The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) is the world’s northernmost higher education institution, located in Longyearbyen at 78º N. We provide research-based education of the next generation of Arctic experts in biology, geology, geophysics and technology.
Apply to UNIS courses
To apply to UNIS courses, you must be enrolled at Bachelor, Master or PhD level at a Norwegian institution of higher education or an accredited international institution of higher education.
HOW TO APPLYAffiliated Sites
- ARCeX – Research Centre for Arctic Petroleum Exploration
- Arctic Safety Centre
- bioCEED – Centre for Excellence in Biology Education
- Birkeland Centre for Space Science
- Kjell Henriksen Observatory
- LYSEF – Longyearbyen Science and Education Forum
- SIOS – Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System
- The Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research
- UNIS CO2 Lab
Latest news
Funding for new high-arctic, interdisciplinary field laboratory
15 January 2019
UNIS associate professor in Arctic biology Pernille B. Eidesen has gotten funding of NOK 1.35 million from the Olav Thon Foundation to develop a high-arctic, interdisciplinary field laboratory for research and teaching.
Jan Christensen’s Endowment 2019
11 January 2019
Jan Christensen's endowment has a number of scholarships available to Norwegian students and researchers at UNIS.
Nybyen student housing evacuated
Update Friday 11 January 15:00: The Governor of Svalbard has lifted the evacuation of Nybyen as of 15:00 today. The evacuated students will get transportation back to Nybyen in the next hours.
9 January 2019
Due to the expected snow storm in the next 24 hours, the Governor of Svalbard has issued an evacuation order for parts of Longyearbyen, including Nybyen, where the majority of UNIS students live. UNIS, together with Samskipnaden, have effectuated the evacuation order and all students in Nybyen will be moved to Sjøskrenten student housing and UNIS Guest House within the next couple of hours.
2018 in snapshots
3 January 2019
Here are some snapshots of the UNIS year 2018. We hope you enjoy them and wish you all a very happy 2019!
@UniSvalbard on Instagram
Follow us on Instagram and tag your own pictures with #UniSvalbard for reposts!
UNIS on Facebook
The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)
UNIS is the world’s northernmost higher education institution, located in Longyearbyen, at the High Arctic archipelago of Svalbard (78º N).
UNIS offers high quality courses at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate level in Arctic Biology, Arctic Geology, Arctic Geophysics and Arctic Technology.
Welcome to our new bachelor students in geology! 🙂
Longyearbyen live – 360 degree panorama
Live web camera from the roof of Svalbard Science Centre:
