Bergen has four institutions in our catalogue: the University of Bergen, NHH Norwegian School of Economics, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and NLA University College. If you are an international student, the housing guarantee from Sammen is probably the most useful thing to know first: apply between 1 April and 15 May for the autumn semester and you are guaranteed a place. The city had a population of 294,860 on 1 January 2026, so it is a proper city, but the student housing system is one of the more organised ones you will find.
Which institutions can you apply to in Bergen?
Our catalogue lists 27 Norwegian higher education institutions and 353 programmes imported from the Study in Norway register. Four of those institutions are in Bergen:
- University of Bergen, a state university with more than 20,000 students, working in the city since 1946, with a campus in the city centre.
- NHH Norwegian School of Economics, a specialised university.
- Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, a university college.
- NLA University College, a private institution.
You can see the full list on our page for universities in Bergen. If you want to compare with the rest of the country, look at all universities in Norway.
What does it cost?
The rule for tuition depends on your passport. Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland normally pay tuition fees at Norwegian institutions, and the fees vary between institutions and programmes. EU/EEA and Swiss students are normally exempt from tuition fees at public institutions.
At NHH, for example, the cohort starting in 2026/2027 from outside those areas pays NOK 142,000 per year for the bachelor's programme and NOK 204,000 per year for the master's programme. That figure is as listed in the Study in Norway register, so confirm it with NHH before you budget.
On top of tuition, NHH students pay a semester registration fee of approximately NOK 910 per semester to Sammen, due by 1 September in the autumn and by 1 February in the spring. Other institutions set their own fees, so check with the one you are applying to.
BI Norwegian Business School offers a Master International Scholarship for Bergen that covers full tuition fees for up to two years for admitted full-time master's students at campus Bergen with a strong academic record. That is one specific scholarship at one institution, but it shows that money can be found. The Norwegian government itself offers no individual scholarships to degree students, so you should look at what each institution offers directly.
For the day-to-day costs, see our cost of living guide.
How do you find student housing in Bergen?
Sammen is the student welfare organisation in Bergen, and NHH names it explicitly. It has more than 5,000 student residences in the west of Norway, across Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndal and Stord. You can apply all year round if you are over 18 and study at an institution affiliated with Sammen.
The guarantee is the important part for international students. Sammen guarantees housing to international students coming to Bergen for the first time if you are an exchange student, a self-financed master's or bachelor's degree student, or a student in a collaboration programme of at least one semester. The guarantee is valid for one stay only.
The application periods are strict:
- Autumn semester: 1 April to 15 May.
- Spring semester: 1 October to 1 November.
At semester start, Sammen gives priority to younger students relocating to their new study locations, then assigns accommodation by application date. So apply early in the window if you can. Our student accommodation guide explains the general system across the country.
How do you apply for a place?
It depends on the level and the language. Admission to bachelor's degrees taught in English goes through the institutions' own systems. Admission to bachelor's degrees taught in Norwegian goes through the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (NUCAS).
Postgraduate programmes are not part of the NUCAS coordinated application service, so master's applicants apply through the websites of the institutions. Check the institution's page for the exact deadline and documents.
Degrees follow the standard structure: bachelor's degrees take three years (180 ECTS), master's degrees two years (120 ECTS) after a bachelor's degree, and doctoral degrees three or four years. A year of full-time study is generally worth 60 ECTS.
What about the residence permit?
If you are from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland and want to study in Norway for three months or longer, you must apply for a residence permit for studies, also called a study permit. UDI decides on study permits, and the institution decides on admission. Check udi.no for the current requirements and fees, since those rules change.
Sources
- Statistics Norway, population figures for 1 January 2026.
- University of Bergen, about page.
- NHH Norwegian School of Economics, financial matters page.
- BI Norwegian Business School, Master International Scholarship for Bergen.
- Sammen, housing page, housing guarantee page and housing priority page.
- Study in Norway, education system, admission to degree programmes, tuition fees, cost and requirements, and scholarships for degree students.
- Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (NUCAS), English home page.
- This site's catalogue, imported from the Study in Norway register.
Frequently asked questions
Is housing guaranteed for international students in Bergen?
Yes, for certain groups. Sammen guarantees housing to international students coming to Bergen for the first time if you are an exchange student, a self-financed master's or bachelor's degree student, or a student in a collaboration programme of at least one semester. The guarantee is valid for one stay only, and you must apply within the window: 1 April to 15 May for autumn, or 1 October to 1 November for spring.
Do international students pay tuition fees in Bergen?
Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland normally pay tuition fees at Norwegian institutions, and the fees vary. EU/EEA and Swiss students are normally exempt from tuition fees at public institutions. At NHH, the cohort starting in 2026/2027 from outside those areas pays NOK 142,000 per year for the bachelor's programme and NOK 204,000 per year for the master's programme, as listed in the Study in Norway register. Confirm the fee with the institution.
How do I apply for a master's degree in Bergen?
Postgraduate programmes are not part of the NUCAS coordinated application service, so you apply through the website of the institution you want to attend. Bachelor's degrees taught in English also go through the institutions' own systems, while bachelor's degrees taught in Norwegian go through NUCAS.
How much does student housing cost in Bergen?
The facts we have do not give a rent figure. Sammen has more than 5,000 student residences across the west of Norway, and you apply directly through Sammen. Check Sammen's website for current rents, and see our cost of living guide for the wider picture.