The

rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...

of the

University of Oslo The University of Oslo ( no, Universitetet i Oslo; la, Universitas Osloensis) is a public research university located in Oslo, Norway. It is the highest ranked and oldest university in Norway. It is consistently ranked among the top universit ...

is the university's highest officer, who serves as both its chief executive, its ceremonial head and as chairperson of the university board. The rector is directly elected among the (full) professors by all the members of the university community, that is academic employees, students and technical-administrative staff, who received the right to vote in this order. Until 1989, only professors were eligible to stand for election, although so far all rectors have been professors at the university. The rector's deputy and the university's second highest official, the pro-rector, is also directly elected at the same time. Both the rector and the pro-rector are elected for four-year terms and may stand for reelection to the same office once. The rectorate may also include one or more appointed vice-rectors, who rank below both the rector and the pro-rector. The rectorate forms the university's senior leadership and has the overall responsibility for the management of the university; they are assisted by the director of the university, who heads the technical-administrative staff, but who is subordinate to the rectorate (the rector, pro-rector and vice-rectors). The office of rector was instituted by law in 1905, and made effective in 1907. From 1845 to 1907, the ''Collegium academicum'', the highest body of the university, elected a chairman among its members to serve for one year. From 1814 to 1845, the university had a Chancellor, which was only a ceremonial office held by the Lord Lieutenant (''stattholder''), and a Pro-Chancellor, who was the deputy of the Chancellor and

ex officio An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by right ...

chairman of the ''Collegium academicum''.

Chancellors, 1814–1844

Pro-Chancellors, 1814–1845

Chairmen of the Collegium academicum, 1845–1907

Rectors, 1907–present

{, class="wikitable" , - ! Term ! Rector ! Field of study , - , 1907–1911 , Waldemar Christofer Brøgger ,

Mineralogy Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts. Specific studies within mineralogy include the proces ...

and geology , - , 1912–1918 ,

Bredo Henrik von Munthe af Morgenstierne Bredo Henrik von Munthe af Morgenstierne (11 November 1851 – 24 April 1930) was a Norway, Norwegian jurist, Professor of Jurisprudence at The Royal Frederick University from 1887, and the university's rector 1912–1918. Personal life He was bo ...

Jurisprudence Jurisprudence, or legal theory, is the theoretical study of the propriety of law. Scholars of jurisprudence seek to explain the nature of law in its most general form and they also seek to achieve a deeper understanding of legal reasoning a ...

, economics, and statistics , - , 1919–1921 ,

Fridtjof Nansen Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen (; 10 October 186113 May 1930) was a Norwegian polymath and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He gained prominence at various points in his life as an explorer, scientist, diplomat, and humanitarian. He led the team t ...

¹ ,

Zoology Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the Animal, animal kingdom, including the anatomy, structure, embryology, evolution, Biological clas ...

and

oceanography Oceanography (), also known as oceanology and ocean science, is the scientific study of the oceans. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of topics, including ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, waves, and geophysical fluid dynamic ...

, - , 1919–1921 , Axel Holst , Medicine , - , 1921–1927 ,

Fredrik Stang Fredrik Stang (27 December 1867 – 15 November 1941) was a Norwegian law professor and politician for the Conservative Party. He served as a Member of Parliament, leader of the Conservative Party, Minister of Justice and the Police, Chairman of ...

, - , 1928–1936 , Sem Sæland ,

Physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

, - , 1937–1941 ,

Didrik Arup Seip Didrik Arup Seip (31 August 1884 – 3 May 1963) was a professor of North Germanic languages at the University of Oslo. He earned his doctorate ( dr.philos.) in 1916 and was appointed professor the same year, retiring in 1954. Together with Herman ...

North Germanic languages The North Germanic languages make up one of the three branches of the Germanic languages—a sub-family of the Indo-European languages—along with the West Germanic languages and the extinct East Germanic languages. The language group is also r ...

, - , 1941–1945 ,

Adolf Hoel Adolf Hoel (15 May 1879 – 19 February 1964) was a Norwegian geologist, environmentalist and Polar region researcher. He led several scientific expeditions to Svalbard and Greenland. Hoel has been described as one of the most iconic and influentia ...

² , Geology , - , 1946–1951 ,

Otto Lous Mohr Otto Lous Mohr (8 March 1886 – 23 June 1967) was a Norwegian medical doctor. Mohr was born in Mandal. He was a professor of anatomy at the University of Oslo from 1919 to 1952, and served as rector from 1946 to 1952. During the German oc ...

, Medicine , - , 1952–1957 ,

Frede Castberg Frede Castberg (4 July 1893 – 4 November 1977) was a Norwegian jurist. The son of Johan Castberg, he served as professor and rector at the University of Oslo as well as president of The Hague Academy of International Law. Personal life Fre ...

, - , 1958–1963 ,

Johan Tidemann Ruud Johan * Johan (given name) * ''Johan'' (film), a 1921 Swedish film directed by Mauritz Stiller * Johan (band), a Dutch pop-group ** ''Johan'' (album), a 1996 album by the group * Johan Peninsula, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada * Jo-Han, a manu ...

Marine biology Marine biology is the scientific study of the biology of marine life, organisms in the sea. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies s ...

