Public Universities In Norway For Masters

“Living in Norway has a reputation for being expensive, but studying in Norway may not be as expensive as you think! Universities in Norway and state university colleges as a rule do not charge tuition fees for international students.” studyinnorway.no

Living expenses in Norway are higher than in many other countries, and you need to pay for your own books/teaching material. Students will need to pay a semester fee of around NOK 300-600 ($50-100) each semester (varies). On living in Norway, the State Educational Loan Fund estimates the average expenditure for students to be about NOK 9000 a month (approx. EURO 1 000). Although expenses vary from person to person, this estimate is expected to cover board and lodgings, clothing, transport, medical and dental care and other necessities.

About Norway

Officially the Kingdom of Norway, the country is located in Northwestern Europe. It is home to over 5.3 million people, and this population is incredibly diverse. As well as the mainland area of Norway, the Kingdom also includes the island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard. Norway shares land borders with Sweden, Finland and Russia, and has a vast coastline. Due Norway’s proximity to the Gulf Stream, it benefits from a mild climate.

Despite not being a member state, Norway maintains a close relationship with the European Union. It was also a founding member of the United Nations, NATO and the Council of Europe, as well as being part of the European Economic Area and the Schengen Area. Outside of the Middle East, Norway is the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas. Other prominent sectors include lumber, seafood and minerals.

Why Study in Norway?

What students say:

I am very impressed about excellent social services and quality education. I feel luck to study in Norway
My programme in Norway is exceptional. I could not find it elsewhere in Europe
I chose Norway because of the quality of the education and the serene atmosphere which is conducive to learning
The methods of teaching are such that students really learn and understand the subjects
The relationship between professor and students is close and friendly
Clear environment, clear people
Norway is one of best countries in the world, the quality of education is excellent
Almost every Norwegian speaks English so it’s easy to live here and communicate with them even when you don’t speak Norwegian

Read more testimonials from international students in Norway here

Masters Study in Norway – A Guide for 2021

One of the best things about studying a Masters in Norway is its welcoming attitude to overseas students and egalitarian approach to higher education. All Masters programmes in Norway are free from tuition fees and many are delivered in English. It’s for these reasons that the country already hosts around 10,000 foreign students at various levels of study.

This page covers everything you need to know about postgraduate study abroad in Norway, with information on universities and courses and advice on applications, visas and funding. We’re also keeping an eye on the effect of coronavirus on students in Norway.

Postgraduate opportunities in Norway – what’s on offer for 2021?

Norway’s location translates into some unique research opportunities and experiences. Part of the country’s territory bg-white shadow-sm border rounded p-3 w-100 is located within the Arctic, with some of Norway’s top universities collaborating on pioneering scientific research projects.

If your research interests are more geared towards the humanities, you’ll be uniquely placed to study the history and culture of exploration and survival in the far north, with archives and heritage materials ranging from Viking settlement to early polar voyages.

These are some of the most compelling reasons to study a Masters in Norway:

No tuition fees – Norway’s Masters programmes are free to all – including nationals from outside the EEA.
High quality of life – Consistently ranked near the top of quality of life tables, Norway is a fantastic place to live, work and study.
Beautiful landscape – Nature lovers will find that there’s nowhere else quite like Norway, with its pristine fjords, midnight sun and Arctic tundra.
Language – English is widely spoken to an excellent standard as a second language, so you won’t necessarily have to worry about learning Norwegian – although doing so could be rewarding!

Masters Study in Norway – Key Details
Universities	22
Oldest University	University of Oslo (1811)
International Students	12,216
Course Length	2 years
Typical Fees (Domestic / EU)	None
Academic Year	August to June

Coronavirus updates for international students at Norwegian universities

For the latest information on the impact of coronavirus on studying a Masters in Norway, please read the official Study in Norway COVID-19 guidance page. Here you can find updates regarding visa applications and student services.

Norwegian universities

Norwegian higher education providers may be either public or private, but the majority are state-run. In total, there are seven state universities in Norway and 22 state university colleges. These institutions each provide a relatively comprehensive range of subjects and conduct research in a variety of fields. There are also nine specialised universities and two national arts colleges, plus a range of private providers offering accredited courses.

The majority of students in Norway (around 85%) study at state institutions and these are where you are most likely to find yourself whilst studying for a Masters degree in Norway. Subject coverage is likely to be broadest at state universities, where Masters programmes are often in departments pursuing active research agendas in relevant subject areas. University colleges tend to focus on professional Bachelor’s programmes, but also offer some taught postgraduate degrees.

Higher education in Norway follows the standards established by the Bologna process, with ‘first cycle’ Bachelor’s programmes followed in turn by ‘second cycle’ Masters degrees and ‘third cycle’ PhD qualifications. This means that a Norwegian Masters programme will provide you with a qualification that will be recognised internationally and meet the conditions for further postgraduate study in other countries.

Norwegian university rankings

Despite the relatively small size of its higher education system, Norway punches well above its weight in international ranking leagues.

