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
- iEarth – Centre for Integrated Earth Science Education
- Kjell Henriksen Observatory
- LYSEF – Longyearbyen Science and Education Forum
- The Nansen Legacy
- The Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research
- SIOS – Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System
- UNIS CO2 Lab
Latest news
Improving weather forecasts in the Arctic
3 August 2020
Special conditions and few available observations provide extra challenges when forecasting weather in the northern regions. How do researchers work with improving weather forecasts in the Arctic?
A life in isolation
27 July 2020
Most of us have in recent months experienced that life has changed, with perhaps isolation and quarantine, which can feel traumatic. At UNIS, all undergraduate students were encouraged to go home, teaching switched from on-campus to digital teaching and courses were cancelled. For a long time, all entry to Svalbard was closed. But some creatures keep on travelling, whether they want to or not. Others, once again, experience a more severe isolation than being stuck on an island for months.
The Legacy of SAMCoT
20 July 2020
A muscle in the development of Arctic technology at UNIS has been the Centre for research-based innovation (SFI) Sustainable Arctic Marine and Coastal Technology (SAMCoT).
Flower love in Bjørndalen
9 July 2020
What are those weird things in Bjørndalen?
The Arctic Biology Department at UNIS has co-located many research and education projects in Bjørndalen with the aim of building a "field laboratory".
@UniSvalbard on Instagram
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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.
How do researchers work with improving weather forecasts in the Arctic? Learn more about the Alertness project, where UNIS associate professor Marius Jonassen is co-lead:
https://www.unis.no/18767-2/
https://www.unis.no/18767-2/
Improving weather forecasts in the Arctic - UNIS
3 August 2020 Special conditions and few available observations provide extra challenges when forecasting weather in the northern regions. How do researchers work with improving weather forecasts in the Arctic?
unis.no
Longyearbyen live – 360 degree panorama
Live web camera from the roof of Svalbard Science Centre:
