Formally, UCN has existed since 3 July, 2007 and is a merger between a number of educational institutions.

For the first year of its existence, UCN comprised the former CVU Nordjylland (Hjørring Teacher College, Aalborg Teacher College, the College of Social Pedagogy and the Skipper Clement college) and Sundheds CVU Nordjylland (the Aalborg School of Nursing and Radiography, Vendsyssel School of Nursing, the Denmark School of Midwifery in Aalborg as well as the School of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy).

Today, UCN covers all of North Jutland with a range of short-cycle and first cycle degrees in business, education, health, and technology with campuses in the cities of Aalborg, Hjørring and Thisted.

UCN is an institution of the UAS type with applied sciences and close contact with the public and private business sector.

UCN offer exchange programmes within business, social education, health and technology.