University of South-Eastern Norway

What University of South-Eastern Norway does

University of South-Eastern Norway (Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge, USN) is a Norwegian public research university established in 2018 through the merger of Høgskolen i Buskerud og Vestfold and Høgskolen i Telemark. It operates 8 campuses distributed across the Vestfold, Telemark, and Buskerud counties of South-Eastern Norway and is one of Norway's largest higher education institutions by physical footprint. The university is structured around four faculties — Health and Social Sciences; Humanities, Sports and Educational Sciences; Technology, Natural and Maritime Sciences; and USN School of Business — and serves bachelor's, master's, and PhD-level students as well as working professionals through continuing education programs.

USN delivers education through a digital infrastructure anchored by the Canvas learning management system and the Panopto video platform (which provides AI-driven automatic captioning in Norwegian Bokmål, Nynorsk, and English, OCR, and searchable lecture recordings). The university's public-facing website (usn.no) is augmented with a CoreAI-powered search using the Gemini 3.5 flash model, and staff have access to Microsoft 365 Copilot and OpenAI Enterprise ChatGPT for productivity use cases. Research is organized into 11 research groups and 5 strategic focus areas spanning democracy and governance, energy and climate, future health services, upbringing and life skills, and regional value creation, with funded projects under Horizon Europe and the Research Council of Norway. A 2026 partnership with Maritime Robotics (the SMAUG project) extends applied AI research into underwater surveillance.

USN's revenue model is dominated by block appropriations from the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, supplemented by competitive research grants (Research Council of Norway, Horizon Europe, EU programs) and fees from continuing education courses. EU/EEA students pay no tuition; non-EU students may be charged tuition for select programs. Student recruitment runs through the national Samordna Opptak admission system and direct website enrollment, supported by educational events and an international exchange channel via the EDUC alliance (8 universities, 7 countries, 200,000 students), in which USN holds full membership since 2023.

Name

University of South-Eastern Norway

Legal name

Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge

Website

https://usn.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) is a public research university operating 8 campuses across South-Eastern Norway, offering bachelor's, master's, PhD, and continuing education programs across four faculties to domestic and international students, primarily funded by the Norwegian government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAAAF

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Public Research Universities

SECONDARYEDAHABAB

STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Private Research Universities

SECONDARYEDAHABAE

Business & Management Research Universities

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Private Research Universities

SECONDARYEDAIAIAC

Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Summer/Winter Schools & Short-Term Academic Programs

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• Doctoral research
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Kongsberg

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Primary funding from Norwegian government through the Ministry of Education and Research, allocated based on performance indicators including education quality, research output, and national objectives
2. Research Grants: Funding from The Research Council of Norway, EU research programs (Horizon Europe), and commissioned research for public and private sector clients
3. Continuing Education: Revenue from further education courses, professional development programs, and custom training for organizations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The University of South-Eastern Norway delivers higher education across 8 campuses through four faculties (Health and Social Sciences, Humanities/Sports/Educational Sciences, Technology/Natural/Maritime Sciences, and USN School of Business), offering bachelor's, master's, and PhD degree programs alongside continuing education for professionals. The institution also conducts organized research through 11 research groups across five strategic focus areas and provides commissioned research services to public and private sector clients.

Product overview

University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) offers comprehensive higher education services across eight campuses with four faculties: Health and Social Sciences, Humanities/Sports/Educational Sciences, Technology/Natural/Maritime Sciences, and USN School of Business. The institution provides bachelor's and master's degree programs, PhD research degrees, and continuing education. Research is organized through dedicated research groups and five strategic focus areas. USN participates in the European Digital UniverCity (EDUC) alliance with seven partner universities. The institution maintains environmental responsibility through Miljøfyrtårn certification and implements the European Charter for Researchers (HRS4R). Digital learning infrastructure centers on Canvas LMS and Panopto video platform with AI capabilities including automatic captioning and intelligent search.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EDUC (European Digital UniverCity): European university alliance connecting eight universities in Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Spain, Norway and Hungary, focused on creating an integrated European university with transnational campuses
• eDU

