The Department of Design and the Department of Fine Art are academic departments that offer research-based education at bachelor's, master's and PhD levels. The departments bring together leading academic communities in art, music and design, and aim to educate the artists, designers, musicians, composers and educators of the future. With around 700 students and 190 employees, these departments are a central part of the academic community.
The institutions are organized into three main institutes: the Academy of Fine Arts, the Grieg Academy and the Institute of Design. They emphasize collaboration with relevant institutions both locally, nationally and internationally, which contributes to a rich and varied learning environment. In addition, they have fellows affiliated with PhD programs in artistic development work, which strengthens research activity in the field.