Studying in Norway — The 10 Steps Guide

Norway has ten universities plus specialized and private institutions. The five most relevant for international students are the University of Oslo (UiO, oldest and highest-ranked overall), NTNU in Trondheim (engineering and technology powerhouse), the University of Bergen (UiB, marine and climate research), UiT The Arctic University in Tromsø, and BI Norwegian Business School (private, business).

Browse English-taught programs on studyinnorway.no. The key reality: master's programs offer hundreds of English options, while most bachelor's programs are taught in Norwegian and require Norwegian proficiency. Decide early whether you're targeting a master's (accessible in English) or a bachelor's (usually needs Norwegian).

Before going further, know what you'll pay. EU/EEA and Swiss students study tuition-free at public universities — only a semester fee of around NOK 600-800. Since autumn 2023, non-EU/EEA students pay tuition of NOK 130,000-340,000 per year, depending on the program and university. Private schools like BI charge everyone.

This is the most important early reality check. The old 'Norway is free for everyone' advice no longer applies to non-EU/EEA students. Confirm your exact fee status on the specific program's page before you invest time in the application.

For each shortlisted program, confirm the academic prerequisites, the English requirement, and — crucially — your country's entry on the GSU list (Higher Education Entrance Qualification list). The GSU list tells you whether your prior education qualifies you for higher study in Norway at all.

Most English-taught programs require IELTS Academic 6.5 (some accept 6.0) or TOEFL iBT 90. Master's programs need a relevant bachelor's degree; technical programs expect specific prior coursework. Norwegian-taught bachelor's programs require Norwegian proficiency (Norskprøve B2 / Bergenstest).

Aim for 3-5 programs across reach, realistic, and safety choices. Crucially, identify your application route: most international master's programs are applied for directly at each university, while bachelor's programs go through Samordna opptak, the national admissions service. These are handled completely differently.

Norway's main intake is August. A small number of programs offer a January start with autumn deadlines. Mix universities and cities so you keep an Oslo, a Trondheim, and a Bergen option open.

Work backwards from the earliest deadline. For international master's programs that's often around December 1 (sometimes November for non-EU). For Samordna opptak bachelor's applicants with foreign qualifications it's roughly March 1. Earlier is always better — it leaves room for the English test and the UDI permit.

Book IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT 8-10 months before the application deadline — popular test centres fill up. Target IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90 to comfortably clear most program thresholds; some competitive programs want higher.

If your previous degree was fully taught in English, or you're from certain English-speaking countries, you may be exempt. Confirm exemption rules with each university individually — they differ between institutions.

Norwegian universities verify credentials carefully. Documents not in English or a Scandinavian language need certified translations by a sworn translator — allow 2-3 weeks for transcripts and diplomas.

Assemble: passport, bachelor's diploma and transcripts (with certified translations), English test certificate, motivation letter (specific to the program), CV, and 2-3 letters of recommendation for competitive master's and PhD. Arts programs need a portfolio; PhD-track applications need a research proposal.

For international master's programs, apply directly through each university's own admission portal (NTNU, UiO, UiB, BI, etc.), uploading documents per program. For bachelor's programs, register on Samordna opptak, rank your choices, and upload your qualifications by the deadline.

Application fees are often free or low. Non-EU/EEA students should note tuition and any deposit requirements at this stage. Submit at least a week before the deadline to absorb any portal issues, and apply to several programs to spread your chances.

Budget tuition (non-EU/EEA) plus NOK 12,000-15,000/month living costs — Oslo at the top end, Trondheim, Bergen, and Tromsø a little lower. Non-EU/EEA students must prove access to NOK 151,690 for 2026 (the Lånekassen rate), usually held in a Norwegian bank account or a university deposit account, before the UDI permit is granted.

Apply for funding in parallel: Erasmus+ for European exchanges, program-specific university scholarships (especially for non-EU students), and any home-country schemes. Note that after the tuition reform, broad scholarships are limited and mostly program-specific — and part-time work (NOK 180-220/hour) covers a meaningful share of costs.

Non-EU/EEA students apply for the study permit (studietillatelse) through the UDI Application Portal as soon as they accept the offer, then submit documents and biometrics at a Norwegian embassy or VFS center. Processing takes one to three months — apply early and don't book non-refundable flights until approved. EU/EEA students skip the permit but register after arrival.

Secure housing in parallel through your city's student welfare organization — SiO (Oslo), Sammen (Bergen), Sit (Trondheim), or the equivalent. Subsidized rooms cost NOK 4,000-7,000/month and fill fast; apply the moment you're admitted. Private rentals on Finn.no and Hybel.no run higher.

Healthcare: if you stay over 12 months and register with the National Registry, you join the National Insurance Scheme and get public healthcare. EU/EEA students on shorter stays use EHIC; non-EU students on short stays need private insurance until covered.

Land in Norway 1-2 weeks before orientation. The first weeks combine settling in and a few registrations — Norway's digital services make most of it smooth once you have your national ID number.

If staying over six months, register with the National Registry (Folkeregisteret) at the Tax Office to receive your national ID number (fødselsnummer). This unlocks banking, BankID, healthcare, and public services. Confirm your residence with the police as instructed, attend orientation, and join a student club early — it's the fastest way into Norwegian social life.