Products and services

• Bachelor Degree Programs Undergraduate degree programs across four faculties (Health and Social Sciences, Humanities/Sports/Educational Sciences, Technology/Natural/Maritime Sciences, and USN School of Business) covering nursing, teaching, engineering, IT, maritime studies, business, and more. Delivered across 8 campuses in South-Eastern Norway.
• Master Degree Programs Graduate degree programs spanning the same four faculties as the undergraduate offerings, including industry master programs (Utdanning med lønn) where employers fund and sponsor students while they study.
• PhD Programs Doctoral education offerings, including the Industrial Research School in Complex Systems (InResCoS), industry PhD programs, and public PhD programs in partnership with employers. Includes PhD handbook, candidate pages, and public defence proceedings.
• Continuing Education Further education courses, professional development programs, and specialized training for working professionals and organizational clients seeking to enhance qualifications, including custom training delivered for companies.
• Student Exchange Programs International student mobility programs through exchange agreements with partner institutions worldwide, with enhanced transnational options via the EDUC alliance (Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Spain, Hungary).
• Commissioned Research Commissioned applied research for public and private sector clients, organized through 11 research groups (e.g., maritime, health/welfare, technology) and five strategic research areas (e.g., Energy/Climate/Environment, Regional Value Creation). Funded by Research Council of Norway, EU Horizon Europe, and direct industry partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Environmental Miljøfyrtårn certification for all 8 campuses

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

AI capability12 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Maritime RoboticsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026SMAUG project collaboration to develop technology combining sensors, drones and artificial intelligence to detect smuggling and sabotage under water
• Vestre Viken HFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Healthcare trust partnership for long-term collaboration to develop Brakerøya as a national arena for health and education, involving USN rector, healthcare leadership, and county officials
• European Digital UniverCity (EDUC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019EU university alliance established in 2019 as part of the European Universities Initiative. USN became associate member in 2022 and full member in 2023. Includes 8 universities in 7 countries (Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Spain, Norway, Hungary) with 200,000 students and 31,000 employees. Supports seamless mobility for students and staff with transnational campuses.
• University of PotsdamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019EDUC alliance partner in Germany, one of the first 17 European university alliances established in 2019
• University of RennescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019EDUC alliance partner in France, one of the first 17 European university alliances established in 2019
• University Paris NanterrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019EDUC alliance partner in France, one of the first 17 European university alliances established in 2019
• University of CagliaricoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019EDUC alliance partner in Italy, one of the first 17 European university alliances established in 2019
• Jaume I UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019EDUC alliance partner in Spain, one of the first 17 European university alliances established in 2019
• University of PécscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019EDUC alliance partner in Hungary, one of the first 17 European university alliances established in 2019
• Masaryk UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019EDUC alliance partner in Czech Republic, one of the first 17 European university alliances established in 2019
• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU institution supporting the European Charter for Researchers and HR Excellence in Research award program, overseeing HRS4R implementation assessments every 3 years
• The Research Council of Norway (Forskningsrådet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian research funding council providing EURAXESS coordinator and supporting researcher career planning and international mobility

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Oslo (Universitetet i Oslo): Norway's flagship public research university with broad doctoral, multi-faculty coverage. Comparable to USN as a public research university serving the Norwegian higher-education market with state funding and a similar faculty structure.
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU): Norway's largest public research university, with broad STEM, health and business faculties and multi-campus delivery. Closest Norwegian analogue to USN's multi-campus, multi-faculty public research model.
• University of Bergen (Universitetet i Bergen): Norwegian public research university with comprehensive doctoral programs and regional multi-campus delivery. Comparable in scale, funding model and faculty breadth to USN.
• University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway (UiT): Multi-campus Norwegian public research university serving a broad geographic region with similar state-funded, multi-faculty model and recent university-college mergers.
• University of Stavanger (Universitetet i Stavanger): Norwegian public university with comparable multi-faculty structure and strong technology/health focus. A like-for-like public research peer for USN.
• Nord University (Nord universitet): Norwegian public university formed via merger of university colleges, with multiple campuses across northern Norway. Directly comparable to USN in origin (post-merger multi-campus institution) and funding model.
• Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet): Large Norwegian public university with multi-campus urban delivery and applied research profile. Comparable as a state-funded, multi-faculty Norwegian public university with a strong professional/continuing-education offering.
• University of Potsdam: German public research university and EDUC alliance partner of USN. Directly comparable as a European public research university with multi-faculty structure and similar EU-funded research model.
• University of Rennes: French public research university and EDUC alliance partner. Comparable to USN as a multi-faculty public university participating in the same EU transnational alliance and EU research funding ecosystem.

Regional players

• Linnaeus University: Swedish public university with multi-campus regional delivery and applied research focus. Comparable as a Nordic public university with a similar multi-campus, regional-economic-development orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCih20sJ9gvs7Knn4n1BDcXA
• Facebookfacebook.com/usn.no
• Xx.com/usn_info

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of South-Eastern Norway