History

1757   

Det Kongelige Norske Bergseminarium (literally, the Royal Norwegian Geological Seminary) opens in Kongsberg.

NTNU's oldest academic discipline - mineral resources engineering - can trace its roots to the foundation of this institution.

Photo: snl.no

1760

DKNVS is founded

Norway's first academic society was founded in 1760 with the creation of the Trondheim Society. In 1767, the Trondheim Society received royal recognition from King Christian VII, and the society changed its name to the Royal Norwegian Society of Science and Letters (DKNVS). It was also awarded its own seal.

1768  

DKNVS Library founded

The DKNVS library -- today known as NTNU's Gunnerus Library -- is Norway's oldest. The society's holdings that year consisted of 500 volumes.

1833   

First proposal for a Norwegian Polytechnical Institute is made

This idea is proposed a number of times throughout the 1800s without it coming to fruition.

1870

TTL opened its doors as Norway's first technical college in 1870. Until it closed in 1916, TTL was widely seen as the country's leading institution for technical education. The vocational school was also the forerunner to Trondheim's two biggest educational institutions, the Sør- Trøndelag University College (HiST) and NTNU.

1898

The building today is used as Trondheim's City Hall.

1900

The Norwegian Storting (Parliament) passes a resolution supporting the establishment of the Norwegian Institute of Technology in Trondheim

After a long debate over where the technical college should be located, the decision was finalized on 31 May 1900

1906

A memorial stone is mortared into NTH's main building (Hovedbygningen) on King Haakon VII's coronation day

The memorial stone was placed as high as the building itself had been built.

1910

1910

Studentersamfundet in Trondheim (the Trondheim Student Society) is founded

At the start, the Samfundet was located in the main building. But after a bit, the association moved to the Circus, a circus building on Prinsensgate.
Red more about the histor of Samfundet here.

1921

Tapir is founded

Students and employees establish their own outlet for stationery and other office supplies.

1922

The Norwegian Teachers College (NLHT) opens at Lade gård.

The college was created as a result of a parliamentary resolution on I June 1922. Only 60 students were permitted to attend the school, because of the size of the school room at Lade Gård

1929

Studentersamfundet moves into the Student Association Building on Elgesetergate 1.

1948

SiT (Studentsamskipnaden i Trondheim) is established

The Storting approves a law to protect student welfare, called the "Law on Student Unions".

1949

The title 'Sivilingeniør' is protected by law

1950

SINTEF is founded

Read more about the establishment of SINTEF and its relationship to NTH (in Norwegian)

1960

The Norwegian Teachers College moves to Rosenborg

Read more about the rapid growth in student numbers at the teachers college (in Norwegian)

1960s

End of the big postwar building expansion
Read more about the expansion of NTH after 1945

(in Norwegian)

1968

University of Trondheim (UNIT) is established

Read more about the creation of UNIT

(in Norwegian)

1974

Department of Medicine (later the Faculty of Medicine) established at UNIT

1978

University Centre at Dragvoll is opened

In 1978, all the humanities disciplines from NLHT moved to the first buildings constructed at Dragvoll. The building was the first physical expression of the University of Trondheim. The structure itself became an internationally recognized icon because of its distinctive glassed in walkways linking different buildings. This approach has been copied numerous times in Trondheim and elsewhere (in Trondheim at the Royal Garden and at the Electro building at Gløshaugen). Architect: Henning Larsen.

NTNU is established

Read more about the creation of NTNU(in Norwegian)

Realfagbygget (the Natural Sciences Building) is opened