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
Stories from Rijpfjorden 2: A time witness from a bygone era
18 September 2018
Rijpfjorden not only holds a very special place in the story of how the weather station Haudegen housed the last armed German soldiers towards the end of World War II. It is also home to a much older and equally important story - a story that stretches several thousand years back in time and has not yet been really told. This is a story told by the “cod lake” (Torskevatnet).
Stories from Rijpfjorden 1: A unique place of great importance to our understanding of the Arctic
13 September 2018
Rijpfjorden is a unique place. On 4 September 1945, the last armed German soldiers in Europe surrendered there. 6000 years ago, blue mussels grew on the shore, and in the 1990s cod was caught in a lake that has since been called the "cod lake". And since 2006 we have used Rijpfjorden as a large and natural climate laboratory.
Increased focus on leadership within education and research
11 September 2018
UNIS increases the focus on leadership within education and research. Professor Hanne Hvidtfeldt Christiansen is appointed Vice Dean of Education and Professor Børge Damsgård is appointed Vice Dean of Research. These two new positions will enable UNIS to be more assertive in our two core functions in the future.
Apply now for spring courses 2019
5 September 2018
Application is now open for UNIS spring courses. The application deadline is 15 October 2018.
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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.
#Throwback Thursday: ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY!
We like to celebrate all UNIS’ milestones. Today’s throwback is from exactly 15 years ago. On 20 September 2003 we celebrated UNIS' 10th anniversary, but also that the extension of the UNIS building had been approved by the government. Then Environmental Minister, Mr. Børge Brende (left), came to Longyearbyen and laid down the foundation stone of what today is the Svalbard Science Centre. Who the person to the right is we do not know, but we register that the weather conditions were similar to today - with a fresh snow cover in the nearby mountains. Photo: Jan Gunnar Brattli/UNIS.
#unisvalbard #UNIS25years #anniversary #celebration #Svalbard #Longyearbyen #UNIS #Svalbardsciencecentre #foundation #autumn #tbt #throwbackthursday
We like to celebrate all UNIS’ milestones. Today’s throwback is from exactly 15 years ago. On 20 September 2003 we celebrated UNIS' 10th anniversary, but also that the extension of the UNIS building had been approved by the government. Then Environmental Minister, Mr. Børge Brende (left), came to Longyearbyen and laid down the foundation stone of what today is the Svalbard Science Centre. Who the person to the right is we do not know, but we register that the weather conditions were similar to today - with a fresh snow cover in the nearby mountains. Photo: Jan Gunnar Brattli/UNIS.
#unisvalbard #UNIS25years #anniversary #celebration #Svalbard #Longyearbyen #UNIS #Svalbardsciencecentre #foundation #autumn #tbt #throwbackthursday
Longyearbyen live – 360 degree panorama
Live web camera from the roof of Svalbard Science Centre:
