Key figures
- 2 campuses
- 6 faculties + teacher education unit
- 23 departments
- 1 museum
- 13,861 students (2023)
- 59% women / 41% men (students) (2023)
- Graduates (spring 2023) – three- and four-year bachelor's and vocational programmes 1645, one- and two-year master's degrees 807, five-year master's and professional degree programmes 219
- 431 PhD agreements (2022)
- 58 doctoral degrees awarded (2023)
- 27 doctorates awarded to candidates with foreign citizenship (2023)
- 484 exchange students – outgoing (2023)
- 448 exchange students – incoming (2023)
- 478 international students (not including exchange students) (2023)
- NOK 1.64 billion in total budget 2022
- 1559 full-time equivalent employees (2023)
- 55% women / 45% men (2023)
- 577 administrative staff / 982 academic staff (2023)
- 1129.32 publication points (2022)
- 11 honorary doctors (doctors honoris causa)
Video
Historical timeline
1828
Kristiansand Museum is founded
1839
Teacher Training School established at Holt rectory
1877
The School moves to Kristiansand – becomes Kristiansand Teacher Training College
1920
The nursing school starts in Arendal
1960
Rector Halvor Vegard Hauge launches the idea of an Agder University
1962
Agder Academy is founded
1962-1979
"University Education in Kristiansand", a satellite of the University of Oslo
1963
"The University Committee for Sørlandet" formed by Agder Academy and the Museum
1965-70
Agder Music Conservatory established at Kristiansand Music School
1966
"The Committee for an Economics College in Kristiansand"
1967
Sørlandet Technical School SøTS, later Agder College of Engineering, is founded in Grimstad
1969
Agder Regional College (ADH) is established in Kristiansand
1976
Vest-Agder Nursing School, later College of Nursing, is established in Kristiansand
1994
Six colleges in Agder merge into Agder College (HiA), with campuses in Kristiansand, Grimstad and Arendal.
Oddvar Haugland becomes College Director, Knut Brautaset is elected Rector
1995
Government resolution on HiA campus at Gimlemoen in Kristiansand
1998
Minister of Education Jon Lilletun appoints the Mjøs Committe to make recommendations about higher education after 2000
2000
The Mjøs Committee recommends unanimously that colleges can qualify for university status.
Ernst Håkon Jahr becomes Rector in August
2001
Parliament unanimously decides the criteria for university status.
New campus opened at Gimlemoen by PM Kjell Magne Bondevik
2002
Agder Academy is reorganised into Agder Academy of Sciences and Letters
2004
HiA has more than 8,300 students. The first major EU project with HiA as a main operator
2005
The first defense in HiA's own PhD programme, in Nordic linguistics
Application for university status submitted
2006
Agreement with Ugland Real Estate Ltd about constructing a new campus in Grimstad
2007
HiA accredited as a university in June. Torunn Lauvdal becomes Rector in August
The government sets 1 September as the university start date. Official opening of UiA by HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit on 20 November
2010
Official opening of Grimstad campus by HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit
2010-14
Debate and disagreement about a possible merger with Telemark University College. The UiA Board decided against a merger
2012
UiA's first five years celebrated with the award of the first six honorary doctorates
2014
First Centre for Excellence in Education, in mathematics education
2015
First Centre for Research-based Innovation, in offshore mechatronics
Tor A Aagedal steps down as University Director, succeeded by Seunn Smith-Tønnessen
2016
Frank Reichert becomes Rector 1 January
2017
Mechatronics Innovation Lab opened in Grimstad. UiA has 13,000 students.
Agder Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden becomes part of UiA. UiA's 10-year anniversary celebrated with performance at Kilden Performing Arts Centre in November
Five new honorary doctorates awarded
2019
Sunniva Whittaker becomes Rector 1 January