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The list of University of Oslo people includes notable academics and alumni affiliated with the University of Oslo (before 1939 the Royal Frederick University). The University of Oslo is: Norway's oldest, and was its only university until 1946; hence its academics and "alumni include a large number of the country's prominent academic and public figures."
Academics※
Prior——to 1990, all (full) Professors were appointed by, the King-in-Council.
Biology※
- Fridtjof Nansen, appointed——to a chair in zoology, 1897; in 1908 the chair was changed to a personal professorship in oceanography
- Michael Sars
- Nils Christian Stenseth
Economists※
Chemistry※
- Odd Hassel
- Cato Maximilian Guldberg, pioneer in physical chemistry
- Peter Waage
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Physics※
- Kristian Birkeland, invented the Birkeland-Eyde Process and nominated for the Nobel Prize seven times.
- Ivar Giaever
Historians※
- Francis Bull
- Halvdan Koht
- Geir Lundestad
- Peter Andreas Munch
- Arnved Nedkvitne
- Jens Arup Seip
- Francis Sejersted, professor of social and economic history; chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
Law※
- Johannes Andenæs, Professor of Jurisprudence, Rector of the university
- Mads H. Andenæs
- Jon Bing
- Anders Bratholm
- Sjur Brækhus
- Kirsti Strøm Bull
- Frede Castberg, Professor of Law, Rector of the university
- Tove Stang Dahl, pioneer of women's law
- Torstein Eckhoff
- Aage Thor Falkanger
- Carl August Fleischer
- Francis Hagerup
- Claus Winter Hjelm, Professor of Law, subsequently Supreme Court judge
- Peter Lødrup
- Knut Selmer
- Carsten Smith, Professor of Law, subsequently Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
- Eivind Smith
- Lucy Smith
- Tone Sverdrup
- Bredo Henrik von Munthe af Morgenstierne, Professor of Law, Rector of the university
- Frederik Zimmer
Mathematics※
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- Niels Henrik Abel, the Abel Prize in mathematics is named in his honour
- Carl Anton Bjerknes
- Sophus Lie, pioneer in abstract algebra; largely created the theory of continuous symmetry
- Peter Ludwig Mejdell Sylow
- Carl Størmer
- Elling Holst
- Viggo Brun
- Axel Thue
- Alf Victor Guldberg
- Richard Birkeland
- Thoralf Skolem
- Ralph Tambs-Lyche
- Øystein Ore, was also Sterling Professor of Mathematics at Yale University
- Ingebrigt Johansson
- Wilhelm Ljunggren
- Henrik Selberg
- Atle Selberg, winner of the Fields Medal
- Ernst Sejersted Selmer
- Erik Alfsen
- Arnfinn Laudal
- Erling Størmer
- Bernt Øksendal
- Ola Bratteli
- Ragni Piene
- Geir Ellingsrud
- Ragnar Winther
- John Grue
- Arne Sletsjøe
Medicine※
- Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam
- Kåre Berg
- Carl Wilhelm Boeck
- Christian Peder Bianco Boeck
- Cæsar Peter Møller Boeck
- Per Brandtzæg
- Per Alf Brodal
- Øyvind S. Bruland
- Niels Christian Gauslaa Danbolt
- Per Fugelli
- Ivar Asbjørn Følling
- Astrid Nøklebye Heiberg
- Hjalmar Heiberg
- Sverre Dick Henriksen
- Frederik Holst
- Torstein Hovig
- Ragnvald Ingebrigtsen
- Anton Jervell
- Leiv Kreyberg
- Einar Kringlen
- Gabriel Langfeldt
- Øivind Larsen
- Otto Lous Mohr
- G.H. Monrad-Krohn
- Sjur Olsnes
- Ole Petter Ottersen
- Jan Ivar Pedersen
- Alexander Pihl
- Edvard Poulsson
- Nils Retterstøl
- Torleiv Ole Rognum
- Bent Rolstad
- Ola Didrik Saugstad
- Carl Schiøtz
- Carl Semb
- Michael Skjelderup
- Jon Storm-Mathisen
- Axel Strøm
- Theodor Thjøtta
- Magnus Andreas Thulstrup
- Hans Jacob Ustvedt
- Guro Valen
- Lars Walløe
- Lars Weisæth
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Philosophers※
- Arne Næss, philosopher
Political scientists※
- Bernt Hagtvet
- Janne Haaland Matlary, Professor of Political Science
- Hanne Marthe Narud
- Iver B. Neumann, Professor of Russian Studies
- Trond Nordby
- Hege Skjeie
- Thomas Christian Wyller
Science※
Sociologists and criminologists※
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Johan_Galtung.jpg/220px-Johan_Galtung.jpg)
- Dag Album
- Vilhelm Aubert
- Margunn Bjørnholt
- Grete Brochmann
- Nils Christie
- Ingrid Eide
- Fredrik Engelstad
- Ivar Frønes
- Johan Galtung, founder of peace and conflict studies, held the world's first chair in that discipline at the University of Oslo 1969–1977
- Erik Grønseth
