University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)

The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) provides an opportunity to receive unique field-based teaching with its unique geographical location. UNIS has an advantage by using nature as a laboratory, an arena for observations and data collection and analysis.The University Centre in Svalbard constitutes an important resource for the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. UNIS researchers work in collaboration with Norwegian and foreign research institutions and are actively involved in a large number of joint research projects.

UNIS is unlike other institutions found in UArctic's network. We do not offer any degrees within the bachelor, master or PhD level. Instead, our purpose is to provide research and field based courses where students are actively involved, gaining knowledge, experiences, and competences from working in Arctic environments – courses which increase awareness and interest in Arctic science.

The University takes students from around the world into the field, earning ECTS points that can then be used towards their degree at their home university. As such, the "programmes" that the university offer are in fact just subject areas, in which students can search for relevant courses related to the degree(s) that they are working towards back home. Please be aware that relevant courses can be found in not only the most obvious subject area. UNIS recommend all its students to get their UNIS courses approved by their home institution in advance.