Study in Norway

Norway offers a unique student experience and Norwegian institutions of higher education welcome applications sent by qualified students from all over the world. Internationalisation is a priority within all sectors of the Norwegian education system. Universities and university colleges are constantly working to facilitate for international students.

Eight reasons why you should study in Norway

1. High-quality education

With a wide range of high quality courses and great flexibility, Norwegian institutions prove to be an ideal study destination. From vocational subjects to postgraduate level there are plenty of opportunities for both exchange students and degree seeking students to fulfil their ambitions.

You will also benefit from the informal atmosphere at Norwegian universities and university colleges, where teachers are easily approachable and classes often takes place in small groups. In many cases the students can benefit from taking part in exciting research projects coordinated by the professors.

2. Close and equal terms student-professor relations

The «open-door» policy of professors, teachers and administrative staff at Norwegian institutions is well known. They are both available and approachable for the students in order to arrange for maximum learning outcome for their students.

3. Critical thinking is encouraged

At graduate level the students are expected and encouraged to question both the professors' teaching and existing theories within their learning field. Critical thinking and the ability to approach a problem in different ways are valued skills in the Norwegian «classroom».

This learning tradition  might be unfamiliar to some international students, but is something that often is highlighted as an important asset to the Norwegian education. This is often referred to by many students as one of their best experiences when looking back at the time as a student in Norway.

4. Time to specialise

In most cases the Master's programmes offered at Norwegian institutions go over 2 years. This allows students to work on their thesis for a whole year, which means that the students get the chance to go deeper into their field of study.

5. Study in English

A number of degree programmes and courses are taught in English. Non-native English speaking students will see that their English skills improve during their studies in Norway, while native English speaking students will not get bored. A high level of English proficiency in the society in general makes it easy to both study and live in Norway.

6. Most universities offer free education

The majority of Norwegian higher education institutions are publicly funded and owned. The Norwegian government considers access to top quality higher education for all to be an important part of the Norwegian society and grant the higher education sector large resources. Thus, in the case of most universities, international students don't pay tuition fees when studying.

Make sure to check with the university if they require tuition fees before applying. You should also take into consideration that Norway is a high-cost country and international students should expect to provide a certain level of subsistence to cover their living expenses.

7. A modern and technologically advanced society

Norway is a modern society. Equality is a value deeply rooted in the Norwegian society and is rooted in both legislation and tradition. On campus students benefit from high technological standards and services, modern facilities and equipment, as well as innovative teaching. Norway is also seen as a safe society – you can feel secure almost wherever you are.

8. Study off the beaten track

In our northern corner of the world you can combine your studies with exciting outdoor activities, both winter and summer. You can see the Aurora Borealis ("Northern lights"), experience the midnight sun, fjords and mountains.

Challenge yourself with skiing, white water rafting or mountain climbing. Or simply enjoy the fresh air, clean water and lots and lots of space. As a student in Norway you will never be short of possibilities for unique nature experiences.

Academic requirements

Completion of secondary education at advanced level, equivalent to passing the exam at the end of Norwegian high-school, is the general basic requirement for entry to Norwegian universities and university colleges. For students from some countries at least one year of completed studies at the university level is required in addition.

Applicants for Masters programmes have normally obtained an undergraduate/Bachelor's degree or equivalent of at least 3 years' duration. The degree must include courses equal to at least 1–1/2 years of full-time studies in a subject relevant to that of the programme applied for.

In Norway, all applications for English taught Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes are processed by the institutions themselves. This means that both academic and language requirements may vary between institutions and even between study programmes within the same institution.

See a list of all Bachelor's and Master's programmes taught in English at Norwegian higher education institutions here.

Language requirements

For courses where the language of instruction is English all applicants should expect to document their language skills according to the requirements set by the institutions. Beware that different English tests and scores may be required by different institutions.

For courses where the language of instruction is Norwegian, proficiency in the Norwegian language is required and must be documented.

Universities accept these official English exams:

PTE Academic

IELTS

TOEFL

C1 Advanced

How to apply

Health services in Norway are of high standards. As a student in Norway, you are ensured professional medical treatment no matter which part of the country you are living in. In most cases, the treatment is free of charge if certain prerequisites are met. These prerequisites vary depending on your current nationality and length of stay in Norway.

With over 15,000 foreign nationals enrolled at universities in Norway, diversity is one of the core strengths of the highly respected Norwegian educational system.

Admission and studying

In Norway, courses usually start from August. Universities set their application deadlines between December 1 (the previous year) and March 15, although some schools may have “pre-qualification” deadlines. If you want to come to Norway for your degree, do your research early to make sure you don’t miss application dates.

Academic and formal admission requirements are set by the universities. If you plan to apply for a Master’s degree in Norway, you may have to show that your previous academic education includes courses that amount to at least one-and-a-half years of studies in a related subject.

How much does it cost to study in Norway?

Public universities in Norway do generally not charge tuition fees. There are fees to join the student association, which also pays for the exams at the end of the semester. But that won’t set you back more than 600 NOK (around 60 euros). Also, these fees also ring with them many benefits such as on-campus health services, counselling, access to sports facilities, as well as reduced prices for public transport and cultural activities. Private universities, not being funded by the state, do reserve the right to charge tuition fees - often as high as in other countries in Europe. But international students will never pay more than Norwegian-born students.

What is the cost of living in Norway?

But while you can study in Norway tuition-free, that does not mean that life as a student comes cheap in this Scandinavian country. In fact, when it comes to the cost of living, Norway is among the most expensive countries in Europe - and that might far offset the money saved on tuition.

Nature

Aside from the quality of its education, Norway offers a unique experience for nature lovers. You are never far from the coast with its impressive fjords; never far from awe-inspiring climbing or skiing hot spots; and you get to experience the midnight sun in the summer, and exciting snowy winters.

Universities in Norway

• Bergen Academy of Art and Design
 
• Bergen University College
 
• BI Norwegian Business School
 
• Hedmark University of Applied Sciences
 
• Lillehammer University College
 
• Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics
 
• NHH - Norwegian School of Economics
 
• NLA University College
 
• Nord University
 
• Norwegian Academy of Music
 
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences
 
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology
 
• Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences
 
• Østfold University College
 
• The Oslo School of Architecture and Design
 
• University College of Southeast Norway
 
• University of Agder
 
• University of Bergen
 
• University of Oslo
 
• University of Stavanger
 
• University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway