Overview
Scandanavian countries are traditionally strong in higher education, and Norway is no exception. Here's our guide, if studying abroad in mainland Europe's northernmost nation appeals.Norway is one of the most equal nations of the world in terms of wealth, and also enjoys one of the highest levels of GDP per capita. It is also a world leader in research & development, has four universities in the 2012/13 QS World University Rankings – the University of Oslo (111), University of Bergen (145), the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (289), and the University of Tromso (304).
Known for its stunning natural beauty and winter sports scene, Norway attracts a lot of outdoor enthusiasts.
It's also renowned for contributions to art and culture - it is, after all, the homeland of hugely influential figures such as playwright Henrik Ibsen and painter Edvard Munch - and to innovations in contemporary design and architecture.
If all that appeals but you're worried about losing a digit in the frigid cold, well worry no more. Norway isn't actually as cold as you might imagine. With average winter temperatures rarely dipping below -4C in Oslo, one can venture around comfortably. The wettest month is August.
As one of the first countries to engage in the Bologna Process, which aims to make European higher education systems more compatible, Norway is telling the world it's serious about education and encouraging study abroad.
Norway offers more than 170 master's programs taught in English, and many English-taught undergraduate programs.
Fast Fact
- Around the same size as Malaysia, but with a total population smaller than that of the Kuala Lumpur metropolitan area alone
- Norway is a monarchy, currently presided over (ceremonially) by King Harald V
- Head of government is the prime minister, currently Jens Stoltenberg
- Unified with Sweden until 1905
- Official language is Norwegian, but many Norwegians speak English as a second language
- 99% of the country’s electricity comes from hydropower
- Norway translates roughly as ‘path to the north’
- Currency is Norwegian krone
- Norway’s international dialing code is +47
- Uses Central European Time (UTC+1)
- Europe's northernmost country
- Major exports include petrol, machinery, metals, chemicals, ships and fish
- There are two official written versions of the Norwegian language - Bokmål and Nynorsk
Lifestyle
Find out more about life in some of Norway’s top student cities...
OSLO
Norway’s capital has several times earned the dubious honor of being named the world’s most expensive city – most recently in 2012, in a report by Swiss bank UBS. However, this high cost is accompanied by high quality, and Oslo also appears regularly on ‘most liveable’ lists.
Much like the other Nordic capitals, it’s known for being laid-back and user-friendly, but also full of life and culture. The city center is easy to travel around on foot, and offers a good selection of museums, galleries, cafes, music venues and nightlife.
It’s also strikingly easy to access the great outdoors from Oslo – popular pastimes include hiking, watersports, ice-skating and cycling.
BERGEN
Norway’s second-largest city, Bergen is home to the country’s second-highest ranked university. Located on the west coast, it’s a popular base for visitors exploring the country’s famous fjords – long, narrow stretches of water bordered by steep cliffs (this might not sound much, but they really are spectacular).
As well as being ‘The Gateway to the Fjords’, Bergen itself is an attractive coastal city, with its historic harbour area, Bryggen, included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. In terms of culture and nightlife, the selection is bound to be a little more limited – but then, smaller venues often make for a better atmosphere.
Meanwhile the nearby hills and mountains are perfect for hiking in summer, and skiing or sledging in winter.
TROMSO
If you’re really looking for a study destination with a difference, Tromsø could well catch your attention. This relatively small city is mainly located on the island of Tromsøya, close to the northern tip of Norway, and well within the Arctic Circle.
Promoted as the ‘capital of the Arctic’, Tromsø is a popular base for those exploring this region – and yes, you guessed it – there are plenty of fjords and mountains nearby. (Bored of all this natural beauty yet?)
The city is also home to the world’s northernmost university, Tromsø University, ranked within the world’s top 300 in the 2012/13 QS World University Rankings.
Practical Information
Applications and visas
Application deadlines for international students are generally between 1 December and 15 March, for courses starting the following August – but there may be some variation between universities.
Unless you are from Iceland, Denmark, Sweden or Finland, you will need a student residence permit if you intend to study in Norway for more than three months. As usual, different rules apply depending on whether you are from a country within the EU/EEA/EFTA or not.
Students from within the EU/EEA/EFTA:
- You must apply in person, either at a Norwegian embassy or consulate, or at the police station in the city where your university is located
- You will not be charged any fee
- You will be required to submit:
- an application form (available to download from the Study in Norway website)
- proof that you’ve been offered a place at a Norwegian university
- a passport photo
- proof that you have enough funds to support yourself
- health insurance, which could be private insurance, or a European Health Insurance Card issued by your own country
Students from outside the EU/EEA/EFTA:
- You must submit your application in person, at your nearest Norwegian embassy or consulate
- You will be charged a processing fee of NOK1,100 (about US$180)
- You will be required to submit:
- an application form (available to download from the Study in Norway website)
- a copy of your passport
- a passport photo
- proof that you’ve been offered a place at a Norwegian university
- a plan of what you intend to study
- details of where you plan to live
- proof that you have enough funds to support yourself
Funding
The majority of Norwegian universities are publicly funded, and do not usually charge tuition fees, regardless of students’ background.
There is, however, a small ‘semester fee’, of NOK300-600 (US$53-105) each term. A few specialized programs, typically at master’s level, do charge additional tuition fees.
While fees are minimal, the cost of living in Norway is relatively high. If you need financial assistance, there are scholarships available for students from different groups of countries.
For example, the High North Fellowship Program offers grants to students from the US, Canada and Russia who are studying in Northern Norway. The Quota Scheme offers scholarships to students from developing countries and countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The Erasmus and Erasmus Mundus programs can offer support to European students who want to spend only part of their degree in Norway. For graduate students, funding may also be available from the Research Council of Norway.
To ensure you’re aware of the full range of options that apply to you, consult your university’s student support services.
Healthcare
Those from other Nordic nations are entitled to access Norwegian health services, under the National Insurance Act, without needing a European Health Insurance Card.
Students from other countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) should apply for a (free) European Health Insurance Card from their own country. If not entitled to one, you’ll need to purchase private medical insurance.
Those from outside the EEA who are intending to study in Norway should be eligible to access healthcare under the National Insurance Scheme. If your course is longer than a year, you should automatically be registered; if between three and 12 months, you’ll need to apply via the local authorities. Again, if in doubt, seek guidance from your university’s student support services.
Featured University
UNIVERSITIES IN NORWAY
Universities Locations
1 Universitetet i Oslo
Oslo
2 Universitetet i Bergen
Bergen
3 Norges teknisk-naturvitenskaplige universitet
Trondheim
4 Universitetet i Tromsø
Tromsø
5 Høgskolen i Østfold
Halden ...
6 Universitetet i Stavanger
Stavanger
7 Handelshøyskolen BI
Oslo ...
8 Universitetet for miljø- og biovitenskap
Aas
9 Høgskolen i Bergen
Bergen
10 Universitetet i Agder
Kristiansand ...
11 Høgskolen i Oslo og Akershus
Oslo ...
12 Norges Handelshøyskole
Bergen
13 Høgskolen i Volda
Volda ...
14 Høgskolen i Hedmark
Elverum ...
15 Høgskolen i Telemark
Porsgrunn ...
16 The University Centre in Svalbard
Longyearbyen
17 Høgskolen i Gjøvik
Gjøvik
18 Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo
Oslo
19 Høgskolen i Vestfold
Horten
20 Høgskolen i Molde
Molde ...
21 Høgskolen i Sogn og Fjordane
Sogndal
22 Høgskolen i Buskerud
Kongsberg
23 Høgskolen Stord/Haugesund
Stord
24 Høgskolen i Lillehammer
Lillehammer
25 Høgskolen i Finnmark
Alta
26 Høgskolen i Ålesund
Aalesund
27 Norges Veterinærhøgskole
Oslo
28 Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo
Oslo
29 Høgskolen i Nord-Trøndelag
Steinkjer
30 Universitetet i Nordland
Bodø ...
31 Kunsthøgskolen in Bergen
Bergen
32 Norges idrettshøgskole
Oslo
33 Universitetsstudiene på Kjeller
Kjeller
34 Det teologiske Menighetsfakultet
Oslo
35 NLA Høgskolen
Bergen
36 Høgskolen i Narvik
Narvik
37 Høgskolen i Saami
Guovdageaidnu
38 Høgskolen i Harstad
Harstad
39 Norges Informasjonsteknologiske Høgskole
Oslo
40 Høgskolen i Nesna
Nesna
41 Norges musikkhøgskole
Oslo
42 Diakonhjemmet høgskole
Oslo ...
Academic Ranking of World Universities
Norway 
Country Rank Institution World Rank
1
67
2-3
201-300
2-3
201-300
4
401-500
International study in Norway
Why study abroad in Norway?
Norway is famous for its outdoor culture and rightly so, given the abundance of natural beauty afforded by the country’s many fjords and mountains. But as a significant number of international students have discovered — and there were about 12,000 at last count — the education system is also worth the journey to one of Europe’s most northern countries.
- Norway has seven universities, nine specialised university institutions, 22 university colleges, two national colleges of the arts and a number of private higher education institutions.
- There are more than 200 master’s programmes taught in English, although there are only a handful of bachelor’s degree courses on offer in English.
- Norway’s universities are well regarded, though the country just misses out on a spot in the Top 100 of the 2012 QS World University Rankings, with the University of Oslo the country’s highest ranked institution at number 111.
Entry and visa requirements
EU students do not require a visa to study in Norway.
- However, you do need to apply for a student residence permit and unlike many other European countries, there is a requirement for EU/EEA students to prove how they plan to finance their living costs while studying. Students must prove they have access to close to £1,000 per month, and if some of this is to be earned via part-time work, must give evidence of their employment.
- For undergraduate courses, foreign students need to apply via the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (NUCAS) before March 1 for the academic intake beginning in the autumn. For master’s degree programmes, direct applications are more usual and applicants should check with their preferred institution for their admissions procedures and deadlines.
Funding your study
Foreign students do not have to pay for tuition, but there is a small fee payable to the student union each semester of around €50.
- International students who move to Norway solely for the purposes of undertaking a study programme are not usually eligible for a maintenance loan from the government. There are some exceptions to this rule, which are listed here.
- Foreign students obtaining their first residence permit are automatically given a work permit that allows them to work for up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during university breaks. However, when renewing their residence permit, students must show proof that they are keeping up with their studies to get their work permit renewed. This involves having their university fill out a form giving details of their achievements.
- Student housing is provided by most universities and is cheaper than private accommodation options. Once enrolled in an institution, you should be provided with information about the options available through the university’s student housing service, but if not, contact them directly.
Living costs are high in Norway and residents frequently travel to neighbouring countries to buy cheaper food and alcohol.
Some typical costs include:
- Pint of domestic beer: £7
- One litre of milk: £1.50
- Local bus ticket: £3
- Combo meal in a fast food restaurant: £9
- Coffee in a café: £3.50
- Monthly internet connection: £35
Health and safety
Norway is generally considered to be a very safe country and crime rates are low in comparison to other developed countries.
- British students are entitled to access healthcare in Norway in the same way as residents so long as they have a valid European Healthcare Insurance Card. But services aren’t free as they are with the NHS: there is usually a small non-refundable charge for appointments — around £15 for a GP consultation.
Helpful links
- Get more information about studying in Norway from Study in Norway or Study in Europe.
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