What GSU actually means
The general basis for admission to universities and university colleges in Norway is called the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, or GSU. If you were educated outside Norway, the exact requirements for your country are written down in the GSU list. That list is what Norwegian admissions officers actually use, so it is the first thing to check. The GSU list was last updated on 15 March 2023, and Armenia, Cambodia and Laos were revised in December 2025, so check that you are looking at the current version.
Samordna opptak, the national admission service, tells applicants with foreign education to start by checking which education gives general study competence in Norway, by choosing their country in the country list. In practice, that country page is your answer.
Two requirements, not one
The GSU list sets out an education requirement and language proficiency requirements in English and Norwegian. You need to meet all of them. The education requirement is about your school and any university study; the language requirements are separate and are not waived because your degree was taught in English unless the institution says so.
The list gives requirements for each individual country as well as for certain international qualifications, so your country page may look different from your friend's. Don't assume that because someone from a neighbouring country got in with a school certificate, you will too.
Does your school certificate qualify on its own?
It depends entirely on your country. For some countries it is enough to have completed primary and secondary education. For other countries you need one to two years of higher education from your home country after upper secondary education. Where higher education is required, it must be a recognised programme from a recognised institution of higher education in the country of origin.
That second point trips people up. A short course or a diploma from an institution that is not recognised as higher education in your own country will not count, even if it took two years. Check both the programme and the institution.
If you are still choosing where to apply, our guide for international students walks through the whole path from certificate to arrival.
Who uses the GSU list
NUCAS and Norwegian universities and university colleges use the GSU list in the admission process. The Directorate for Higher Education and Skills also uses it when assessing applications for general recognition of foreign education. The use of the list is binding for admission to first-cycle studies and guiding for second- and third-cycle studies.
That word "guiding" matters for master's applicants. Master's programmes set their own admission requirements, and postgraduate programmes are not part of the NUCAS coordinated application service, so master's applicants apply through the websites of the institutions. Bachelor's degrees taught in English are also handled through the institutions' own systems, while bachelor's degrees taught in Norwegian go through NUCAS.
If you want to see what is on offer before you chase paperwork, you can find English-taught programmes in our catalogue, which lists 353 programmes from 27 institutions, imported from the Study in Norway register.
Specific requirements on top
For some study programmes there are specific admission requirements in addition to the general requirements. GSU gets you into the general competition; it does not guarantee a place on a programme with extra requirements in maths, science or a portfolio. Read the programme page, not just the country page.
Where more qualified applicants than places compete for a programme, applicants are ranked on points, and the points calculation for each country is shown on the country page at Samordna opptak. So even if you qualify, your points decide whether you get in.
Practical steps
- Go to the country list at Samordna opptak and find your country.
- Note whether you need only upper secondary education or one to two years of higher education.
- Check the English and Norwegian language requirements for your country.
- Check the specific requirements on each programme page you are considering.
- Confirm the GSU list's current wording with the institution before you apply.
Bachelor's degrees take three years (180 ECTS), master's degrees two years (120 ECTS) after a bachelor's, and a year of full-time study is generally worth 60 ECTS. That helps you work out whether your home-country study matches the one to two years the list may ask for.
What GSU does not cover
GSU is about admission, not money or immigration. Degree-seeking students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must normally pay tuition fees at Norwegian institutions, and the fees vary between institutions and study programmes. The Norwegian government offers no individual scholarships to degree students. Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who wish to study in Norway for three months or longer must apply for a residence permit for studies. The institution decides on admission; UDI decides on study permits.
If you are comparing institutions, our list of all universities in Norway is a good starting point, but always confirm fees, deadlines and programme details with the institution, as they are shown here only as listed in the Study in Norway register.
| Question | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Does my school certificate qualify? | GSU list, country page (hkdir.no) |
| How are points calculated? | Your country page at Samordna opptak |
| What does this programme require? | The institution's programme page |
| Do I need a visa? | udi.no |
| Can I get a loan or grant? | lanekassen.no |
Sources
- HK-dir, the GSU list (hkdir.no)
- Samordna opptak, application process for foreign education
- Samordna opptak, English home page
- 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
- This site's catalogue, imported from the Study in Norway register
Frequently asked questions
What is the GSU list in Norway?
The GSU list sets out the Higher Education Entrance Qualification for applicants with foreign education. It gives the education requirement and the English and Norwegian language requirements for each country, and it is used by NUCAS and Norwegian universities and university colleges.
Is upper secondary school enough to study in Norway?
For some countries it is enough to have completed primary and secondary education. For other countries you need one to two years of higher education from your home country after upper secondary education, from a recognised programme at a recognised institution. Check your country page.
Where do I find the requirements for my country?
Samordna opptak tells applicants with foreign education to choose their country in the country list to see which education gives general study competence. The GSU list at hkdir.no gives the same requirements, and the points calculation for each country is on the Samordna opptak country page.
Is the GSU list binding for master's programmes?
Its use is binding for admission to first-cycle studies and guiding for second- and third-cycle studies. Postgraduate programmes are not part of the NUCAS coordinated application service, so master's applicants apply through the institutions' own websites.