Norwegian School of Economics

What Norwegian School of Economics does

NHH Norges Handelshøyskole (Norwegian School of Economics) is Norway's leading business school, founded in 1936 and headquartered in Bergen with a secondary executive education office in Oslo. The institution delivers undergraduate (Bachelor in Business, Economics and Data Science), graduate (Master in Economics and Business Administration, CEMS Master's in International Management, Double Degree, PhD), and executive education programs (Executive MBA, custom programs, and specializations including Seafood Management and Nordic Media). Teaching and research operations span 6 departments, 7 research centers, and 1 Centre of Excellence, supported by 473 FTE staff and approximately 3,700 full-time students, with 15% international enrollment and a 60% student exchange rate (highest in Norway).

NHH's revenue model is anchored in direct government funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research (646.2 million NOK in 2025), supplemented by contract research and services income (191.9 million NOK) routed through wholly-owned subsidiaries SNF (Centre for Applied Research) and AFF (The Administrative Research Institute), plus undisclosed executive education fees for fee-based programs. The institution charges no tuition to Norwegian and EU/EEA students under Norway's public higher education model. International positioning is supported by Triple Crown accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA), continuous Financial Times ranking presence since 2005, exclusive Norwegian membership in CEMS, and a network of 200+ partner universities across 50+ countries.

Technology infrastructure centers on Canvas Learning Management System, the WISEflow examination platform, and a Microsoft Dynamics CRM stack for alumni and newsletter communications. Strategic partnerships span Stockholm School of Economics and the Swedish Armed Forces (Nordic Defense MBA, launching fall 2026), the International Congress and Convention Association (Global Impact Measurement Tool), and NTNU (joint research on electric freight infrastructure). Faculty credentials include Nobel laureate Finn Kydland and 24 honorary doctorates, with research output of 330.69 publication points and 18 doctoral dissertations completed in 2025.

Name

Norwegian School of Economics

Legal name

NHH Norges Handelshøyskole

Website

https://nhh.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

NHH is Norway's leading public business school, founded in 1936 in Bergen, delivering bachelor, master, PhD, and executive education programs to approximately 3,700 full-time students. It holds Triple Crown accreditation, is Norway's only CEMS member, and operates research subsidiaries SNF and AFF under government funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business School

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Business & Global Management Schools (EDAHAHAJ)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Business school
• Executive education
• Academic research
• Economics programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bergen

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (KD): Primary funding source from the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research (Kunnskapsdepartementet). In 2025, NHH received 646.2 million NOK in government grants.
2. Contract Research and Services: Contribution and contract research financing and other income totaling 191.9 million NOK in 2025, including funding from SNF Centre for Applied Research and AFF.
3. Executive Education Programs: Revenue-generating executive education programs including Executive MBA (90 credits), custom programs, and specialized courses for professionals and leaders in private and public sectors.
4. Student Fees: Semester registration fees for full-time students. No tuition fees for Norwegian/EU students due to public funding model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NHH is a public university delivering economics and business administration education at the bachelor, master, and PhD levels, complemented by fee-based executive education (Executive MBA, custom corporate programs) and applied contract research through subsidiaries SNF and AFF. Programs are taught on the Bergen campus and at the Oslo executive office, with international mobility supported by 200+ partner universities across 50+ countries. The institution is funded primarily by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and serves both individual degree students and working professionals.

Product overview

Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) is a leading business school in Norway offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programmes. The institution operates as a platform-plus-modules structure, with core degree programmes at bachelor, master, and PhD levels, supplemented by international joint programmes (CEMS, Double Degree, GSM), executive education offerings (Executive MBA with specialisations, custom programmes), and professional development courses. The school focuses on economics, business administration, data science, and sustainability, serving both full-time students and working professionals through part-time and executive formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NHH Executive: Executive education division offering programs including Executive MBA, custom programs, and professional development courses for leaders and specialists.
• CEMS Master's in International Management

