Top Universities in Norway for International Students

With its fjords, northern lights, and expansive areas of wilderness, Norway offers an unparalleled natural setting to study in. A quiet success story, Norway is consistently in first place on the Human Development Index.

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In particular, the country is famous for its egalitarian structure and low inequality. It is a sparsely populated country with miles of unspoiled land. Norway is located in Northern Europe in what is known as "Scandinavia" (Norway, Sweden, and Denmark). It is bordered by Sweden to the east and Russia and Finland in the extreme north of the country. It goes without saying that Norway is a country with extreme weather. Summers are comfortable, with temperatures in the 70s and the chance to witness the midnight sun. Winters are dark and cold, with temperatures below the 20s in some areas, but they are also a great time to catch sight of the Northern Lights. With snow on the ground for all of winter, it is the perfect place for winter sports enthusiasts. In fact, the Norwegians are very active and love to get out, whatever the weather.

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Although a part of Europe, Norway is not a member of the European Union. This means it has its own currency, the Norwegian Kroner. It is part of the Schengen area, meaning it has abolished its borders with other European countries, allowing you to freely move.

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As the world's most developed country, it is also one of the most expensive, but that shouldn’t necessarily put you off! With no tuition fees for most programs and generous financial support available, Norway is a more affordable place to study than many people think.

For undergraduate studies, the national admissions requirements are: high school diploma (or equivalent) plus (3) AP classes with a grade of "3" OR high school diploma plus 1 year of university or college studies in academic subjects. Schools may have additional requirements.

Once you’ve been accepted to a school in Norway, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit. As part of the residence permit, you must document resources of 10,800 euros for a year. 

International students can work up to 20 hours a week, with more hours over holidays.  Before the student visa expires, students can apply for a one-year job seeker permit.

Students who stay longer than 90 days in Norway will need to obtain a residence permit prior to arriving (shorter stays will need a visa). To get a residence permit, apply at the nearest Norwegian mission. You'll need to furnish a completed application, proof of admission from your school, proof of means, proof of housing, a plan of study (a form), and a copy of your passport.

For students outside the European Economic Area, "If the duration of your stay in Norway is more than one year, you automatically become insured under the National Insurance Scheme when you register as a student at a Norwegian institution of higher education and as a resident in Norway."

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If the duration of your stay in Norway is between 3 and 12 months, you should apply for membership of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme, which provides coverage with regard to health services. The form must be sent to the insurance office in the municipality in which you are staying.

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Students who do not become members of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme must have social security coverage from their home country.