As you can see in the table below, a few Norwegian institutions feature among the top 300 in the world across each major ranking system.

University	THE 2021	QS 2021	ARWU 2020
University of Oslo	=127	113	60
University of Bergen	201-250	194	301-400
UiT The Arctic University of Norway	351-400	=416	501-600
Norwegian University of Science and Technology	401-500	=360	101-150
Norwegian University of Life Sciences	601-800	–	601-700
Information in this table is based on the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings and Academic Ranking of World Universities. Visit their websites for more information.

Do university rankings matter for postgraduates?

University league tables can help you in your search for a Masters degree, but you need to know what to look for. Our guide to university rankings for Masters study can help.

Course types

The Norwegian academic year runs from August to June, with winter and spring holidays and a longer vacation between June and August. Of course, as a Masters student in Norway, you will most likely use this longer vacation to carry out research and writing for the dissertation component of your degree.

Norwegian Masters degrees normally run for two years and consist of 120 ECTS credits. In some cases, second cycle programmes equivalent to Masters degrees only consist of 90 ECTS credits of formal study, but these are only applicable to candidates with existing training and work experience in the relevant field.

Course content

Teaching on Masters programmes is similar to that for Bachelors degrees, with a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. All Masters degrees in Norway require candidates to complete an independently researched dissertation, which usually takes place at the end of a programme.

Credit weighting and grading

Each module is assessed individually on a scale running from A-E (with F denoting a ‘fail’) and their credit weighting will decide how much of your final grade they determine. The dissertation will usually be assigned a substantial credit value (usually between 30 and 60 ECTS credits depending on the amount of time dedicated to the project).

Assessment of a Norwegian Masters thesis

The assessment of a Norwegian Masters thesis may involve an oral examination in addition to the written evaluation. This is sometimes referred to as the ‘final Masters degree examination’ and involves two components. You will first be required to give a presentation of your work to an open audience. You will not usually be questioned at this stage, but will instead proceed to a closed session with your examiners who will assess you orally for a set period.

Having to present a public lecture and undertake an oral defence of your Masters thesis may seem a little daunting at first, but it’s a great opportunity to invite some friends and family to take pride in your success (and show them what life in Norway is like). Plus, success in these examinations will look great on your CV whether you’re applying for a PhD programme or seeking professional employment with your Masters degree.

Search for a Masters in Norway

Ready to start looking for your ideal study abroad opportunity? Browse and compare Masters degrees in Norway on FindAMasters.com

Masters fees and funding in Norway

The best news about tuition fees in Norway is that, technically, there aren’t any! As part of the country’s commitment to higher education for all people, university study at Bachelor’s, Masters and PhD level is free. This also applies to international students. A small semester fee between approximately €30 and €60 may apply to postgraduate students, but this also grants you membership to your university’s student welfare organisation and provides various associated benefits including reduced prices on public transport.

Funding

Though you won’t normally pay tuition fees on a Norwegian Masters degree, you will find that the cost of living in Norway is relatively high. For this reason it’s desirable to secure some form of external funding to cover maintenance costs during your time studying in Norway. A number of funding and scholarship packages exist to help you, many of which can be found on the official Study in Norway website.

EEA Grants/Norway Grants help scholars from 16 different countries in the Baltic region and Central/Southern Europe study in Norway, providing a monthly grant of between €600 and €1,200.
Nordplus Higher Education supports students from Nordic or Baltic countries to study in other Nordic or Baltic countries and their funding may be accessible to certain postgraduate students in Norway.
The High North Fellowship Programme is specifically designed to support students from Canada, the USA, Russia, Japan and South Korea, who intend to study in the northern part of Norway. It is funded through the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and offers travel grants as well as a monthly stipend of around €970.
The Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund is primarily intended for Norwegian citizens (but is open to some foreign citizens depending on their country of residence and their connection to Norway). This fund offers repayable loans and non-repayable grants to cover the cost of studying in Norway.

You might be eligible to receive support through the Erasmus+ scheme, which provides funding for selected programmes like Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, as well as Erasmus loans for students who want to study abroad.

Applying for a Masters in Norway

Admission to a Masters programme in Norway usually requires a Bachelors degree in a relevant subject area. Beyond this higher education providers will set their own criteria for candidates. As a general rule you should be able to provide certification of previous qualifications and be prepared to give a statement of your interest in the course and its suitability to your experience and career goals. International students may also need to prove that they have the financial means to support themselves in Norway during their studies (whether through personal resources or external funding).

Recognition of qualifications

As a member of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and a participant in the Bologna process, Norway is usually able to recognise foreign qualifications (particularly those from within Europe) with relatively little difficulty. Your prospective institution should be able to alert you if there are likely to be any difficulties in your case. You can contact the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education for further information about the recognition of your qualifications.

Language requirements

A large number of Masters programmes in Norway are delivered in English, as the language is widely spoken by much of the population. For this reason, you won’t usually need to know Norwegian to study in Norway. However, if English is not your first language you may need to take a test of English proficiency. You can read more in our guide to English language tests for international postgraduate students.