, - , 1964–1969 , Hans Vogt ,

Romance languages The Romance languages, sometimes referred to as Latin languages or Neo-Latin languages, are the various modern languages that evolved from Vulgar Latin. They are the only extant subgroup of the Italic languages in the Indo-European language fam ...

, - , 1970–1972 , Johs. Andenæs ,

, - , 1973–1976 , Otto Bastiansen ,

Chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

, - , 1977–1984 , Bjarne A. Waaler , Medicine , - , 1985–1992 ,

Inge Lønning Inge Johan Lønning (20 February 1938 – 24 March 2013) was a Norwegian Lutheran theologian and politician for the Conservative Party of Norway. As an academic, he was Professor of Theology and Rector of the University of Oslo during the te ...

, Theology , - , 1993–1998 , Lucy Smith ,

, - , 1999–2001 , Kaare R. Norum ,

Nutritional science Nutritional science (also nutrition science, sometimes short ''nutrition'', dated trophology) is the science that studies the physiological process of nutrition (primarily human nutrition), interpreting the nutrients and other substances in food ...

, - , 2002–2005 ,

Arild Underdal Arild Underdal (born 13 August 1946) is a Norwegian political scientist. Career Underdal was born in Bodø. He was professor at BI Norwegian Business School from 1984 to 1986, and was appointed professor of international politics at the Unive ...

Political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...

, - , 2006–2009 , Geir Ellingsrud , Mathematics , - , 2009–2017 ,

Ole Petter Ottersen Ole Petter Ottersen (born 17 March 1955) is a Norwegian physician and neuroscientist. He serves as the Rector of Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and took office in August 2017. Ottersen has been professor of medicine at the University of Oslo sinc ...

, Medicine , - , 2017–Present , Svein Stølen , Chemistry :1: Fridtjof Nansen was elected rector of the university for the term 1919–1921, but never assumed office. :2: Following the arrest of Didrik Arup Seip during the

occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany during the Second World War began on 9 April 1940 after Operation Weserübung. Conventional armed resistance to the German invasion ended on 10 June 1940, and Nazi Germany controlled Norway until the ...

, the occupying powers appointed the polar researcher Adolf Hoel as rector of the university.

Pro-Rectors

* 1941–1943 Professor

(Mathematics and Natural Sciences)¹ * 1957 Professor Harald Ulrik Sverdrup (Mathematics and Natural Sciences) * 1957–1960 Professor

Alf Sommerfelt Alf Sommerfelt (November 23, 1892October 12, 1965), was a Norwegian linguist and the first professor of linguistics in Norway, working at the University of Oslo from 1931 to 1962. Personal life Sommerfelt was born in Trondheim, Norway. He marri ...

(Humanities) * 1961–1963 Professor Johs. Andenæs (Law) * 1964–1966 Professor Axel Strøm (Medicine) * 1967–1969 Professor

Alf Brodal Alf Brodal (25 January 1910 – 29 February 1988) was a Norwegian professor of anatomy. Personal life He was born in Kristiania as a son of the doctor of engineering Peter Brodal (1872–1935) and his wife Helene Kathrine Obenauer (1879–1934). ...

(Medicine) * 1970–1972 Professor Otto Bastiansen (Mathematics and Natural Sciences) * 1973–1976 Professor Knut Kolsrud (Humanities) * 1977–1980 Professor

Jacob Jervell Jacob Stephan Jervell (21 May 1925 – 2 March 2014) was a Norwegian theologian, professor emeritus, author and priest. Biography Jervell was born at Fauske in Nordland county, Norway. He was the son of Sverre Jervell (1882-1955) and Thora Mejdell ( ...

(Theology) * 1981–1984 Professor

Knut Erik Tranøy Knut Erik Tranøy (10 December 191819 March 2012) was a Norwegian philosopher. During World War II Tranøy, along with 700 other Norwegian students, was deported to the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany. He was appointed professor at the ...

(Humanities) * 1985–1988 Professor Bjørn Pedersen (Mathematics and Natural Sciences) * 1989–1992 Professor

Jens Erik Fenstad Jens Erik Fenstad (15 April 1935 – 13 April 2020) was a Norwegian mathematician. Fenstad graduated as ''mag.scient.'' from the University of Oslo in 1959, and worked as a research fellow there and at University of California, Berkeley, UC Berk ...

(Mathematics and Natural Sciences) * 1993–1995 Professor

(Social Sciences) * 1996–1998 Professor Knut Fægri (Mathematics and Natural Sciences) * 1999–2001 Professor Rolv Mikkel Blakar (Social Sciences) * 2002–2005 Professor Anne-Brit Kolstø (Mathematics and Natural Sciences) * 2006–2009 Professor Haakon Breien Benestad (Medicine) * 2009–2013 Associate Professor Inga Bostad (Humanities) * 2013–2014 Professor Ruth Vatvedt Fjeld (Humanities)² * 2014–2017 Professor

Ragnhild Hennum Ragnhild Helene Hennum (born 11 June 1967) is a Norwegian jurist, academic administrator and women's rights leader. She is Professor of Public Law at the University of Oslo Faculty of Law and Director of the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. Henn ...

(Law) :1: Following the arrest of Didrik Arup Seip during the

, the occupying powers appointed the polar researcher Adolf Hoel as prorector, and later rector of the university. :2: Ruth Vatvedt Fjeld resigned from her position in 2014.

References

University of Oslo's list
* Oslo, University of