You need to show NOK 15,488 per month, which comes to NOK 170,368 for a full academic year, as of the UDI rules on the study permit page. That money has to be documented for the whole period you are applying for, not just your first few weeks in Norway. If you are staying for one semester only, the numbers change, and we will get to those below.
What the funds requirement actually covers
The figure is meant to cover your living costs. It is separate from tuition, and that distinction trips people up. If you pay tuition fees, UDI's student checklist says you must either have enough money to cover the fees on top of the living amount, or document that you have already paid them. If you have paid for one semester only, you must show you can cover the second.
If you are exempt from tuition fees, the exemption has to be confirmed by your educational institution. EU/EEA and Swiss students are normally exempt from tuition fees at public institutions, but the confirmation still matters for your file. Budgeting beyond the minimum? Our cost of living guide breaks down where the money goes.
The exact amounts, by length of stay
UDI sets two schedules: one for a full academic year, one for a single semester. Both come from UDI's study permit page, and UDI adjusts the annual figure each year, so always check the current number before you transfer anything.
| Period you are applying for | Amount to document |
|---|---|
| Full academic year | NOK 15,488 per month, or NOK 170,368 per year |
| Autumn semester only | NOK 77,440 |
| Spring semester only | NOK 92,928 |
The spring semester costs more to document because it is longer. Plan the transfer around your actual start date rather than a rough guess.
Ways you can prove the money
You do not have to have the cash sitting in your own account. UDI's checklist accepts several forms of documentation, and you can combine them:
- A statement of support from Lånekassen or another grant provider
- A work contract for part-time work in Norway that you have already been offered
- A bank statement from a Norwegian bank
- A statement from your institution confirming a deposit in an account it opened for this purpose
Student loans, grants, your own funds in a Norwegian bank account, the institution's deposit account, or a mix of these all count. Income from a part-time job you have already been offered in Norway can be included too. Ask the institution which combination it prefers before you start moving money around, because it handles the admission side and UDI decides the permit.
Deposit accounts and how the money comes back
Several institutions run a deposit arrangement so the money does not have to sit in a Norwegian account you cannot open yet. NHH points to Sammen, the student welfare organisation in Bergen, which has set up a deposit account in a Norwegian bank for incoming international students. The deposit is returned after you arrive, once you have a Norwegian bank account.
UiT goes further: it treats proof of financial ability as a formal admission requirement for non-EU/EEA applicants, and self-funded students transfer the required funds to a student deposit account before they apply for a study permit. So at UiT the money question comes before the permit application, not after. Check your own institution's order of steps early, since it changes your timeline.
UiO, for its part, says it asks admitted applicants to document living expenses of NOK 170,368 for the 2026/2027 academic year, in addition to tuition fees. That is consistent with the UDI annual figure, but it confirms the amount is checked twice: once by the institution and once by UDI.
Tuition fees sit on top
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. No single figure applies across the country. The amounts shown on this site are as listed in the Study in Norway register, so confirm them with the institution before you budget.
Remember that the Norwegian government offers no individual scholarships to degree students. If you are counting on funding to reach the threshold, look at loans, grants from home, or part-time work in Norway. Our proof of funds guide walks through the documentation in more detail.
Renewals and the one-semester trap
The requirement comes back every time you renew your study permit, at the same amounts: NOK 15,488 per month or NOK 170,368 per year. Do not spend the whole buffer in the first term and assume the renewal sorts itself out. Keep the paperwork from your first application, because you will need the same evidence again.
If you are choosing a shorter programme, compare the two-semester schedule carefully. A master's degree takes two years (120 ECTS) after a bachelor's, and a bachelor's takes three years (180 ECTS), with a full-time year generally worth 60 ECTS. Longer study means the funds test repeats, so plan for the cumulative total, not just year one.
Where the permit fits in
Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland staying three months or longer must apply for a residence permit for studies, also called a study permit. Admission comes first. Bachelor's degrees taught in English are handled through the institutions' own systems, bachelor's degrees taught in Norwegian go through NUCAS, and postgraduate programmes are not part of the NUCAS coordinated application service, so master's applicants apply through the institution's website.
That means you choose a programme, get admitted, sort out proof of funds, then apply for the permit. Browse all universities in Norway and our listed 353 programmes across 27 institutions to see what is open to you, then read the residence permit guide before you apply. For anything the institution does not answer, udi.no is the authority and hkdir.no covers housing and student welfare.
Sources
- UDI, study permit page
- UDI, student checklist
- UDI, renew a study permit
- UiO, tuition information
- NHH, financial matters for international students
- UiT, admission information
- 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
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to show for a Norway student visa?
UDI requires NOK 15,488 per month, or NOK 170,368 for a full academic year. If you are applying for one semester only, it is NOK 77,440 for the autumn semester and NOK 92,928 for the spring semester. UDI adjusts the annual amount, so check the current figure before you transfer anything.
Can I use a Norwegian bank account or a deposit account to prove the funds?
Yes. UDI accepts a bank statement from a Norwegian bank, or a statement from your institution confirming a deposit in an account it opened for that purpose. NHH, for example, points to a deposit account set up by Sammen in Bergen, and the deposit is returned after arrival once you have a Norwegian bank account.
Do I need the money on top of tuition fees?
If you pay tuition fees, you must either have enough to cover them in addition to the living amount, or document that you have already paid. If you paid for one semester only, you must show you can cover the second. If you are exempt, your institution must confirm the exemption.
Do I have to prove the funds again when I renew my permit?
Yes. UDI's renewal page sets the same amounts as a first application: NOK 15,488 per month or NOK 170,368 per year. Keep your first application paperwork, because you will need the same kind of documentation again.