Even if your programme doesn’t require you to speak Norwegian, you might want to consider learning a little of the language. Norwegian can appear challenging (with two written forms and numerous dialects) but in practice Norwegian is no harder to learn than most other European languages and carries the added bonus of being quite similar to other Scandinavian languages such as Danish and Swedish.

Masters student visas in Norway

Visa information for UK students in Norway

UK students will no longer be EU citizens from the 2021-22 academic year onwards. This means you may be considered as an international student when studying in Norway. You may be subject to different visa requirements and fee rates, unless otherwise stated.

As a Masters student in Norway you will usually need to acquire a student residence permit from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration in order to remain in the country for over three months. A resident permit is not needed for students from Nordic countries (Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Finland).

Applications for a residence permit should be made to a Norwegian Foreign Mission in your home country. You can use Norway’s official web portal to locate your nearest mission or embassy.

It is possible to arrive in Norway without a pre-approved residence permit, but you will need to ensure you can acquire one within three months if so.

The documents required for a residence permit application will usually include:

A completed application form with attached passport photograph.
Proof of acceptance at a recognised learning institution.
A statement proving that you possess sufficient maintenance funds.
Proof of valid health insurance, either through a private policy or reciprocal scheme.

If you are normally resident outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland you may also need to provide:

Documentation of accommodation.
An outline of your proposed studies.

There is a processing fee for permit applications, but this is waived for citizens of EU, EEA and EFTA countries.

The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) website offers more information on immigration regulations and requirements for specific countries.

Norwegian identity numbers

As a Masters student in Norway you will usually remain in the country for over six months. This means you should register with the National Registry and receive an identity number, which will allow you to open a bank account and get a student card.

Health insurance

Because of reciprocal agreements, most students in Norway will be covered by Norway’s own Norwegian National Insurance Scheme for the purposes of emergency care and necessary treatment. Exceptions may apply if you are not covered by social security arrangements in your home country and are not a student of an EEA or Nordic country or Switzerland. You can find more information from Nav, the Norwegian public welfare agency.

Next steps

Studying a Masters in Norway will provide you with a high quality, internationally recognised qualification that will support you in future career goals, whether you intend to continue on to PhD level research or take up a job outside the academy. In addition, Norway offers a host of opportunities that will continue to enhance your CV long after you graduate. As a Masters student in Norway you will have demonstrated your ability to adapt to strikingly different geographical conditions and to embrace different cultural perspectives. You may also have taken the opportunity to learn a foreign language that will be of use across the Scandinavian region and further demonstrate your adaptability and resourcefulness to prospective employers.

Ultimately, whether you choose to pursue Norway’s unique research opportunities or to take up a professional post back home, your time spent studying a Masters in Norway will be both memorable and valuable.

List of Tuition Free Schools in Norway

D. State university colleges

E. Private colleges with institutional accreditation

F. Private colleges with accredited programmes and courses

In addition, there are a number of institutions with education and/or websites only in Norwegian.

NKI Nettstudier is Scandinavia’s largest provider of online education. It offers flexible online education within a wide range of disciplines in partnership with recognized colleges and universities. To visit the official web site, click here.

METHOD OF APPLICATION
Application forms, if necessary, should be requested from individual institutions. All application should then be sent directly to the specific institution. For institutions with an online application portal, carefully fill in the requested details and submit. Visit institutions via links above.

FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: The Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (NUCAS) coordinates the admission to regular undergraduate study programmes at all universities, university colleges, and some private university colleges in Norway. Applicants with a foreign secondary education, holding a permanent or renewable residence permit for Norway, must apply for admission through NUCAS. Online application deadline is 1st March for such foreign applicants, and all requirements must be met by 1st July. For complete details, see Universities and Colleges Admission Service. For Bachelors programmes taught in English, see this page and visit individual school websites (via links above).

FOR MASTERS STUDENTS: If you are seeking Masters programmes where the language of instruction is English, you should visit the official Online Masters programmes catalogue and browse by subject area. Admission requirements are decided by each university and university college based on an academic evaluation of the applicants. See individual schools via links above.

FOR PHD PROGRAMS: For Ph.D. programmes in English you will have to check with each institution individually (see official websites above).

DEADLINES:
In order to obtain the necessary application forms and information about the application deadlines you will have to contact each university or university college. In general the application deadline for foreign students is between December 1 to March 15 for courses starting the following autumn (August). Please note that some institutions have separate “pre-qualification” deadlines that are earlier than this.

PLEASE NOTE:
All students who plan to stay in Norway for more than three months will need a Student Residence Permit. Requirements and procedures depend on your current country of residency. Visas are only issued for stays up to 90 days (e.g. for certain Summer School programmes). Please, carefully read the regulations as to avoid problems during the application process. For complete information, click here.

Students may be allowed to work up to 20 hours per week. Certain restrictions do apply.
Several scholarships and financial schemes are available for foreign students. Eligibility depends on your current country of residency and level of completed education. Certain restrictions and prerequisites apply for all these programmes. For current detailed information, click here.