If you hold a study permit from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, you can work up to 20 hours a week during the semester and full time during holidays. That permission comes automatically with the permit, you don't apply for it separately. But the 20 hours include remote work, and you can't start any of it until the permit is granted.
The practical catch is that the hours are generous on paper and tighter in reality. Part-time jobs take time to find, most vacancies are in Norwegian, and at least one business school tells its international students to arrive with enough money for the whole stay.
What the 20-hour rule actually says
For students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, Study in Norway sets the limit at 20 hours a week during the semester, with full-time work allowed in holidays. UDI, which decides on permits, adds two details that catch people out.
First, if you're granted a study permit you're automatically also granted permission to work part time, there's no second application. Second, the 20 hours include remote work. So a freelance gig for a client back home, done from your student flat, counts against the same ceiling.
Two things are off the table entirely on a study permit: you cannot be self-employed or run your own business in Norway, and you may not start working or doing remote work until the permit has been granted. If you're still waiting on your permit, don't start.
Full-time work during the academic year
There is an exception. You can apply for a permit to work full time during the academic year if the work is part of your education plan. You have to ask for this in writing, either when you apply for the permit or later. UDI decides on this, not your institution, so plan it early rather than assuming it will be waved through.
The downside of ignoring the limit
Working more than your permit entitles you to is listed by UDI as one reason you can lose your residence permit. That's a real risk, not a slap on the wrist. Keep track of your hours, especially if you mix a part-time job with remote contracts.
If you're from the EU/EEA or Switzerland
Different rules apply. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can work as much as they like in addition to their studies. Study in Norway's own reminder is worth repeating: you are first of all a full-time student. A year of full-time study is generally worth 60 ECTS, and bachelor's degrees take three years (180 ECTS) while master's degrees take two years (120 ECTS). Falling behind because of shifts is a real cost.
EU/EEA and Swiss students are also normally exempt from tuition fees at public institutions, which changes the maths on how much you need to earn. Everyone else, degree-seeking students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, must normally pay tuition fees, and the amounts vary between institutions and programmes. Our cost of living guide explains where that leaves your budget.
Finding a part-time job
Most vacancies are listed online. The Nav job database is the obvious place to start. Most listings are in Norwegian, but you can surface English-language jobs by typing English into the search field.
Your institution is the other channel. Many universities have career centres, run career fairs and may have a job portal for part-time student jobs. Our list of all universities in Norway is a way to see what's where before you choose.
Be realistic about the timeline. NHH tells new international students that finding part-time work will be challenging and that they should arrive with the necessary financial security for their whole stay. Treat a job as a bonus, not as the plan your budget depends on. The government offers no individual scholarships to degree students, so there's no safety net to fall back on.
Internships
Internships normally earn study credits (ECTS) but may not be paid. If an internship is not an integrated part of your studies, a student visa may not be enough for it, check before you sign anything.
The paperwork before your first payslip
Everyone who works in Norway needs three things: a Norwegian identification number, a tax deduction card and a Norwegian bank account. Sort these out early, because employers will ask for them and the wheels turn slowly at the start of a semester.
If you haven't applied for your permit yet, start with our residence permit guide. Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who plan to stay three months or longer need a residence permit for studies, and you can't work before it's granted.
Quick comparison
| Question | Outside EU/EEA and Switzerland | EU/EEA and Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Hours during semester | Up to 20 a week | As much as you like |
| Hours in holidays | Full time | As much as you like |
| Remote work counted? | Yes, within the 20 hours | Not restricted this way |
| Self-employment | Not allowed on a study permit | Not restricted this way |
| Tuition at public institutions | Normally pay fees | Normally exempt |
Applying for a programme first
You need an offer before any of this matters. Admission to bachelor's degrees taught in English runs through the institutions' own systems; bachelor's degrees taught in Norwegian go through the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (NUCAS). Postgraduate programmes are not part of the NUCAS coordinated service, so master's applicants apply through the institutions' websites.
Our catalogue lists 27 Norwegian higher education institutions and 353 programmes imported from the Study in Norway register. Fees, deadlines and programme details there are shown as listed in the register, so confirm them with the institution before you rely on them.
Sources
- Study in Norway, working while studying
- UDI, FAQ on study permits
- UDI, study permit page
- NHH, financial matters for new international students
- Study in Norway, education system
- Study in Norway, admission to degree programmes
- Samordna opptak, English home page
- Study in Norway, tuition fees
- Study in Norway, cost and requirements
- Study in Norway, scholarships for degree students
Frequently asked questions
How many hours can international students work in Norway?
If you're from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, you can work up to 20 hours a week during the semester and full time during holidays. The permission comes automatically with your study permit. UDI says the 20 hours include remote work.
Does remote work count towards the 20-hour limit?
Yes. UDI states that the 20 hours include remote work, so freelance or online work for a client abroad counts against the same ceiling. You also may not start working or doing remote work until your permit has been granted.
Can I work full time during the semester on a study permit?
Only if the work is part of your education plan. You can apply for a permit for full-time work during the academic year, but you must ask for it in writing when you apply or later. UDI decides on the application.
Can I start my own business while studying in Norway?
No. On a study permit you cannot be self-employed or run your own business in Norway. Working more than your permit allows is also listed by UDI as a reason you can lose your residence permit.