Free education in Norway

Norway is known for its high standard of living and northern nature.It is in the context of a country that is good for travel that we hear about it most often.However, Norway is a great place to get a quality education as you can get it here for free.In addition, students enlist the support of student organizations and can receive a scholarship for living.We invite you to learn more about Norwegian education and student opportunities in this country.

Education system

As in many countries, the education system in Norway includes undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs.With the exception of some private institutions, all universities in Norway are state-owned.

The main requirement for admission to the bachelor's degree is a high school graduation with good results, which is equivalent to the passed exams at the end of education in a Norwegian school.For students from some countries, it is also necessary to complete one year of undergraduate studies at another university.Educational institutions set the requirements for master's programs independently.The main one is the availability of a bachelor's degree or an equivalent education.

Teaching is conducted in Norwegian and English. For admission, the student must provide documents on knowledge of the language, depending on the program.Each university individually sets a minimum score, so you need to look for information on the requirements directly on the website.

Tuition fees

Education at public universities in Norway for foreign students is free, with the exception of some specialized programs, and upon admission you only need to pay certain fees. This rule applies to all three levels of study.However, students pay 300-600 kroons for each semester. What are these contributions for?

This fee gives the student the opportunity to take exams, and also provides membership in student organizations, which we will talk about a little later.Payment is also needed to issue a student card, which gives privileges inin the form of reduced fares on public transport and discounts on tickets for cultural events.

Most often, private universities charge tuition fees for their programs, but the amount required is significantly less than in other countries for comparable programs. Also foreign students and students from Norway pay the same amount.In our article on spending in the learning process, you can learn more about all the financial nuances.

Scholarships

Most universities in Norway have bilateral agreements with educational institutions in other countries that allow students to study through exchange.There are also national programs and funding from private and non-profit organizations.Below you will find some scholarships that will help cover the costs.

Norwegian-Russian Scholarship

Master's scholarships under the program Norwegian-Russian Scholarship are open to graduates of Russian universities. In total, 30 grants are available under this program: 15 for the study of the Norwegian language and literature, 15 for other specialties. Students do not pay tuition fees, except for a semester fee of about NOK 600.Students receive monthly payments equal to those paid to Norwegian students. As of January 2017, this amount was NOK 10,395 per month. The grant does not cover travel costs.

Grants provided by:

• Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences

• UiT The Arctic University of Norway (merged with Narvik University College)

• University of Bergen

• Nord University (previously University of Nordland)

• University of Oslo

• Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Mobility grants for Norwegian Language and Literature

This grant is awarded to international students for short-term research in Norwegian language and literature.Funding covers the work of the researcher inNorway and is issued for a period of one to three months.The grant for 2018-2019 is NOK 10,634 per month, and work in one of the three northern districts in Norway increases the scholarship by NOK 1000.The grant does not cover transportation costs to and from Norway. The application deadline for candidates is March 31, 2018.

High North Fellowship Program

High North Fellowship Program is provided for students from Russia, Canada, Japan, South Koreaand the USA who want to study in northern Norway for a short time. The program is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Each student receives a monthly stipend and travel expenses to Norway. The program is mainly focused on masters and bachelors, but is also available for graduate students. Undergraduate and graduate students must take courses in Norway, while graduate students can act as research assistants. Submission of applications for scholarships to the Ministry is not independently provided: a student can only apply through the host university.

The program includes:

• Harstad University College

• Narvik University College

• Sami University College

• University of Nordland

• University of Tromsø

• The University Center at Svalbard (UNIS)

Student life in Norway

Student organizations

All universities in Norway have student organizations that help students on a variety of issues. Depending on the size of the educational institution, they provide different services: leisure activities, consultations, psychological assistance, sports events, assistance with settling in a hostel, and others. So, sometimes a student can turn to them for help in obtaining medical services, sometimes to participate in sports events. For foreign students, such organizations are very useful, especially during the period of adaptation to new conditions.To become a member of the organization do notadditional fees required - you become one as soon as you pay the mandatory semester fee required forexams.

Job

Students can work in Norway, but with certain restrictions.Since you primarily come to study, full-time work is out of the question.Obtaining a residence permit does not imply a work permit, so it must be obtained separately.After receiving it, a student can get a part-time job and work no more than 20 hours a week

Useful links on the topic

• Features of funding education in Norway

• 8 reasons to go to study in Norway

• Website about life and education in Norway Study in Norway