You can start learning Norwegian for free before you leave home. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) runs NoW, a free online course, and the University of Oslo has a course on FutureLearn. If you want a classroom, the University of Oslo's International Summer School offers six-week intensive summer courses. But there's a catch: a place on a language course alone usually won't get you a residence permit.
Free online courses you can start now
NoW, from NTNU, is the obvious first stop. It's free and online, so you can work through it at your own pace. The University of Oslo's FutureLearn course is another free option. Neither requires you to be in Norway, which makes them a sensible way to test whether you enjoy the language before you commit to a degree taught in it.
These courses won't give you a formal qualification for admission on their own. For that, you need a test result. But they're a low-risk way to build vocabulary and get used to the grammar.
Intensive summer courses at the University of Oslo
The International Summer School at UiO runs six-week intensive Norwegian courses. They're a good bridge if you want to spend a summer in Norway and come out with much stronger language skills. You'll need to check the Summer School's own pages for dates, fees and how to apply. The Study in Norway register lists programmes, but summer school details change, so confirm with UiO directly.
One-year programmes in Norwegian or Scandinavian languages
If you want something longer, some institutions offer short or one-year programmes in Norwegian or Scandinavian languages. USN, UiT and Volda University College are examples. These are full study programmes, not just evening classes, so they can be a route to a qualification, and, in some cases, to a residence permit.
Volda University College lists a Norwegian language course (NIS) at NOK 84,000 per academic year for non-EU/EEA students in 2026/27, falling to NOK 70,000 in 2027/28. That's as listed in the Study in Norway register; confirm the fee with Volda before you apply. Note that students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland normally pay tuition fees at Norwegian institutions, and fees vary between institutions and programmes.
The residence permit problem
This is the part that trips people up. UDI generally does not grant residence permits for Norwegian language courses. There's an exception for courses that are part of a Norwegian or Nordic language study programme begun in your home country at university college or university level. So a standalone language course in Norway is usually not a visa route.
If you're outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland and want to study in Norway for three months or longer, you need a residence permit for studies. UDI decides on permits; the institution decides on admission. For degree programmes, you apply through the institution (or through NUCAS for Norwegian-taught bachelor's degrees). For a language course on its own, check with UDI before you pay any deposit.
Language tests and admission to Norwegian-taught degrees
If you want to study a degree taught in Norwegian, you'll need to document proficiency in a Nordic language. The standard route is the Norwegian Language Test A1 to B2 from the Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir). To use it for admission to a Norwegian-taught undergraduate programme, you need B2 or C1 in all four disciplines.
HK-dir runs these tests for people who are already in Norway. If you're outside Norway, you'll need to find an approved test centre or check whether the institution accepts other documentation. The requirement is set by the institution, so confirm with them.
Admission to bachelor's degrees taught in Norwegian goes through the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (NUCAS). English-taught bachelor's degrees use the institutions' own systems. Master's programmes are not part of NUCAS, so you apply through the institution's website.
How to fit language study around a degree
Most international students start with an English-taught degree and learn Norwegian alongside. This site lists 27 Norwegian higher education institutions and 353 programmes imported from the Study in Norway register, so you can find English-taught options first and then look for language support at the same institution.
For a wider picture of arriving and settling in, see the guide for international students. To find programmes taught in English, browse the programme search. And to compare institutions, look through all universities in Norway.
Remember that bachelor's degrees take three years (180 ECTS) and master's degrees two years (120 ECTS) after a bachelor's. A full-time year is generally 60 ECTS. That's plenty of time to reach B2 if you keep at it.
What it costs and what to check
NoW and the FutureLearn course are free. The UiO summer school and the Volda one-year programme charge fees, check the institution's page for the current amount. The Norwegian government offers no individual scholarships to degree students, so budget for tuition if you're from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland are normally exempt from tuition fees at public institutions.
Application deadlines, fees and programme details on this site are shown as listed in the Study in Norway register. Always confirm them with the institution before you apply.
Sources
- Study in Norway, admission to degree programmes
- Volda University College, tuition fees
- Samordna opptak, language requirements
- UDI, FAQ on study permits
- Study in Norway, cost and requirements
- Study in Norway, education system
- Samordna opptak, English home page
- Study in Norway, tuition fees
- Study in Norway, scholarships for degree students
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Norwegian course for international students?
Yes. NTNU offers NoW, a free online Norwegian course, and the University of Oslo has a course on FutureLearn. Both are free and can be done from anywhere.
Can I get a student visa for a Norwegian language course?
UDI generally does not grant residence permits for Norwegian language courses. There's an exception for courses that are part of a Norwegian or Nordic language study programme begun in your home country at university college or university level.
What Norwegian language test do I need for university admission?
For Norwegian-taught undergraduate programmes, you need the Norwegian Language Test A1 to B2 from HK-dir with B2 or C1 in all four disciplines. The test is run for people already in Norway, so check with your institution about alternatives.
How much does a one-year Norwegian language programme cost?
Volda University College lists its Norwegian language course (NIS) at NOK 84,000 per academic year for non-EU/EEA students in 2026/27, falling to NOK 70,000 in 2027/28. Confirm the fee with the institution.