The university's original neoclassical campus is located in the centre of Oslo; it is currently occupied by the Faculty of Law.

Most of the university's other faculties are located at the newer Blindern campus in the suburban West End.

In 1811, a decision was made to establish the first university in the Dano-Norwegian Union, after an agreement was reached with King Frederik VI, who had earlier believed that such an institution might encourage political separatist tendencies.

In 1813, The Royal Frederik's University was founded in Christiania (now Oslo), a small city at that time.

Circumstances then changed dramatically one year into the commencement[clarification needed] of the university, as Norway proclaimed independence.

However, independence was somewhat restricted, as Norway was obliged to enter into a personal union with Sweden based on the outcome of the Swedish-Norwegian War of 1814.

Norway retained its own constitution and independent state institutions, although royal power and foreign affairs were shared[clarification needed] with Sweden.

The main initial function of The Royal Frederick University was to educate a new class of upper-echelon civil servants, as well as parliamentary representatives and government ministers.

The staff of the university strove to undertake a wide range of tasks necessary for developing a modern society.

[clarification needed] When the union with Sweden was dissolved in 1905, the university became important for producing highly educated experts in a society which placed increasing emphasis on ensuring that all its citizens enjoy a life of dignity and security.

Education, health services and public administration were among those fields that recruited personnel from the university's graduates.

Scientific research—whether to launch or test out new theories, to innovate or to pave the way for discoveries across a wide range of disciplines—became part of the increased expectations placed on the university.

Developments in society created a need for more and more specialised and practical knowledge, not merely competence in theology or law, for example.

Brøgger vacillated between a certain pessimism and a powerfully energetic attitude regarding how to procure finances for research and fulfill his more general funding objectives.

This coincided with a massive rise in student enrollment during the 1960s, which again made it difficult to balance research with the demands for teaching.

During the German occupation, which lasted from 1940 to 1945, the university rector, Didrik Arup Seip, was imprisoned.

The university was then placed under the management of Adolf Hoel, a NS (Norwegian Nazi Party) appointee.

The university campus at Blindern was expanded, and the number of academic and administrative employees rose.

The "University of the Masses" was unable to lift all its students to the "lofty, elite positions" enjoyed by prior generations of academics.

A large part of the explanation for the high student numbers was thought to be found in the poor job market.

Originally, all professors were automatically members of the Collegium Academicum, the highest governing body of the university, but soon afterwards its membership was limited.

[8] The university's old campus, strongly influenced by Prussian architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel's neoclassical style, is located in the centre of Oslo near the National Theatre, the Royal Palace and the Parliament.

The University of Oslo has several units which are not part of one of the faculties, including some interdisciplinary research centres, research centres abroad, the scientific museums, and libraries: Affiliated institutes are independent institutes that have a formal cooperation agreement with and close ties to the University of Oslo.

Like all public institutions of higher education in Norway, the university does not charge tuition fees.

However, a small fee of 600 kr (roughly US$70) per term goes to the student welfare organisation Foundation for Student Life in Oslo, to subsidise kindergartens, health services, housing and cultural initiatives, the weekly newspaper Universitas and the radio station Radio Nova.

Lastly a voluntary sum of 40 kr (roughly US$5) is donated to SAIH (Studentenes og Akademikernes Internasjonale Hjelpefond).