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. 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. 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. 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.