS can offer new modern lab facilities, PC labs, wireless network all over the building, study rooms and a modern library.

There are four to six desks in each study room. There are a limited number of study rooms that have individual computer network connection for all desks. Subject to availability, students may connect their personal computers to the UNIS computer network and the Internet in these rooms.

Students also have access to computers in the PC labs, which should be used for educational purposes only. Everyone will have their own personal quota for copying and printing at UNIS. Additional copies and printing can be bought in the reception. Note that students are responsible for all other required study materials.

There is a phone in each of the rooms that are reserved for graduate students. Additionally, there are payphones located at UNIS. Students who stay in Longyearbyen for more than one week will obtain a key to the building. This gives the students access to the building 24 hours a day.