Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Junior or Above
Location: Europe, Norway
GPA: 2.75

Program Overview

University Center in Svalbard (UNIS) is the world's foremost institution of the Arctic sciences, offering courses and laboratory experience in Arctic biology, Arctic geology, Arctic geophysics, and applied Arctic technologies. If you are a student of biology, geology, physics, chemistry, and environmental sciences and are interested in the unique situation of the Arctic, the program provides you with a unique, immersive, hands-on learning opportunity. 

All courses at University Center in Svalbard (UNIS) are taught in English, and English is the official language of the entire campus (many of the participating scientists and students are not from Norway and do not know Norwegian). You will join a carefully selected group of approximately 400 students who are all intensely interested in Arctic sciences, of which approximately 50% are international students from around the world. 

Learn more at the UNIS website.

Dates and Deadlines

 
Term Year Deadline Arrival Date Departure Date
Fall Semester 2025 02/01/2025 TBD TBD
Academic Year 2025-26 02/01/2025 TBD TBD
Spring Semester 2025 09/01/2024 TBD TBD

 

Academic Details

Studies at University Center in Svalbard (UNIS), require a very high level of prerequisite science course work as course content is highly specialized.

You will take only two or three intensive courses in Arctic biology, Arctic geology, Arctic geophysics, and/or Arctic technology. A typical course load is 30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). 1 ECTS = .75 UO credits.

Course offerings at UNIS in any given semester are quite limited, so you are strongly encouraged to plan ahead, carefully studying course descriptions with your academic advisors and choosing courses wisely, though back-up options may be needed.

Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your GEO Program Coordinator for more information.

 

 

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Additional Requirements

  • Pre-requisites: students must complete the equivalent of 60 ECTS in general natural sciences, in addition to UNIS course specific requirements
  • Any student majoring in biology, geology, physics, chemistry, or environmental sciences (graduate students must be admitted to a master's or doctoral program in one of these fields)
  • GPA of 3.25 or above for graduate students
  • Recommended to meet with the GEO Program Coordinator prior to applying

Housing Description

Nearly all participants in this program will live in Elvesletta, student housing in the middle of Longyearbyen. There is no public transportation on Svalbard, so you will walk wherever you need to go. The housing is in specially designed student barracks with furnished single or double rooms. You will share a bathroom with one other resident and a kitchen, storage area, and laundry facilities with several other residents on the same floor. You must supply your own sheets, pillow cases, and towels (these must be brought to Svalbard from home or from mainland Norway, as the small store in Longyearbyen does not stock any mentionable supply of these items). Each room has an Internet connection, and you are encouraged to bring a laptop.

The student housing is owned and administered by Samskipnaden. UNIS does not handle housing reservations, nor do UNIS staff members address housing concerns. 

You will also need Arctic-rated winter outerwear, brought with you from the US or Norway (it's of better quality but much more expensive in Norway, and the range of available sizes differs). More information will be provided upon acceptance. The estimated budget for books and supplies includes an estimate for this winter outerwear.