Products and services

• Bachelor in Business, Economics and Data Science International bachelor programme at NHH providing a solid business education with strong focus on data science and information technology. Targeted at prospective full-time undergraduate students in Norway and internationally.
• Master in Economics and Business Administration Comprehensive master degree programme at NHH providing academic strength and understanding of business and industry, designed as the foundation for an inspiring career. Targeted at prospective graduate students.
• PhD Programme Research programme at NHH aimed at producing PhD candidates at a high international level, with opportunities for research periods abroad and participation in international conferences. Targeted at highly motivated research-oriented candidates.
• CEMS Master's in International Management Globally renowned master programme consistently ranked among the top 10 Master in Management degrees by the Financial Times. NHH is the only institution in Norway participating in the CEMS alliance. Targeted at graduate students seeking international management education.
• Double Degree Programme Joint programme allowing students to spend the first year at NHH in Bergen and the second year at a partner university, earning two Master's degrees within two years. Targeted at graduate students seeking dual credentials and international mobility.
• Global Sustainability Management (GSM) Challenge-based, experiential joint programme integrated into the master programme, offering decision-making skills with global perspective and sustainability expertise. Targeted at graduate students interested in sustainability leadership.
• Executive MBA Experience-based master's degree programme of 90 credits taught as a session-based part-time programme for leaders and specialists in the private and public sectors. Targeted at mid-career professionals and senior leaders seeking strategic leadership development.
• NHH Executive Custom Programmes Customized executive education programmes tailored for organizations in both private and public sectors, designed to address specific organizational development needs. Targeted at companies and public sector organizations seeking bespoke leadership training.
• Seafood Management Specialisation Specialisation within the NHH Executive MBA programme focused on management in the seafood industry. Targeted at seafood sector executives and specialists seeking industry-specific executive education.
• The Nordic Media Programme Executive programme focused on media industry leadership and management in the Nordic region. Targeted at media executives and senior managers in Nordic media organizations.
• Fit for Transition: From Sustainable to Resilient Business Models Executive education programme helping organizations transition from sustainable to resilient business models. Targeted at executives and managers responsible for sustainability and resilience strategy.
• Nordic Defense MBA Nordic Defense MBA launching fall 2026 as a collaboration between NHH, Stockholm School of Economics, and the Swedish Armed Forces. Designed to prepare senior military and civilian leaders across the Nordic region to navigate complex security environments. Targeted at senior defense and civilian security leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% of students participate in international exchange programs - highest in Norway
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Stockholm School of Economics (SSE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026Four-year memorandum of understanding for strategic collaboration on security and resilience, combining SSE's Center for Security and Resilience with NHH's Security and Resilience Initiative. Focus areas include governance in defence contexts, cross-sectoral cooperation, and geopolitical economics through joint research projects, academic publications, and leadership training.
• Swedish Armed ForcesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026Partnership with Stockholm School of Economics to launch Nordic Defense MBA program starting fall 2026. Program designed to prepare senior leaders across the Nordic region to navigate complex security environments.
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026Joint research study on grid capacity as bottleneck for electric truck charging infrastructure, based on Norwegian freight corridors. Research found grid constraints reduce freight demand coverage by 19%.
• ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026Global initiative to develop a Global Impact Measurement Tool for association conferences that will quantify social, scientific, and economic benefits beyond traditional tourism metrics. Tool to be validated by mid-2028.
• Convention Bureaus (Barcelona, Copenhagen, Flanders, Sydney, Tokyo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026Co-development partners in the Global Impact Measurement Tool project for association conferences, working with ICCA and academic researchers.
• University of Technology SydneycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026Academic research partner in the ICCA-led Global Impact Measurement Tool project for association conferences.
• Norwegian Business SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2026Academic research partners in the ICCA-led Global Impact Measurement Tool project for association conferences.
• CEMS (Global Alliance in Management Education)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHH is the only CEMS member in Norway. CEMS offers the Master's in International Management, consistently ranked among top 10 globally by Financial Times.
• ENGAGE.EU AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean university alliance for online exchange courses and collaborative education programs. NHH participates in ENGAGE.EU Online Exchange for incoming students from partner universities.
• SNF - Centre for Applied Research at NHHcoreOthersResearch center under NHH Group providing contract research services to business and public sector.
• AFF - The Administrative Research InstitutecoreOthersResearch institute under NHH Group focusing on administrative research.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• INSEAD: Global business school with one-year MBA, executive education, and a strong European footprint through its Fontainebleau and Amsterdam campuses. Competes with NHH Executive for senior leadership programs and global executive candidates.
• HEC Paris: Top-ranked European business school with a much broader portfolio (Grande École, MSc, MBA, PhD, executive). Competes with NHH for international master's and executive candidates and for FT ranking visibility.

Direct peers

• ESADE Business School: Top European business school with Triple Crown accreditation, comparable master, MBA, and executive education portfolio. Closely aligned with NHH on international student mix, FT rankings, and CEMS-style global partnerships.
• Copenhagen Business School: Denmark's leading business school with EQUIS and AACSB accreditation, comparable scale (similar student body size) and similar full-time, executive, and research programs. Competes head-to-head with NHH for Nordic students, faculty, and FT rankings.
• Imperial College Business School: Triple Crown-accredited UK business school embedded in a research university, with comparable MSc, MBA, executive, and PhD programs and a strong international student base. Competes with NHH in European rankings and for international master's candidates.
• Stockholm School of Economics: Sweden's leading business school with similar Triple Crown-equivalent accreditations and a parallel Nordic market for top economics and business talent. Directly comparable to NHH on mission, programs (CEMS member, executive education, PhD), and FT rankings; NHH is now a strategic collaborator on the Nordic Defense MBA.
• BI Norwegian Business School: Largest private business school in Norway offering bachelor, master, MBA, and executive programs. Direct domestic competitor to NHH for Norwegian students, employer partnerships, and executive education share.
• Rotterdam School of Management (RSM): Triple Crown-accredited European business school at Erasmus University with comparable bachelor, master, MBA, and PhD programs. Directly comparable to NHH on international profile, research output, and CEMS membership.

Others

• CEMS - The Global Alliance in Management Education: Alliance of leading business schools (including NHH) that delivers the CEMS Master's in International Management. Relevant as NHH's exclusive Norwegian membership is a key competitive and brand asset underpinning its international positioning.

Regional players

• Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU): Norway's largest public university with economics and business programs and a research partner of NHH on the EV freight grid study. Overlaps with NHH in some economics and technology programs and shares the same domestic funding framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NHHno
• Facebookfacebook.com/NHH.Norway
• LinkedInno.linkedin.com/edu/norges-handelshøyskole-(nhh)-15484
• Instagraminstagram.com/nhh_no
• Xx.com/nhhnyheter

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Norwegian School of Economics