If you hold an EU/EEA or Swiss passport, you normally pay no tuition at public universities in Norway. At private institutions, you often do, even though you are an EU/EEA student. The gap between public and private is the single biggest factor in what you will pay.
Public institutions: EU/EEA students are normally exempt
Students from Norway, Switzerland and EU/EEA countries are exempt from paying tuition fees at public higher education institutions. That is the general rule, as set out in the Study in Norway register. It applies to public universities and university colleges across the sector.
Take NHH. It is publicly funded, and the institution states that students with a passport from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland are therefore exempt from paying tuition fees there. That is the pattern at public institutions: your nationality, not your programme, decides the fee.
Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland are in a different position. UiO says that students with citizenship from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must pay tuition fees unless they qualify for an exemption. Study in Norway adds that these fees vary between institutions and study programmes. If you are a non-EU/EEA student, always check the exact figure with the institution before you apply, our tuition fees guide explains how to read fee information.
Private institutions: fees apply to almost everyone
Private institutions set their own fees. BI Norwegian Business School is a private institution and a self-owned, not-for-profit foundation. For its standard master's programmes, BI lists the same tuition for 2026, 27 for domestic students and for EU/EEA/Swiss students: NOK 128,200 per year. For students from outside those areas, the figure is NOK 166,700.
That is the key contrast. At a public institution, an EU/EEA student is normally exempt. At a private institution, an EU/EEA student pays the domestic rate, and a non-EU/EEA student pays more. You can compare this across the sector using our list of all universities in Norway.
The sector is not split neatly into two. Study in Norway describes a sector that includes both public and private universities, specialised universities, universities of applied sciences and university colleges. Always check the status of the specific institution you are considering.
| Student group | Public institutions | Private institutions (BI example) |
|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA and Swiss | Normally exempt from tuition fees | NOK 128,200 per year (standard master's, 2026, 27) |
| Outside EU/EEA and Switzerland | Must normally pay tuition unless exempt | NOK 166,700 per year (standard master's, 2026, 27) |
Fees as listed in the Study in Norway register and by BI for 2026, 27. Confirm with the institution.
Scholarships are scarce, and they differ by institution
Do not assume you can scholarship your way out of a private fee. The Norwegian government offers no individual scholarships to degree students. At public institutions, support is limited too: UiO says it does not offer any scholarships that cover tuition fees, and NHH says that as a publicly financed institution it does not offer scholarships or other forms of financial support to students.
Private institutions can be different. BI offers a Master International Scholarship that covers full tuition for up to two years for international master's applicants with strong academic records. If you are set on a private business school, that kind of award is worth checking early, but it is competitive and not guaranteed.
How you apply depends on the institution and the level
Admission routes vary. NUCAS coordinates admission to undergraduate programmes at all universities, state university colleges and some private university colleges. But admission to bachelor's degrees taught in English is done through the institutions' own systems, while bachelor's degrees taught in Norwegian go through NUCAS.
Postgraduate programmes are not part of the NUCAS coordinated application service, so master's applicants apply through the websites of the institutions. BI's admissions process is not handled by Samordna opptak either, and BI lists its own priority deadlines and offers rolling admission after them. You can browse options in our English-taught programmes directory.
What to check before you decide
- Institution status: public or private? That single fact changes your fee.
- Your nationality: EU/EEA/Swiss or outside? Public institutions treat the two groups differently.
- The exact fee: fees vary by institution and programme. Request the current figure from the admissions office.
- Scholarships: never assume they exist. Check the institution's own pages.
- Residence permit: students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who study in Norway for three months or longer must apply for a residence permit for studies. UDI decides on permits; the institution decides on admission.
This site currently lists 27 Norwegian higher education institutions and 353 programmes imported from the Study in Norway register. Use those listings as a starting point, then confirm fees, deadlines and programme details directly with the institution.
A bachelor's degree takes three years (180 ECTS) and a master's takes two years (120 ECTS) after a bachelor's. A full-time year is generally worth 60 ECTS. That matters for budgeting: a private master's fee is charged per year, so multiply by two for the full degree.
Sources
- Study in Norway, cost and requirements
- NHH, financial matters
- BI Norwegian Business School, how to apply
- BI Norwegian Business School, tuition for master's programmes
- BI Norwegian Business School, Master International Scholarship
- Samordna opptak, English home page
- Study in Norway, why Norway
- University of Oslo, tuition
- Study in Norway, education system
- Study in Norway, admission to degree programmes
- Study in Norway, tuition fees
- Study in Norway, scholarships for degree students
- This site's catalogue, imported from the Study in Norway register
Frequently asked questions
Do EU students pay tuition fees at public universities in Norway?
Normally no. Students from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland are exempt from paying tuition fees at public higher education institutions. For example, NHH states that EU/EEA and Swiss passport holders are exempt because it is publicly funded. Always confirm the rule with the specific institution.
Do EU students pay tuition at private institutions like BI?
Yes, but at the domestic rate. BI lists the same 2026, 27 tuition of NOK 128,200 per year for domestic students and for EU/EEA/Swiss students in standard master's programmes. Students from outside those areas pay NOK 166,700. Confirm current fees with BI before applying.
Are there scholarships for international students in Norway?
The Norwegian government offers no individual scholarships to degree students. Public institutions such as UiO and NHH say they do not offer scholarships that cover tuition or provide financial support. Some private institutions do: BI offers a Master International Scholarship covering full tuition for up to two years for strong international master's applicants.
How do I apply to a Norwegian university as an international student?
It depends on the level and language. Bachelor's degrees taught in English use the institutions' own systems, while those taught in Norwegian go through NUCAS. Master's programmes are not part of NUCAS, so you apply through each institution's website. BI handles its own admissions with its own deadlines.