Frequently asked questions

No, UNIS only offers courses at bachelor, master and PhD-level within Arctic Biology, Arctic Geology, Arctic Geophysics, Arctic Technology and Arctic Safety. This means applicants must already be enrolled at a higher education institution.  

Read more about the requirements and how to apply here: How to apply – UNIS 

From UNIS’ point of view; yes. As long as you are able to provide documentation from your home university confirming that the course will be approved as part of your current study program.  

Yes, if the courses are relevant to your studies, you can apply for more than one semester. 

UNIS shall, as far as possible and reasonable, facilitate the study situation for students with disabilities and students with special needs. What is considered reasonable depends on each individual case.

However, it’s important to note that many courses at UNIS include mandatory fieldwork. This could present practical and safety challenges and might not be feasible for students with substantial physical disabilities, such as mobility issues, serious visual impairments, or other conditions that could restrict participation in outdoor activities.

For students with particular requirements, it is always advised to reach out to the Academic Affairs office to clarify the possibilities before applying for courses.  

Yes! You are free to be yourself, and Longyearbyen and UNIS are LGBTQIA+-friendly.  

The cost of living in Svalbard is approximately the same as in the rest of Norway. At the same time, you will experience that some stuff, like fresh food, is often more expensive than at mainland Norway. But since Svalbard is a duty-free sone and lies outside of the standard customs area of mainland Norway, stuff like camera equipment is cheaper. Some equipment and gear can also be bought cheaper on Svalbard.

Yes. But due to the polar bear threat on Svalbard, anyone travelling outside the settlements must be equipped with suitable means of scaring off polar bears. Students who plan to do private trips must take personal responsibility for the planning and safety precautions. UNIS is not responsible for activities undertaken during leisure time.

Not that often actually. Last time was in 2019, but occasionally a bear cab wander outside of town now and then. Even if encounters are rare, the possibility is always there. 

As a student at UNIS we encourage you to take part in our local community in Longyearbyen.  

For anyone interested in exercising and/or sports, Longyearbyen has Svalbardhallen. There you can find the gym, a swimming pool, a climbing wall and much more. Svalbard Turn also has a wide range of sports clubs to choose from through their membership, which also has a student discount. 

For students who enjoy the outdoors, there is also a wide range of opportunities. Within the town limits you will find a cross-country ski trail and an alpine ski slope. Near of town there are several hiking routes that are popular to either hike or ski.  

Many also enjoy taking longer trips outside of the settlement, either on skis or with a snowmobile. And if you are lucky, you also get to go on cabin trips. 

For those who want to take part in the culture life in Svalbard, there are even more choices. In town we have a public library where you can find everything from books to a board game group that meets every Wednesday. If you enjoy singing, the local choirs also welcome students to join, or you could join one of the towns local bands.  

Several festivals are held in Longyearbyen throughout both autumn and spring semesters. A great way of experiencing them for free is by doing volunteer work.  

For those who like to watch movies, there is a cinema in town in the same building as the art center. Every Thursday there is a local knitting café in town, and if you want to test your quiz-skills, there is a weekly pub quiz event. 

There are also a lot of social activities happening within UNIS. Every Friday afternoon the students organize Friday Gathering, a social event open for all students.

In addition, there is also a wide range of student activity groups the students can join. The range of active groups can vary from semester to semester. You can read more about student activities and organisations here: Student council – UNIS

Make sure you remember to accept your spot on our application web as it will not happen automatically. And make sure to read through your welcome letter as there will be important information included in the letter. 

Make sure to also apply for student housing at Elvesletta through Samskipnaden, as this is not administered by UNIS.  

There are no tuition fees at UNIS. However, all students are required to pay the standard semester fee of NOK 710. This also applies to international and Erasmus students, unless you are already registered at and have paid the semester fee to a university on mainland Norway for the relevant semester. 

Students who are already registered at a Norwegian university on the mainland will receive an invoice from their home institution. New students (including international students) will receive their invoice directly from the UNIS Student Administration shortly after arrival. 

