Study in Norway

Norway offers dramatic landscapes, safe cities and a public university system that still charges no tuition to students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland. For students from other countries, the picture changed in autumn 2023: most degree students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland must now pay tuition, and fees vary widely between institutions. Living costs remain among the highest in Europe, so Norway rewards careful budgeting — but its master’s programmes in English, its research strength and its one-year job-seeker permit still make it a strong choice.

What it costs to study in Norway

All students pay a semester fee of about NOK 1,000 to the local student welfare organisation, which runs student housing, health services, sports facilities and canteens. Beyond that, students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland pay no tuition at public institutions. Degree students from other countries normally pay tuition set by each institution, and the range is wide: for 2026–27, Nord University charges NOK 60,000–85,000 a year, OsloMet NOK 67,000–95,000 for most master’s programmes, the University of Oslo NOK 204,000–295,000, and the University of Bergen from NOK 197,000 for humanities to NOK 401,704 for fine art, music and design. Exchange students, doctoral candidates and students on schemes such as Erasmus Mundus are normally exempt. For living costs, the official estimate for 2026–27 is NOK 15,488 a month, or NOK 170,368 a year — the same amount students must document for a study permit.

Study permit and financial proof

Students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland need a study permit from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) before travelling. The fee is NOK 5,400 for applicants aged 18 and over. Applicants must document living costs of NOK 15,488 per month or NOK 170,368 per year for 2026–27, normally by transferring the amount into an account administered by the student welfare organisation of the university city, plus proof of any tuition paid. Apply well ahead of the August start, because the permit process and the funds transfer both take time.

Working while you study

Permission to work is built into the study permit, so no separate work permit is needed. Students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland may work part-time up to 20 hours a week during the semester, including remote work, and full-time during holidays. Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland have no hour limit. Self-employment and running a business are not allowed on a study permit. Typical student jobs pay about NOK 150–200 an hour — helpful for living costs, not a way to fund tuition.

Staying on after graduation

Graduates from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland can apply for a job-seeker residence permit for up to one year, with full-time work rights, to find skilled work. Apply before the study permit expires; UDI recommends applying at least a month ahead. The year does not count towards permanent residence, but a job found during that year can lead to a skilled worker permit, which is the route that eventually leads to permanent residence. Master’s-level skilled worker jobs require a minimum salary of NOK 624,700 a year, and bachelor’s-level jobs NOK 545,400 a year.

Applying

Norway has one main intake per year, in August, and application deadlines for non-EU students commonly fall between 1 November and 1 December of the previous year. About 350 degree programmes are taught in English, most at master’s level, and programmes can be searched by level, subject and region on the Study in Norway portal. Universities require IELTS, TOEFL or an equivalent, typically about IELTS 6.0–6.5, with the exact band set by each programme. Because some universities have lowered their fees since a 2026 law change, always check the programme’s own fee page rather than an older guide.

Official source: Study in Norway

Official Sources

https://www.studyinnorway.no/