If you're an American planning a master's in Norway, a Fulbright grant can pay for your stay and exempt you from tuition fees at public universities. You need to be planning at least one full academic year of study, and you must not have already started your degree in Norway. The award covers all disciplines and can be used at any accredited Norwegian university.
What the Fulbright programme covers
Fulbright stipends are for master's or PhD study, research, or a year as an English Teaching Assistant in a Norwegian high school. The traditional Graduate Students Program is open in all disciplines and works at any accredited Norwegian university. The English Teaching Assistantship is a separate option with up to three awards, focused on strengthening English instruction and spreading knowledge about the United States in Norwegian schools.
One rule to note early: students who have already begun their studies at a Norwegian university are not eligible. You need to apply before you start.
Who can apply
- Your level: you should be planning master's or PhD-level study or research.
- Your length of stay: the grant requires a minimum of one academic year in Norway. A one-semester exchange won't qualify.
- Your timing: you must not have already started your studies at a Norwegian institution.
- Your field: all disciplines are eligible under the Graduate Students Program.
- English teaching: the English Teaching Assistantship is for those who want to work in Norwegian high schools, with up to three awards available.
You apply through the Fulbright commission in the United States, not through the Norwegian university. The institution decides on admission, and UDI decides on your study permit, Fulbright doesn't change that.
Fulbright and Norwegian tuition fees
Normally, degree-seeking students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland pay tuition fees at Norwegian institutions, and the fees vary by institution and programme. Fulbright changes that. Students studying in Norway through the Fulbright programme are exempt from tuition fees at public higher education institutions, and NTNU specifically lists Fulbright among the schemes whose students are exempt from its tuition fees.
So the grant doesn't just help with living costs, it can remove the tuition fee altogether at public institutions. You still need to cover your living expenses; the stipend is meant to help with that, but you should check the current amount with Fulbright. Our tuition fees guide explains how fees work for everyone else.
How Fulbright fits with other funding
The Norwegian government offers no individual scholarships to degree students, so external funding like Fulbright is often the main route for Americans. Study in Norway lists Fulbright first among its grants for U.S. citizens. You can also look at other scholarships in our scholarship directory, it includes awards such as the BI Master International Scholarship, the BI Presidential Scholarship, the NORSTIP scholarship at the University of Oslo, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships, the A. Wilhelmsen Foundation Scholarship at BI, and the Students at Risk (StAR) scholarship. Check each one's eligibility and deadline with the institution.
If you're comparing institutions, our list of all universities in Norway covers 27 Norwegian higher education institutions and 353 programmes imported from the Study in Norway register.
How to apply for a master's in Norway
Master's programmes are not part of the NUCAS coordinated admission service, so you apply directly through each institution's website. Here's a simple order that works:
- Check Fulbright deadlines first, the application cycle for the US side usually opens about a year before you plan to start. Confirm dates with the Fulbright commission.
- Choose your programmes, master's degrees take two years (120 ECTS) after a bachelor's degree, and a full-time year is generally worth 60 ECTS. Make sure the programme fits the one-year minimum.
- Apply to the institution, admission is handled by the institution, not Fulbright. You'll need to meet their entry requirements and document your funding.
- Apply for your study permit, if you're staying three months or longer, you need a residence permit for studies from UDI. Fulbright status doesn't replace this step.
- Confirm tuition treatment, fees are shown as listed in the Study in Norway register, but you should ask the institution directly to confirm that your Fulbright award qualifies for the exemption.
Keep in mind that bachelor's degrees take three years (180 ECTS) and doctoral degrees three or four years, so the timing of your Fulbright year matters if you're coming for a PhD.
What to check before you rely on a Fulbright
Stipend amounts, application deadlines and the exact terms change. The FACTS we have don't give a figure, so we won't invent one, ask the Fulbright commission for current stipend levels and the Norwegian institution for its tuition treatment. Also check the institution's page for your programme (application deadline, English language requirement, any extra documents) and UDI for the study permit process. Nothing here is immigration advice; UDI decides on permits and the institution decides on admission.
| What you need to know | Where to check |
|---|---|
| Fulbright stipend amounts and deadlines | The Fulbright commission |
| Tuition fee exemption for Fulbright students | The Norwegian institution |
| Programme admission requirements and deadlines | The institution's website |
| Study permit (residence permit for studies) | UDI (udi.no) |
| Other scholarships | Our scholarship directory |
Sources
- Study in Norway, Fulbright for US students
- Study in Norway, tuition fees
- NTNU, tuition fees
- Study in Norway, scholarships and exchange students
- Study in Norway, education system
- Study in Norway, admission to degree programmes
- Samordna opptak, English home
- Study in Norway, cost and requirements
- Study in Norway, scholarships for degree students
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Fulbright for a master's in Norway?
Yes. Fulbright stipends are available for master's and PhD degree-level studies or research in Norway. You need to be planning at least one academic year of study, and you must not have already started your studies at a Norwegian university.
Does Fulbright cover tuition fees in Norway?
Students studying in Norway through the Fulbright programme are exempt from tuition fees at public higher education institutions. NTNU also lists Fulbright among the schemes whose students are exempt from its tuition fees. Confirm the exemption with your institution when you apply.
How many English Teaching Assistantship awards does Fulbright offer in Norway?
Up to three Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship awards are offered. The programme aims to strengthen English language instruction and knowledge about the United States in Norwegian high schools.
I've already started my degree in Norway. Can I still apply for a Fulbright?
No. Students who have already begun their studies at a Norwegian university are not eligible. You need to apply before you start your programme in Norway.