It depends on the time of the year you travel to Svalbard and Longyearbyen, but in general the weather can be windy and at times quite harsh.  

Generally, during the summer months the temperature averages around 10°C, with only the occasional warm days reaching up to 18-20°C. Mid-winter temperatures can be expected to go down to between minus 20-26°C. And these temperatures are only half the story: the wind can make a huge difference. On a windy day, -20 C can feel like -50 C, and it is important to ensure no skin is exposed during a field excursion.  

Between the end of April and end of August Svalbard experiences the midnight sun. This means the sun will not go below the horizon and night becomes day. 

The opposite thing happens when we enter the Polar night, which spans from mid-November to the end of January. This is the time of year when the sun never rises above the horizon and most of the days will be in complete darkness.  

In autumn you can expect more rain and usually not much snow until late in the semester. 

In spring the weather turns colder and with more snow before it slowly starts warming up. March and April are considered the coldest months on Svalbard.

During your time at UNIS you will most likely spend a lot of time out in the field, both during your courses and in your free time. For any course related fieldwork, UNIS will provide you with the necessary gear to keep you happy and safe out there.

However, for private trips and activities you will have to use your own gear or borrow equipment from the Student Equipment Group. Bruktikken  is another option. There is also an active resale market through Facebook in Longyearbyen.     

To get an idea of what you should bring yourself and where you can buy equipment, take a look at this Ultimate Packing List written by a former student: Student equipment – UNIS 

If you need to buy new equipment, remember to ask for the student discount together with your UNIS ID.

No. At UNIS students go through mandatory safety training and after passing the UNIS polar bear safety course, students will be eligible to apply for a weapons permit.  

But if you are staying at UNIS for only a short amount of time, it is an advantage to already have the license, as the administrative case processing time to get a weapons permit from the police department/Sysselmesteren sometimes can be up to 6 weeks.

Read more about this on this page: Weapons

No, if you have completed the full safety course (AS-101 or the equivalent seasonal course) once, you are good. However, if more than six months pass between your field excursions, you are required to complete a shorter Polar Bear Safety Refresh Course (including firearms training) before you can return to the field.

Depending on the job, working part-time is not impossible as a student. But Longyearbyen is a small town, so finding a part-time job can sometimes be difficult.

Combining working part-time can also be demanding, as being a full-time student at UNIS demands a 40-hour working week, including in-class study and independent study time. Some study weeks are really packed when it comes to field work and classes, and it can then be difficult to balance studies, social life and work deadlines.    

Yes, but it is not recommended as dogs or other animals will not be permitted in the student housing. And due to the housing situation in Longyearbyen, finding a private flat where you are allowed to bring your animal, can sometimes be nearly impossible. There is a private dog yard just outside of town where dog owners can apply, but due to the limited number of cages, there is a waiting list where local citizens are prioritized over students.   

If you want to bring a dog to Svalbard, you will also need to have the necessary permissions before bringing it along. Read more about that at the governor’s webpage: Dogs and pets | Governor of Svalbard 

Cats are not allowed on Svalbard at all per law.

There will be free Wi-Fi available at UNIS, and Elvesletta offers reliable internet access.

Within Longyearbyen’s city limits you will have excellent cell phone coverage with both Telenor and Telia’s networks. For international students, eSIMs can be a great option if your phone supports them, if your cell phone company does not already have a solution for EU/EEA.

However, coverage disappears completely once you venture into the wilderness. For that you will need other equipment.

In Longyearbyen the mental health services are more limited than what you would have in mainland of Norway, but if you need someone to talk to you have the option of talking to one of our study advisers. It is also possible to contact the local hospital and our local church. 

Additionally, UNIS has an agreement with the Student Counselling Centre in Tromsø, offering free Skype consultations for psychological and social challenges.  Read more about how to get in touch with them here: Samskipnaden | Contact the Student Counselling Centre.  

If you have mental health disorders or issues that you already know about before coming to Svalbard you should plan to arrange appropriate external support in advance 

For more practical tips and general knowledge about Longyearbyen and the society, check out our local councils page: New in Longyearbyen – Longyearbyen lokalstyre