In Bergen, Sammen guarantees housing for first-time international students who apply by 15 May for autumn or 1 November for spring. In Oslo, SiO gives priority to the youngest new students and some international students with institution housing guarantees, but only if you apply by 1 June or 1 November. Most student housing in Norway comes through the student welfare organisations, and the rules differ by city.
What the Samskipnad is and why it matters
There are 14 student welfare organisations (Samskipnad in Norwegian) covering most of the large student cities. They provide housing, childcare, health services and on-campus food. Housing through the Samskipnad is normally secure and more reasonably priced than competing for a room on the open market, but it is subject to competition, especially in the bigger cities.
The organisations have different names: SiO in Oslo, Sammen in Western Norway around Bergen, and Samskipnaden in Tromsø and other northern towns. To see which one covers your city, check with your institution. You can also browse the student accommodation guide for an overview.
SiO in Oslo: rules and deadlines
SiO has student housing across Oslo and Lillestrøm. To live in SiO housing you must be enrolled at a SiO-affiliated institution, pay the semester fee and be 34 years old or younger. You can apply for up to 6 housing units.
SiO gives priority for move-in on 1 August and 2 January to the youngest new students and some international students with institution housing guarantees. Those priority applicants must apply by 1 June or 1 November respectively. If your educational institution has reserved housing for you, SiO tells you to follow your institution's instructions instead of its general application process.
One warning: SiO says declining an offer or not signing within the deadline means losing your place on the waiting list.
Sammen in Bergen: guarantee and priority
Sammen, the student welfare organisation for Western Norway, has more than 5000 student residences and lets you apply all year round. It also guarantees housing for first-time international students in Bergen who are exchange students, self-financed degree students or in collaboration programmes of at least one semester, if you apply by 15 May for autumn or 1 November for spring.
Students at institutions that are not affiliated with Sammen, and PhD students who do not pay the semester fee, can apply but have lower priority. They pay a higher rent and can stay only until 31 July.
Samskipnaden in Tromsø and the north
Samskipnaden offers housing in Tromsø and other northern towns. You can apply all year round. It requires no deposit, and the rent includes electricity and internet.
How to apply and what to prepare
Start by checking which welfare organisation covers your institution. Then look at the application requirements.
- Check if your institution has a reserved housing arrangement. If it does, follow their instructions, not the general welfare organisation process.
- Note the deadlines. For SiO, the priority deadlines are 1 June (autumn) and 1 November (spring). For Sammen's guarantee, the deadlines are 15 May (autumn) and 1 November (spring).
- Make sure you meet the basic conditions: enrolment at an affiliated institution, semester fee paid, and any age limit (SiO: 34 or younger).
- Apply for several units if allowed. SiO lets you apply for up to 6.
- For your study permit, you must show that you have somewhere to live. If your institution organises accommodation, it is enough that it says so in your letter of admission. Check the cost of living guide for broader budgeting, and confirm permit details with udi.no.
You can search for your institution in our list of all universities in Norway and then check the institution's own housing pages. Fees and rules change, so always confirm with the institution or the relevant Samskipnad. For a broader picture, see our student accommodation guide and the cost of living guide.
Comparing the main options
Here is a summary of the facts we have for the three organisations named above. Not all details are available for every city, so check with each organisation for the full picture.
| Organisation | City/region | Application period | Priority/guarantee | Other conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SiO | Oslo and Lillestrøm | Not specified in our facts; check with SiO | Priority for 1 Aug / 2 Jan move-in for youngest new students and some international students with institution guarantees who apply by 1 June / 1 November | Must be enrolled at a SiO-affiliated institution, pay semester fee, be 34 or younger; can apply for up to 6 units; declining an offer loses waiting list place |
| Sammen | Western Norway (Bergen) | All year round | Guarantee for first-time international students in Bergen (exchange, self-financed degree, or collaboration programmes of at least one semester) who apply by 15 May / 1 November | Non-affiliated and PhD students without semester fee: lower priority, higher rent, stay until 31 July only |
| Samskipnaden | Tromsø and other northern towns | All year round | Not specified in our facts; check with Samskipnaden | No deposit; electricity and internet included in rent |
Remember that tuition fees and other costs are separate. 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. Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who wish to study in Norway for three months or longer must apply for a residence permit for studies, also called a study permit. The Norwegian government offers no individual scholarships to degree students.
Our site lists 27 Norwegian higher education institutions and 353 programmes imported from the Study in Norway register (studyinnorway.no). Bachelor's degrees take three years (180 ECTS) and master's degrees two years (120 ECTS) after a bachelor's degree. Admission to bachelor's degrees taught in English is done through the institutions' own systems, while admission to bachelor's degrees taught in Norwegian goes through NUCAS. Postgraduate programmes are not part of the NUCAS coordinated application service, so master's applicants apply through the websites of the institutions.
Housing is only one part of the picture. Check the cost of living guide for other expenses, and use the student accommodation guide for more details on housing options.
Sources
- Study in Norway, student welfare organisations
- Study in Norway, cost and requirements
- SiO, housing
- SiO, how to apply
- Sammen, housing
- Sammen, housing guarantee
- Sammen, housing priority
- Samskipnaden, housing
- UDI, checklist for student
- Study in Norway, education system
- Study in Norway, admission degree programmes
- Samordna opptak, English home
- Study in Norway, tuition fees
- Study in Norway, scholarships degree students
- This site's catalogue, imported from the Study in Norway register
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for student housing in Norway?
You apply through the student welfare organisation (Samskipnad) for your city. In Oslo, SiO requires you to be enrolled at a SiO-affiliated institution, pay the semester fee and be 34 or younger. In Bergen, Sammen lets you apply all year round and guarantees housing for first-time international students who apply by 15 May or 1 November. Samskipnaden in Tromsø also takes applications all year round.
What is the deadline for student housing in Oslo?
For SiO's priority for move-in on 1 August and 2 January, you must apply by 1 June or 1 November respectively. This priority goes to the youngest new students and some international students with institution housing guarantees. If you decline an offer or do not sign within the deadline, you lose your place on the waiting list.
Does Sammen guarantee housing for international students?
Yes, Sammen guarantees housing for first-time international students in Bergen who are exchange students, self-financed degree students or in collaboration programmes of at least one semester, if you apply by 15 May for autumn or 1 November for spring.
Can I get student housing if I am over 34?
SiO's age limit is 34 or younger, so you cannot live in SiO housing if you are older. Other organisations may have different rules. Check with the Samskipnad for your city. Sammen, for example, does not mention an age limit in the facts we have, but priority rules apply to some groups.