I believe NHH offers very strong employment opportunities after graduation
Emma Underhaug
Applications to NHH are surging
Interest in NHH is rising sharply. Emma Underhaug (18) is among those who have planned for this moment over several years.
During lower secondary school, she spent a lot of time thinking about which subjects she enjoyed the most. In upper secondary school, she chose relevant courses, worked hard, and tailored her studies towards her dream programme.
With 56 grade points before her final exams, Emma Underhaug from Bergen is well placed to gain admission to NHH’s Bachelor in Economics and Business Administration (BScBA).
‘I’ve had NHH in mind for a long time. I applied because I have a very positive impression of the school. The people I know who study here enjoy it a lot. Everyone can find their group at NHH,’ says Underhaug.
She is far from alone in setting her sights on the campus overlooking the sea in Ytre Sandviken.
Among the top three in Norway
- Nearly 1,950 applicants have listed NHH’s Bachelor in Economics and Business Administration (BScBA) as their first choice. This represents a six per cent increase from last year, according to figures from the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (Samordna opptak).
- Since 2024, the number of first-choice applicants has risen by more than 200 – an increase of 12 per cent. As a result, NHH’s flagship business degree further cements its position as Norway’s third most popular study programme.
In total, 6,927 people applied to NHH this year, up from 6,738 in 2025. - NHH’s relatively new bachelor programme, BEDS, is also holding steady. The programme combines NHH’s traditional economics education with an increased focus on technology, data, and programming. A total of 557 applicants have ranked the programme – often described as ‘economics for the tech savvy’ – as their first choice, roughly the same number as last year.
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‘We are very pleased that more and more applicants are choosing NHH as their first choice. It shows that our programmes are perceived as relevant, and that our bachelor degrees are well aligned with the needs of the future labour market,’ says Steffen Juranek, Vice Rector for Education at NHH.
Choosing breadth in uncertain times
Recent media coverage has highlighted a tightening labour market for young people, and the rise of artificial intelligence has created uncertainty across many industries. For Emma Underhaug, however, an uncertain career future is precisely why she applied to NHH.
‘I wanted an open and broad education, rather than one narrowly focused on a specific career path. I believe NHH offers very strong employment opportunities after graduation, making you less exposed to the AI wave,’ says Underhaug.
The latest graduate employment survey shows that NHH graduates are highly attractive in the labour market. Nine out of ten students who graduated in 2025 were in permanent employment six months after completing their degree.
‘A solid economics education from NHH never goes out of fashion,’ says Rector Helge Thorbjørnsen.
‘AI will provide fantastic new tools for economists and business leaders. But it will never replace the human qualities and skills we develop here at NHH,’ he adds.
‘Yes, the world is changing. And so is NHH – very much so.’
Waiting for the result
It will not be known who receives an offer of admission for another three months. For Underhaug and other applicants, the waiting period is likely to pass quickly. She is currently juggling intense exam preparations while also serving as president of the graduation cohort (russepresident) at Nordahl Grieg Upper Secondary School.
‘If you are admitted – what do you expect from your time at NHH?’
‘To meet friendly, smart people you can be inspired by and learn from,’ she says.
Another applicant eagerly awaiting the outcome is Rasmus Villseth Eimhjellen (20) from Asker. With an impressive 59.4 grade points, he was well above last year’s admission threshold, but postponed his studies by one year due to compulsory military service. From this autumn, he will swap his rifle at Rena in Eastern Norway for an umbrella in Bergen.
‘What are you most looking forward to?’
‘Simply studying at one of the country’s strongest academic environments in economics. Everyone I’ve spoken to praises both the courses and the student community. There is a lot of engagement at NHH – and engagement is contagious.’
‘Simply studying at one of the country’s strongest academic environments in economics. Everyone I’ve spoken to praises both the courses and the student community. There is a lot of engagement at NHH – and engagement is contagious.’