The BI Master International Scholarship is the one most international applicants ask about first. It covers full tuition fees for up to two years, though some candidates get one year. You apply for it at the same time as you apply for admission, by uploading your CV and a one-page scholarship letter as a single PDF in the online portal.
That timing catches people out. There is no separate scholarship round later in the spring. If you want the money, the paperwork goes in with the application.
Who the Master International Scholarship is for
The basic conditions are set out clearly by BI. You need international citizenship, you must not be a resident of Norway, and you need a minimum overall GPA of 4.0 on the ECTS scale. You also need to be admitted to the first year of a full-time master's programme at campus Oslo, Bergen or Trondheim.
Two further rules narrow the field. Only candidates seeking their first master's degree are considered. And if you did your bachelor's degree in Norway, or you are eligible for Lånekassen support, BI treats you as a domestic applicant, which means you are not eligible.
Because postgraduate programmes sit outside the NUCAS coordinated service, you apply to BI directly through its own system. If you are still working out where to study, our list of all universities in Norway is a sensible place to start, and the scholarship directory shows what else is on offer.
How to apply, and the 1 March deadline
The mechanics are simple, and strict.
- Upload your CV and a one-page scholarship letter as one PDF in the online portal.
- Do not email your scholarship application. Email submissions are not accepted.
- Submit by 1 March.
Awards are made on academic grades, not on financial need. Everyone who applies is informed by the end of April.
One thing to plan for: scholarship offers are not sent with offers of admission. You have to accept the admission offer while you wait for the scholarship decision. And the scholarship decision is final. There is no appeal.
Keeping the scholarship once you have it
The award is not unconditional. To keep it, you must complete 30 ECTS in each semester and keep a cumulative GPA of at least a B on the BI ECTS scale.
For scale: a year of full-time study is generally worth 60 ECTS, so 30 ECTS per semester is a normal full load. A two-year master's is 120 ECTS on top of your bachelor's degree.
Presidential and A. Wilhelmsen: the other two BI scholarships
BI also offers the Presidential Scholarship and the A. Wilhelmsen Foundation Scholarship. They are different animals.
Presidential Scholarship
This one demands a minimum overall GPA of A on the ECTS scale, or the equivalent top grade. For international applicants it covers full tuition for up to two years plus a stipend of NOK 50,000 per semester.
There is a useful wrinkle here. International applicants for the Presidential Scholarship are also considered for the Master International Scholarship, without writing a separate letter. So a strong application in the Presidential round keeps you in play for the other one.
A. Wilhelmsen Foundation Scholarship
This is worth NOK 250,000 annually, and two scholarships are available for the academic year starting in autumn 2027. It is open to citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who live outside Norway.
The application is different from the other two. You include a separate one-page letter addressed to the Foundation Board with your admission application. The criteria include grades, experience, ambitions and financial need, so this is the one where a financial-need argument belongs.
Side by side
| Scholarship | Grade requirement | What it covers | How to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master International | Minimum GPA 4.0 on the ECTS scale | Full tuition for up to two years (some candidates receive one year) | CV plus one-page letter as one PDF in the portal, by 1 March |
| Presidential | Minimum overall GPA of A on the ECTS scale, or equivalent top grade | Full tuition for up to two years plus NOK 50,000 per semester (international applicants) | Same application; international Presidential applicants are also considered for Master International |
| A. Wilhelmsen Foundation | Assessed on grades, experience, ambitions and financial need | NOK 250,000 annually; two awards for the academic year starting autumn 2027 | Separate one-page letter to the Foundation Board with the admission application |
You may apply for more than one scholarship, but BI awards only one per applicant. So there is no point gaming the system; put your effort into one strong file and let the committees sort it out.
The money bit nobody mentions
Even a full tuition scholarship does not pay for everything. The Norwegian government offers no individual scholarships to degree students, so what BI gives you is the main institutional support available from the school itself.
Living costs are separate. Our cost of living guide sets out what you need to budget for. If you are outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you must normally pay tuition fees at Norwegian institutions, and if you stay three months or longer you also need a residence permit for studies. That application goes to UDI, and UDI decides.
For the wider picture on what tuition looks like at Norwegian institutions, the tuition fees guide is the companion piece. Fees vary between institutions and programmes, and the figures in our catalogue are shown as listed in the Study in Norway register. Always confirm the current fee with the institution.
What to check before you press submit
- Confirm your GPA converts to the ECTS requirement BI states. If you are unsure, ask BI.
- Check you are not treated as a domestic applicant because of a Norwegian bachelor's or Lånekassen eligibility.
- Write the one-page letter for the scholarship you are actually chasing, and note the Wilhelmsen letter goes to the Foundation Board.
- Merge CV and letter into a single PDF and upload it in the portal, well before 1 March.
- Apply for admission early enough that you can accept the offer while the scholarship decision is still pending.
Rules, deadlines and amounts change. Check the current wording with BI itself, and use studyinnorway.no, udi.no and lanekassen.no for the national rules.
Sources
- BI, Master International Scholarship
- BI, Presidential Scholarship
- BI, A. Wilhelmsen Foundation Scholarship
- Study in Norway, education system
- Study in Norway, admission to degree programmes
- Study in Norway, tuition fees
- Study in Norway, cost and requirements
- Study in Norway, scholarships for degree students
- Samordna opptak, English home page
- This site's catalogue, imported from the Study in Norway register
Frequently asked questions
What GPA do you need for the BI Master International Scholarship?
You need a minimum overall GPA of 4.0 on the ECTS scale, international citizenship, and you must not be a resident of Norway. You also need admission to the first year of a full-time master's at BI's Oslo, Bergen or Trondheim campus.
When is the deadline for BI scholarships?
The deadline is 1 March, and you apply at the same time as admission by uploading your CV and a one-page scholarship letter as one PDF in the online portal. Email applications are not accepted, and all applicants hear back by the end of April.
Can I apply for more than one BI scholarship?
Yes, you may apply for more than one, but BI awards only one scholarship per applicant. International applicants for the Presidential Scholarship are also considered for the Master International Scholarship without a separate letter.
What do I need to do to keep a BI scholarship?
You must complete 30 ECTS in each semester and keep a cumulative GPA of at least a B on the BI ECTS scale. If you fall below either requirement, the award is at risk.