- Gudmund Hernes
- Sverre Holm
- Geir Høgsnes
- Ragnvald Kalleberg
- Suzanne Stiver Lie
- Ulla-Britt Lilleaas
- Sverre Lysgaard
- Arne Mastekaasa
- Thomas Mathiesen
- Willy Pedersen
- Natalie Rogoff Ramsøy
- Sigurd Skirbekk
- Dag Østerberg
Social anthropology※
Palaeontology※
- Jørn Hurum, Professor at the Natural History Museum, known for his work on the Darwinius fossil
Geology※
- Adolf Hoel, one of the leading Arctic researchers in the first half of the 20th century; founder of the Norwegian Polar Institute; credited for Norway obtaining the sovereignty over Svalbard and Queen Maud Land; served as Rector of the university; namesake of the mineral hoelite and the Hoel Mountains
Linguistics※
- Didrik Arup Seip, Professor of North Germanic languages; served as Rector of the university
- Finn Thiesen
- Finn-Erik Vinje
Notable alumni※
Heads of government※
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- Otto Albert Blehr, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. jur.)
- Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. med.)
- Ingolf Elster Christensen, Chairman of the Administrative Council (cand. jur.)
- Francis Hagerup, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. jur. and dr. juris.); Professor of Law at the University of Oslo
- Otto B. Halvorsen, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. jur.)
- Thorbjørn Jagland, Prime Minister of Norway (exam. oecon.)
- Gunnar Knudsen, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. philos.)
- Wollert Konow (SB), Prime Minister of Norway (law student, but did not graduate)
- John Lyng, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. jur.)
- Johan Ludwig Mowinckel, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. philos.)
- Christian August Selmer, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. jur.)
- Christian Schweigaard, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. jur.)
- Emil Stang, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. jur.)
- Frederik Stang, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. jur.)
- Johannes Steen, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. philol.)
- Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. oecon.)
- Johan Sverdrup, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. jur.)
- Jan P. Syse, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. jur.)
- Kåre Willoch, Prime Minister of Norway (cand. oecon.)
Government and politics※
- Petrit Selimi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo
Arts and media※
- Harald Eia, comedian (cand.polit. in sociology)
- Imam Meskini, actress
Business and finance※
- Håkon Wium Lie, developed Cascading Style Sheets and was Chief Technology Officer of Opera Software
- Erling Maartmann-Moe, venture capitalist and computer scientist
- Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner, CEO of Vivaldi Technologies
Lawyers and judges※
- Paal Berg, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway; also Minister of Justice and the Police
- Sverre Grette, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
- Morten Diderik Emil Lambrechts, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
- Einar Løchen, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway; also Minister of Justice and the Police
- Peder Carl Lasson, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway; also Minister of Justice and the Police
- Hans Gerhard Colbjørnsen Meldahl, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway; also Minister of Justice and the Police
- Rolv Ryssdal, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
- Erling Sandene, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
- Herman Scheel, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway; also Minister of Justice and the Police
- Tore Schei, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
- Carsten Smith, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
- Emil Stang (born 1882), Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
- Karenus Kristofer Thinn, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway
- Iver Steen Thomle, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway; also Minister of Justice and the Police
- Terje Wold, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway; also Minister of Justice and the Police