When you think of the “quintessential study abroad” experience, it’s likely that Norway isn’t the first nation that pops into your mind. What better reason to go there and have a unique experience?
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with deciding on a more traditional study abroad destination. However, Norway offers a lot that other (potentially more popular) countries do not. For one, Norway offers practically unmatched access to natural beauty. On certain hikes in Norway, you could even safely drink out of the streams you were walking over, so all you needed to bring with you was an empty water bottle – that’s the level of remote nature I’m talking about here.
Norway: home of the paper-clip, IKEA names for wardrobes and hall furniture, and a knighted penguin. With such quirky people, how could you not want to study here?
Fortunately, international students do wish to study here; the Northern-European country welcomes more than 25,000 such pupils on its cold lands.
Assuming you wish to be one of those 25,000 and take advantage of the tuition-free degrees available to all international students at public universities in Norway, we want to provide you with a comprehensive guide for applying. Let’s dive right into it!
1. Norwegian universities to consider for your studies
Norway has 7 accredited public universities, 9 accredited specialised university institutions, 22 accredited university colleges, 2 accredited national colleges of Arts and several private institutions of higher education, with either institutional or programme accreditation. That’s a lot!
To help you out, we made a small list of recommendations:
- BI Norwegian Business School, in Oslo
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim
- NHH Norwegian School of Economics, in Bergen
- University of Bergen, in Bergen
- University of Stravanger, Stravanger
2. Prepare to apply to a Norwegian university
Norway is super cold! There, we prepared you.
All jokes aside, the first step should be researching. Considering the number of universities you can pick from and that each has a list of study programmes and a distinct list of documents necessary for applying, you should check and consider all the criteria before choosing a degree.
Norway has a website dedicated to international students who wish to enrol in an academic programme within its borders, where all the degrees are centralised and the specific details are neatly organised in tables.
Use that website as much as possible. It was made to help students like you. Any questions you may have or any uncertainty can be resolved with a simple e-mail or a quick phone call.
3. Where to apply for a Norwegian Master’s degree?
Norwegian universities, business schools and other higher education institutions have their own application rules and criteria. If you visit their official websites, you will find an entire list of Norwegian Master’s degrees. If you click on it, you will find the deadlines, the requirements and a button taking you to the university’s page, where you can begin the official application process.
Heads up, though — there is another website for applications, but it is strictly for Norwegian students and it is comprised, mostly, of Bachelor’s degrees. If you are, by any chance, that only Norwegian reader who wants a Bachelor’s, you’re welcome and don’t mention it. It was our pleasure!
Another excellent alternative to find a degree in Norway is to use our portals. Free services like best-fit and the comparison tool will help you determine if you meet the admission requirements and easily see the differences between multiple study programmes. You can start your search for:
4. Language requirements for a Norwegian university application
While you don’t need to learn the Norwegian language, you will need an English certificate for your studies in Norway. Universities usually accept:
To avoid encountering problems during the official application, you should always check which English language test is accepted by your university and what grade you need to be accepted.
Also, bad news for the Norwegian guy reading this: you will need a language proficiency certificate as well. Evidence you can speak the language in which the programme will be taught is required from everybody, regardless of their nationality or chosen degree.
5. Required university application documents
General application documents
The list of general application documents is pretty straightforward. A student has to present:
- An undergraduate/Bachelor’s degree or equivalent of at least 3 years of study (it must include courses equal to at least 1/2 years of full-time studies in a subject relevant to the programme you applied for)
- An English proficiency test
Specific entry requirements
Now we’re talking!
Norway has the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT), which sets the minimum requirements that vary depending on each student’s home country. You should see the GSU-list, the Norwegian database for country-specific information.
For instance:
- Indian students need an English test and two other certificates that prove university education.
- Nigerian students don’t require an English test, but require Senior School Certificates in 6 subjects (obligatory English, Mathematics and Science), with 1 other certificate.
- South African students only need a National Senior Certificate.
- American students must present High School Graduation Diploma + 1 year university or college studies in academic subjects or 3 Advanced Placement Tests with at least grade 3.
- English students need a General Certificate of Education with at least 3 A Levels or Cambridge Pre-U Diploma (3 Principal Subjects + Global Perspective and Research) or a combination of A Levels and Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects in 3 different subjects.
For you, the application requirements might be different. So, always double-check the info on the official page of the programme or on the NOKUT website. If anything is unclear, don’t hesitate to contact your university. They’ll be more than happy to help you out.
6. University application deadlines for Norway
You can find an official calendar on the programme’s page. As a general guide, you should keep in mind these dates:
- December – March: the application period for international students who want to start the following autumn
- August: autumn courses start
Also, some universities in Norway have “pre-qualification” deadlines that are earlier than the periods listed above, so remember to look for those as well.
7. Final steps after receiving your acceptance letter
You will need a student residence permit. Visas are issued for stays up to 90 days, while students who plan to stay in Norway for more than three months need this student residence permit.
