Arctic Scientific Studies in Svalbard

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
Spring Semester	2026	09/01/2025	TBD	TBD
Fall Semester	2026	02/01/2026	TBD	TBD
Academic Year	2026-27	02/01/2026	TBD	TBD

Hear from Our Students

Arriving in Svalbard

Maddy stands in a black coat with a red backpack. The background is filled with snow

Image Hei hei! My name is Maddy Billups, and I am a fourth year student studying arctic geology in Svalbard, Norway. I am so excited to be sharing… read more

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.

Budget and Price

2025-26 Academic Year

**Program Fees Paid to GEO**
UO Study Abroad Fee ($1000 per semester)	$2,000
Estimated UO Insurance*	$823

**Other Estimated Expenses**
Estimated Tuition Paid to UNIS-Svalbard**	$900
Estimated Semester Fee Paid to UNIS-Svalbard	$160
Estimated Housing (Paid to housing company)***	$8,600
Estimated Airfare from Eugene	$1,800
Estimated Meals	$6,500
Estimated Cost of Arctic-rated Winter Outerwear	$700
Estimated Cell Phone Expenses	$400
Estimated Travel Clinic & Pre-departure physical	$50
Estimated Cost of acquiring passport	$150
Estimated visa/residence permit expenses (if applicable)	$570
Estimated Local Transportation	$400
Estimated Additional Living Expenses	$3,000

**Total**
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance	$26,053

Included in Program Costs: GEO support, Pre-departure orientation, insurance

*Exact amount dependent on the dates of your courses at UNIS. Some courses start/end early or later than others.

**Please note that tuition (referred to at UNIS-Svalbard as "Course Cost") varies by course. Students will need to check the individula course costs in each course description. Some courses have no cost, while others can vary between $50 to $250.

***Based on 1-room flat in Elvesletta: https://www.unis.no/student-life/housing-and-expences/

Please visit GEO Billing Information for information about how you will be billed and when payments are due.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Date	Cancellation Penalty
Upon acceptance to program	Student agrees to $500 non-refundable program deposit
8 weeks before program start date	Student is responsible for 50% of total GEO program fees
Program start date or after program begins	Student is responsible for 100% of total GEO program fees

2025 Fall Semester

**Program Fees Paid to GEO**
UO Study Abroad Fee ($1000 per semester)	$1,000
Estimated UO Insurance*	$418

**Other Estimated Expenses**
Estimated Tuition Paid to UNIS-Svalbard**	$450
Estimated Semester Fee Paid to UNIS-Svalbard	$80
Estimated Housing (Paid to housing company)***	$4,300
Estimated Airfare from Eugene	$1,800
Estimated Meals	$3,500
Estimated Cost of Arctic-rated Winter Outerwear	$700
Estimated Cell Phone Expenses	$200
Estimated Travel Clinic & Pre-departure physical	$50
Estimated Cost of acquiring passport	$150
Estimated visa/residence permit expenses (if applicable)	$570
Estimated Local Transportation	$200
Estimated Additional Living Expenses	$1,500

**Total**
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance	$14,918

Included in Program Costs: GEO support, Pre-departure orientation, insurance

*Exact amount dependent on the dates of your courses at UNIS. Some courses start/end early or later than others.

**Please note that tuition (referred to at UNIS-Svalbard as "Course Cost") varies by course. Students will need to check the individual course costs in each course description. Some courses have no cost, while others can vary between $50 to $250.

***Based on 1-room flat in Elvesletta: https://www.unis.no/student-life/housing-and-expences/

Please visit GEO Billing Information for information about how you will be billed and when payments are due.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Date	Cancellation Penalty
Upon acceptance to program	Student agrees to $500 non-refundable program deposit
8 weeks before program start date	Student is responsible for 50% of total GEO program fees
Program start date or after program begins	Student is responsible for 100% of total GEO program fees

2026 Spring Semester

**Program Fees Paid to GEO**
UO Study Abroad Fee ($1000 per semester)	$1,000
Estimated UO Insurance*	$418

**Other Estimated Expenses**
Estimated Tuition Paid to UNIS-Svalbard**	$450
Estimated Semester Fee Paid to UNIS-Svalbard	$80
Estimated Housing (Paid to housing company)***	$4,300
Estimated Airfare from Eugene	$1,800
Estimated Meals	$3,500
Estimated Cost of Arctic-rated Winter Outerwear	$700
Estimated Cell Phone Expenses	$200
Estimated Travel Clinic & Pre-departure physical	$50
Estimated Cost of acquiring passport	$150
Estimated visa/residence permit expenses (if applicable)	$570
Estimated Local Transportation	$200
Estimated Additional Living Expenses	$1,500

**Total**
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance	$14,918

Included in Program Costs: GEO support, Pre-departure orientation, insurance

*Exact amount dependent on the dates of your courses at UNIS. Some courses start/end early or later than others.

***Based on 1-room flat in Elvesletta: https://www.unis.no/student-life/housing-and-expences/

Please visit GEO Billing Information for information about how you will be billed and when payments are due.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Date	Cancellation Penalty
Upon acceptance to program	Student agrees to $500 non-refundable program deposit
8 weeks before program start date	Student is responsible for 50% of total GEO program fees
Program start date or after program begins	Student is responsible for 100% of total GEO program fees

IMPORTANT: The GEO Cancellation Policy is effective from the time a student agrees to pay their non-refundable program deposit or electronically signs the program commitment form, regardless of application or acceptance status. It is essential to read this policy before a potential cancellation takes place, to fully understand the withdrawal and cancellation penalties, and to understand what it means financially to commit to a study abroad program.

Students who cancel their participation must notify GEO in writing. Email is acceptable (geoinfo@uoregon.edu). Verbal notification to GEO or notification given to a non-UO campus study abroad office is not sufficient.

For full details, see the complete GEO Cancellation Policy.

View as PDF