[2] The school was established in 1938 by Kristian Vilhelm Koren Schjelderup Jr. (1894–1980) Bishop of the Diocese of Hamar together with future Norwegian Resistance Movement members Anders Platou Wyller (1903-1940) and Henriette Bie Lorentzen (1911–2001).

[1][3] The Nansen Academy offers a one-year study founded in the Folk high school tradition common to Scandinavian nations.

The main aim is to inspire independent thinking and reflection, as well as creativity, as a basis for active participation in society.

All students attend classes in philosophy, international security politics and cultural history (art, literature, music) as well as their chosen programme.

[4] The Nansen Academy initiated the Norwegian Festival of Literature (Norsk Litteraturfestival) and the first national dialogues between religions in Norway.