The short list of documents for a student residence permit in Norway includes the following:
- An application form for student residence with a passport photograph
- A copy of your passport
- Documentation of admission to an accredited educational institution
- A plan of study
- A form stating the progress of your studies
- Documentation of housing
Remember that this is a general guide for applying to a university in Norway. So don’t base all your decisions and application only on this article. Always check out the specific requirements that apply to your study programme or to students from your country.
Best of luck with your application and have fun during your international student experience! That goes for you, too, random Norwegian guy!
What to Know Before Studying Abroad in Norway
There’s plenty that I wish I had known before I’d gone overseas to Oslo, but it was information that didn’t seem to be readily available in the same way that it was for other study abroad destinations. I was fine with learning on the ground, but there are some things that it’s helpful to know if you’re looking to thrive in Norway. Norway is a fantastic place to study abroad, but preparation helps ensure you make the most out of the experience.
Norway Can be Expensive
Strategic budgeting can make living abroad in Norway financially manageable, but there’s no avoiding the high cost of living.
When I moved to Oslo, I quickly learned how to ensure that I was getting the biggest bang for my buck. For one, I ended up spending a lot more time at friend’s apartments and houses instead of at bars and restaurants because it tended to be too expensive to be out for the whole night. You won’t be alone in that either; sharing meals with fellow students at home is a great way to save.
You can focus on the fact that food and alcohol are expensive, but you can also focus on the opportunity you have to now cook with and enjoy the company of new friends in their homes (or your home), which tends to be more intimate anyhow. In some ways, the high cost of things like food and alcohol can balance the price of outdoor recreation activities like skiing or the availability of low-cost and free camping around the country. As I mentioned before, it’s all a matter of preparation and adjusting to new circumstances.
Additionally, managing finances can be one of the many lessons learned through your study abroad experience. Use this as an opportunity to grow your understanding of personal finance and budgeting. The challenge of balancing your budget in a high cost-of-living country will help you do so wherever you end up afterward.
Norway is a Perfect Place to Get Active
If you feel like you’re just not active enough back on your home campus, come to Norway! The Norwegian culture values physical activity outdoors — and you will quickly learn to love it.
What makes Norway unique is that people are active all year round. Once the hiking and camping season is over, the cross-country and downhill skis come out.
I remember getting on the tram one day after class to find it filled with people going cross-country skiing right after work. At first, I thought there was a special race that day or something, but then I just realized it was the way Norway worked, or at least Oslo. Quickly, I began cross-country skiing, and I fell in love with how methodical it was. Honestly, when I moved to Norway, I began to examine what practices I’d adopted from growing up in the fast-paced city of Toronto that I might need to challenge.
There are opportunities to be active in Norway at every turn, no matter where you are in the country and what season it is.
Learn a Little Norwegian
One of the huge perks about studying abroad in Norway is that English is ubiquitous, making it a relatively easy transition for native English speakers. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the time to learn Norwegian. Most of the population speak Bokmål, which is likely what you’ll learn should you pursue learning Norwegian.
Your university will typically offer a beginner’s course in the language. I took a beginner’s Norwegian course geared towards the University of Oslo’s large international student body. I was able to take this class as an elective and would recommend you consider taking Norwegian as an elective as well. Even a basic understanding of a local language, or an obvious effort to learn, goes a long way in showing locals that you are seriously working on immersing yourself — and will likely gain you respect among the community.
Dive into Norwegian Culture
In a sense, the Norwegians are going through a bit of a cultural renaissance. It’s only recently that Norway moved out from under the heavy thumb of Danish and Swedish dominance in the region. For hundreds of years, Norway was a nation that was more or less a pawn in a larger game of world conquest. Nowadays, Norway has a thriving economy and a prominent seat on the world stage.
If you want to understand how far Norway has come, you need to take the time to understand from where they came. Taking the time to learn Norway’s history made an enormous difference in how I understood the nation and its people. As with language, I made sure that I took an elective in Norwegian history in a class predominantly filled with international students. If that course isn’t available, I’d recommend actively learning about Norway’s history from the present back to the Vikings. (Who doesn’t want to learn about the Vikings, right?)
Your education and immersion in Norwegian culture doesn’t have to be just based in the classroom, either. When I wanted to learn more about the Vikings, I caught a bus to the Viking Ship Museum. There are outstanding museums aplenty across Norway which can help enrich your experience. Also, as with language, the Norwegians I met appreciated the time I put into learning about their homeland.
Get Out and Explore Norway
While this might sound self-evident, the number one piece of advice I’d go back and tell myself if I could do it over again is to actively experience your new home country!
I got so caught up in the rush of flying to see the big cities of Europe that, at times, I didn’t focus enough on Norway itself. I’ve never actually stopped traveling since I lived in Norway; now, I’ve visited cities like Budapest, Vienna, and Prague multiple times. I wish I could say the same for cities like Bergen or Kristiansand.
I didn’t really recognize it at the time, but Norway is quite out of the way of the European vacation path, so cherish your time exploring a nation like Norway. As I’ve become a more seasoned traveler, I’m even more convinced of just how special Norway is. Don’t get distracted by larger nearby cities. Embrace Norway as much as you can.
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