NLA University College () is a private Norwegian Christian college accredited by the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education. The university college has about 3,300 students and 300 employees distributed across four campuses in three cities, two in Bergen, one in Sandviken and the other in Kalfaret, Gimlekollen NLA College in Kristiansand, and Staffeldtsgate NLA College in Oslo. The university college also offers studies at two satelite campuses, one in Trondheim and the other in Stavanger. NLA University College acquired its institutions in Oslo and Kristiansand after the colleges there merged with NLA University College on January 1, 2013. NLA University College is the only private college in Norway offering primary school teacher education.
NLA University College offers fiveâÂÂyear integrated masterâÂÂs programmes in primary and lower secondary teacher education, and threeâÂÂyear bachelorâÂÂs programmes in early childhood teacher education in both Bergen and Oslo. In Bergen, the university college also offers bachelorâÂÂs degrees in pedagogy, as well as sessionâÂÂbased masterâÂÂs programmes in early childhood education, pedagogy, special needs education and educational leadership.
In Bergen, students can take a masterâÂÂs degree in theology, a professional degree programme qualifying candidates for ordination in the Church of Norway, and an EnglishâÂÂlanguage masterâÂÂs degree in theology and ministry. BachelorâÂÂs degrees in theology are offered in Bergen, Oslo, Kristiansand and Trondheim, each with its own academic profile.
Under the name Hauge School of Management (HSM), NLA University College offers bachelorâÂÂs programmes in economics in Oslo, Bergen, Kristiansand and Stavanger. From 2026, HSM also offer a masterâÂÂs degree in responsible innovation and entrepreneurship in Oslo. Hauge School of Management is named after Hans Nielsen Hauge.
NLA University College in Oslo (Staffeldts) offers a masterâÂÂs degree in contemporary music performance, as well as bachelorâÂÂs degrees in contemporary music performance and in music creation, including songwriting, production and live performance. A fourâÂÂyear bachelor pathway is also offered for students training to become contemporary church musicians, leading to bachelorâÂÂs degrees both in music, ministry and leadership, and in contemporary music performance.
Intercultural studies are offered as bachelorâÂÂs programmes in Bergen, Kristiansand and as an online programme, in addition to an masterâÂÂs degree in Bergen. In Kristiansand, the university college also offers bachelorâÂÂs degrees in journalism and content production, as well as an EnglishâÂÂlanguage masterâÂÂs degree in global journalism.
In addition to degreeâÂÂawarding programmes, NLA University College offers oneâÂÂyear study programmes, formal continuing education and online courses at bachelor level across all subject areas. The university college also offers courses in economics and management specifically designed for Ukrainian refugees, with Ukrainian as the language of instruction. For international exchange students, eight different bachelorâÂÂlevel semester programmes are available, all taught in English.
In 2025, NLA University College applied for accreditation of a PhD programme in social responsibility and formation.
Norsk Lærerakademi (ëNorwegian Teacher Academyû) began in Bergen with studies in christianity in September 1968 and expanded with studies in pedagogy from 1977. The institution was accredited as a university college in 2006. In 1995, NLA Lærerhøgskolen (ëNLA School of Educationû) was established as an independent unit offering teacher education at Breistein in Bergen. In 2010, the two colleges merged to form NLA University College, and in 2013 NLA University College merged with the College of Staffeldtsgate in Oslo and Gimlekollen College of Journalism and Communication in Kristiansand. In the autumn of 2013, Hauge School of Management was established as valuesâÂÂbased programme in economics and management.
In 2024, NLA University College established a regional study centre in Trondheim offering bachelorâÂÂs programmes in theology and practical theology. In 2025, Hauge School of Management expanded its operations with a regional study centre in Stavanger as its fourth location, offering bachelorâÂÂs degrees in economics and management.
The college is run by a board elected by its general meeting. NLA University College is owned by the following Christian organizations: