It makes sense for international students to choose destinations that can help them adjust to a new environment and focus on their studies. This is one reason Norway remains an attractive option. Students often point to the country’s safe and peaceful society, technologically advanced environment, and magnificent natural scenery.
Additionally, international students can benefit from Norway’s high academic standards, innovative teaching methods, and close, informal relationships between students and lecturers. Finally, the quality of education in Norwegian universities can help students build skills that support career opportunities in Norway and abroad.
Make sure to check our guide below for some of the top schools offering public health-related programs in Norway.
Top Schools Offering Public Health in Norway
1. UiT – Arctic University of Norway
The University of Tromsø, also known as UiT The Arctic University of Norway, was founded in 1968. This public university, with its main campus in Tromsø, is the northernmost university in the world and the third-largest university in Norway. Its Arctic location has made it a center for research areas such as climate research, Arctic studies, marine science, space physics, and health sciences. Today, UiT is a multi-campus university with campuses and study sites across Northern Norway.
One of its graduate programs is the Master of Public Health. The program provides research-oriented and practice-relevant training for aspiring public health professionals. It covers topics such as epidemiology, health systems management, health policy, biostatistics, global and environmental health, and resource allocation. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree corresponding to 180 ECTS, a grade point average comparable to a Norwegian C, and at least 80 ECTS in relevant subject areas, which may include health sciences, social sciences, statistics, biology, economics, healthcare management, and medical technology.
The program consists of 120 ECTS credits and may be completed full time in two years or part time in four years, depending on the applicant category. Students can choose among three specialization streams: Epidemiology and Data Science, Health Economics, and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. The language of instruction and syllabus materials is English, while assignments and exams may be submitted in English or Norwegian.
2. Norwegian University of Science and Technology
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology is another Norwegian public university offering public-health-related programs. Shortly referred to as NTNU, it was founded in 1996 through a merger, while its academic heritage includes institutions dating back to the 1760s. NTNU is Norway’s largest university, with main campuses in Trondheim, Gjøvik, and Ålesund. Although strongly oriented toward science and technology, it also offers programs in humanities, social sciences, medicine, health sciences, economics, entrepreneurship, and the arts.
Through public health education at NTNU, students can pursue the Norwegian-taught Master in Public Health. The program is a full-time, two-year master’s program in Trondheim, and students may apply after starting to take it part time. It consists of 120 credits, including 60 credits of compulsory courses, 30 credits of electives that include a methods course, and a 30-credit master’s thesis. The program is based primarily on physical teaching and attendance.
Students looking for an English-taught option should note that NTNU’s Master in Global Health page currently states that there will be no new admissions to that program. Prospective applicants should therefore rely on NTNU’s current study pages before choosing a program.
3. University of Agder
The University of Agder received full university accreditation in 2007, although its academic roots date back to 1839, when a teacher training school was established at Holt. It later developed through mergers of regional colleges and now has campuses in Kristiansand and Grimstad. The university is organized into six faculties and one teacher education unit, offering programs across fields such as business, law, social sciences, fine arts, health and sport sciences, humanities and education, and engineering and science.
UiA offers public health at both the master’s and doctoral levels. Its Master’s Programme in Public Health Science is a two-year, 120-ECTS program. The university also offers a Public Health specialization within its PhD Programme in Health and Sport Sciences, which is listed as a three-year research program. Students should check UiA’s current program and course pages for detailed language-of-instruction information before applying.
4. Norwegian University of Life Sciences
The Norwegian University of Life Sciences, shortly referred to as NMBU from its Norwegian name, is a public university in Ås, Norway. The school officially began in 1859 as an agricultural education institution. In 2005, the Norwegian Agricultural University received university status as the University of Environmental and Biological Sciences, and the current Norwegian University of Life Sciences was established in 2014 after a merger with the Norwegian Veterinary College. NMBU is organized into seven faculties and is home to Norway’s only veterinary educational institution.
NMBU offers a Master’s in Public Health Science. The program combines natural science and social science perspectives and helps students understand how society can support better health and quality of life. It covers areas such as public health determinants, epidemiology, geographic information systems, health promotion, environmental health protection, social planning, organization and management, and green environments.
The program consists of 120 ECTS credits. Students can study full time over two years or part time for up to four years, and admission requires a relevant bachelor’s degree with at least 80 ECTS credits relevant to public health science and a minimum average grade of C. Teaching is mainly in Norwegian, although English-language thesis supervision may be possible.
5. University of Oslo
The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest university, founded in 1811. It has eight faculties and several research centers. Its historic central campus is in Oslo, while much of the university’s teaching and research activity is now located at Blindern and other sites in the Oslo area.
Through the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Oslo offers the International Community Health master’s program. This research-based, English-taught program is closely related to global health and gives students a broad introduction to global health while keeping local communities in focus. It is a full-time, two-year master’s program worth 120 credits.
Prospective students should review UiO’s current program structure before applying, as the university states that a new program structure starts in autumn 2026. The program remains relevant for students interested in public health, international health, health systems, and community-level approaches to global health challenges.
We hope this article has provided the information you are looking for. For more articles about Norway, visit the Study in Norway Page, then take time to check out the Available Programs in Europe for international students!
