You probably can't get Lånekassen support as an international student, unless you have a permanent residence permit or another specific residence right. The main exception is the work route: 24 months of continuous full-time employment in Norway right before you start studying. If you're a fee-paying student from outside the EU/EEA, plan to fund your studies yourself.
Who Lånekassen supports
Lånekassen is Norway's state student support body. To qualify, you usually need to be a Norwegian citizen. Foreign citizens can get support if they meet certain conditions. The most straightforward is a permanent residence permit in Norway. Lånekassen checks with UDI for the information it needs.
Other routes in the current rules include:
- A residence right for compelling humanitarian reasons
- Marriage to a Norwegian citizen
- Being a family member of an EEA citizen
- Family immigration
- Protection (asylum)
Citizens of the United Kingdom who arrived in Norway on 1 January 2021 or later must meet the same conditions as citizens from outside the EU/EEA.
If you're on a standard study permit, none of these routes apply to you. Your study permit doesn't make you eligible for Lånekassen support.
The work route: 24 months of full-time work
This is the main path for many non-EU/EEA students who want support. You need at least 24 months of continuous full-time employment in Norway immediately before you start studying. You must have held a residence permit as an employee. You must have paid tax to Norway. Au-pair work doesn't count.
“Continuous” means no significant breaks. If you're thinking about this route, keep your employment records and tax documents. Lånekassen will check. This isn't legal or immigration advice, Lånekassen makes the decision on support, and UDI decides on permits. Check the exact wording on lanekassen.no and udi.no before you rely on it.
The study route: three years of study in Norway
If you've already studied in Norway for at least three years continuously, amounting to 180 credits, you may qualify. You must not have received loans or grants from Lånekassen or comparable schemes during that study.
This route suits students who completed a bachelor's degree in Norway without support and now want funding for a master's. A bachelor's degree is 180 ECTS, so three years of full-time study fits the requirement. You'd apply for support for a master's, which is 120 ECTS over two years. Check with Lånekassen that your specific study counts.
What you can get if you qualify
Programmes at all universities and approved university colleges in Norway entitle you to support for 480 credits. That covers a bachelor's plus a master's, or a longer programme.
Basic support is a loan. Up to 40 per cent of it may be converted to a grant if you live away from your parents, complete your programme, and have income and assets below the limits. The income limit for a full grant is NOK 234,821 for 2026. The limit applies to the calendar year, not the academic year. If you earn more than that in a calendar year, you may lose part of the grant.
How and when to apply
You must have received admission before you apply. You can apply no earlier than mid-May. The final deadlines are 15 November for the whole year or the autumn semester, and 15 March for the spring semester.
Lånekassen's application process is separate from admission. Admission to bachelor's degrees in English is handled by the institutions' own systems. Bachelor's degrees in Norwegian go through NUCAS. Postgraduate programmes are not part of NUCAS, so master's applicants apply through the institutions' websites. Once you have an offer, you can start your Lånekassen application.
The tuition fee link
If you qualify for Lånekassen support on the same terms as Norwegian citizens, you are also exempt from tuition fees at public institutions. That's a big saving. Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland normally pay tuition fees at Norwegian institutions, and the fees vary. EU/EEA and Swiss students are normally exempt from tuition fees at public institutions. Read our tuition fees guide for the full picture.
Lånekassen support doesn't cover the tuition fees that non-EU/EEA students pay. The loan and grant are for living costs. You'll need to budget separately for fees. Our cost of living guide can help you estimate what you'll need each month.
What international students should do instead
Most international students won't qualify for Lånekassen. The Norwegian government offers no individual scholarships to degree students. You'll need to fund your studies through savings, family support, or scholarships from your home country or other organisations.
You can still apply to study in Norway. Our catalogue lists 27 Norwegian higher education institutions and 353 programmes imported from the Study in Norway register (studyinnorway.no). Browse all universities in Norway to see what's available. Confirm fees and deadlines with each institution. The figures on this site are as listed in the Study in Norway register as of our current update. For the latest rules on Lånekassen eligibility, check lanekassen.no, udi.no, hkdir.no and studyinnorway.no. Also remember: if you're from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland and plan to stay three months or longer, you'll need a residence permit for studies. UDI decides on that.
Sources
- Lånekassen, foreign nationals
- Lånekassen, university in Norway
- Study in Norway, tuition fees
- 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
- This site's catalogue, imported from the Study in Norway register
Frequently asked questions
Can international students get a Lånekassen loan or grant?
Only if you meet specific conditions. The main routes are a permanent residence permit, marriage to a Norwegian citizen, family immigration, being a family member of an EEA citizen, humanitarian reasons, or protection. Most international students on a study permit do not qualify.
How long do I need to work in Norway to qualify for Lånekassen?
At least 24 months of continuous full-time employment in Norway immediately before you start studying. You must have held a residence permit as an employee and paid tax to Norway. Au-pair work does not count.
Can I get Lånekassen support for a master's after studying in Norway?
Possibly, if you have completed at least three years of continuous study in Norway totalling 180 credits without receiving Lånekassen loans or grants or comparable support. You would then apply for support for your master's programme.
What is the income limit for the Lånekassen grant?
The income limit for a full grant is NOK 234,821 for 2026, and it applies to the calendar year rather than the academic year. Up to 40 per cent of the basic loan can be converted to a grant if you live away from your parents, complete your programme and stay under the income and asset limits.