No government scholarships for degree students
If you are looking for a Norwegian government scholarship to fund your degree, you will not find one. The Norwegian government offers no individual scholarships to degree students. That is the blunt truth. A few other schemes do offer scholarships for degree students, but they are limited. In most cases, you will have to find other ways to finance your studies in Norway. This guide explains what actually exists and what does not.
What does exist for degree students
Some scholarships for degree students come from institutions, foundations, and international programmes. You can browse the full list in our scholarship directory. Examples include the BI Master International Scholarship, the BI Presidential Scholarship, the NORSTIP scholarship at the University of Oslo, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships, the A. Wilhelmsen Foundation Scholarship at BI, and the Students at Risk (StAR) scholarship. These are specific and often competitive. You need to check each one's eligibility and deadline directly with the provider.
Institutional scholarships
BI Norwegian Business School, for instance, offers scholarships to admitted full-time master's students. They are awarded on academic merit rather than financial need. The application deadline is 1 March. That is one concrete example, but other institutions may have their own schemes. Check the institution's website for details, and remember that admission and scholarship decisions are made by the institution, not by any central authority.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
Norwegian institutions currently take part in 16 Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters programmes. Master's students from all over the world can apply through the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue. These programmes include scholarships that cover tuition and living costs. They are highly competitive. If you are interested, you apply directly to the programme consortium, not to a Norwegian institution alone.
What does not exist: exchange student scholarships from Norway
The Norwegian government offers no individual scholarships to exchange students either. However, if you are an exchange student, you may be able to get an Erasmus+ grant or a Nordplus Higher Education grant through your home institution. These are not Norwegian government scholarships; they are available via your home university. So if you are coming to Norway as an exchange student, talk to your international office at home first.
Country-specific schemes
Some scholarships are tied to your nationality. Study in Norway lists the Fulbright programme, the American-Scandinavian Foundation, NORAM, the Sons of Norway Foundation and Lakselaget as grants for U.S. citizens. For Canadians, there are scholarships listed. For UK citizens, the Anglo-Norse Society offers support. These are not Norwegian government schemes, but they can help. You need to apply through the respective organisations.
Tuition fees and exemptions
Degree-seeking students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must normally pay tuition fees at Norwegian institutions. The fees vary between institutions and study programmes. Our tuition fees guide explains more. However, some students are normally exempt from tuition fees at public institutions. This includes students who come to Norway through Fulbright, Erasmus Mundus, NORPART, NORHED or Students at Risk (StAR), as well as exchange students and doctoral candidates. EU/EEA and Swiss students are normally exempt from tuition fees at public institutions. So even without a scholarship, you may not pay tuition. But you still need to cover living costs.
Other ways to finance your studies
Since government scholarships are not available, you need to plan your finances carefully. Here are some options:
- Save up before you come. Many students work or take a gap year to save.
- Look for scholarships from your home country or international foundations. Our scholarship directory lists some, but there are others.
- Consider a part-time job. But check the rules for your residence permit; UDI decides on study permits and work rights.
- Apply for the Erasmus+ master's degree loans if you are eligible. Only master's students from Spain, Italy (Emilia Romagna region), Croatia or Romania can apply. These are EU-guaranteed loans with favourable pay-back terms.
Remember that you must apply for a residence permit for studies if you are from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland and plan to stay for three months or longer. Check udi.no for the current rules and fees.
How to apply for programmes
Admission to bachelor's degrees taught in English is done through the institutions' own systems. For bachelor's degrees taught in Norwegian, you apply through the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (NUCAS). Postgraduate programmes are not part of NUCAS, so master's applicants apply through the websites of the institutions. You can find all the institutions in our list of all universities in Norway. We list 27 Norwegian higher education institutions and 353 programmes imported from the Study in Norway register. That gives you a starting point, but always confirm details with the institution.
Fees and deadlines: always check
Tuition fees, application deadlines and programme details on this site are shown as listed in the Study in Norway register. You must confirm them with the institution. That is crucial because fees and deadlines change. For scholarships, each provider sets its own deadline. For example, the BI scholarship deadline is 1 March, but others may be different. Do not assume.
Sources
- Study in Norway, scholarships for degree students
- Study in Norway, cost and requirements
- Study in Norway, scholarships for exchange students
- BI Norwegian Business School, master's international scholarship
- Study in Norway, tuition fees
- Study in Norway, education system
- Study in Norway, admission to degree programmes
- NUCAS, English home page
- This site's catalogue, imported from the Study in Norway register
Frequently asked questions
Does the Norwegian government offer scholarships for international students?
No, the Norwegian government offers no individual scholarships to degree students. A few other schemes and foundations offer scholarships to degree students and exchange students, but you will most likely need to find other ways to finance your studies.
What scholarships can international students get in Norway?
Some options include institutional scholarships like the BI Master International Scholarship and the NORSTIP scholarship at the University of Oslo, as well as Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships. There are also country-specific schemes such as Fulbright for U.S. citizens. Each has its own eligibility rules and deadlines.
Are international students exempt from tuition fees in Norway?
EU/EEA and Swiss students are normally exempt from tuition fees at public institutions. Students who come through Fulbright, Erasmus Mundus, NORPART, NORHED or Students at Risk (StAR), exchange students and doctoral candidates are also normally exempt. Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who do not fall into these groups must normally pay tuition fees.
Can I get a scholarship to cover living costs in Norway?
Most scholarships are limited and may not cover all living costs. You should plan to cover living expenses through savings, part-time work (if your permit allows), or other funding. The Norwegian government does not provide individual scholarships for living costs.