If your dream is to study abroad but you do not have the needed finances to achieve that, then think of studying in tuition free universities in Europe. Many universities in Europe allow international students to study in their school without paying tuition fees. As an international student you only have to worry about the cost of living in that country and forget about the tuition fees as it has been taken care of by the government. Before now, the three countries that were operating tuition free education included: Finland, Norway and Germany, but at the moment Finland has started imposing tuition fees on students, remaining only Germany and Norway. In today’s article, we shall focus on Norway as one of the two countries operating tuition free education to every student. We shall talk about the cost of living, admission requirements and application procedures, before I provide you with the full list of tuition free universities in Norway. So let’s get started….
Norway is a Scandinavian country encompassing mountains, glaciers and deep coastal fjords. Oslo which is the capital is a city of green spaces and museums. The Preserved 9th-century Viking ships are displayed at Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum. Bergen, with colorful wooden houses, is the starting point for cruises to the dramatic Sognefjord. Norway is also known for fishing, hiking and skiing, notably at Lillehammer’s Olympic resort.
Read also: List of Germany Tuition Free Universities and Scholarships
Cost of living in Norway for students
Cost of living refers to the amount an individual needs to take care of his living expenses like feeding, accommodation, transportation, buying of books etc. The cost of living in Norway is a bit higher than what you have in other countries. For expenses mentioned above, a student needs about 1000 to 1300 Euros per month. Please note that when applying for visa the embassy will have to see proof that you have enough money to take care of your living expenses for a period of one month at least.
Admission requirements for undergraduate programs
For undergraduate studies, completion of secondary at advanced level or equivalent to passing an exam at the end of secondary school at a Norwegian school. However, some Norwegian universities would want students from certain countries to have completed at least one year of university before applying for admission. Please check with your country to find out if your country is Included. Also note that all bachelors’ programs in Norway are conducted in Norwegian language, so knowledge of the language is needed before one applies for admission.
Admission requirements for masters programs
Admission decisions for post graduate programs are carried out by the university. Most successful students had obtained bachelor’s degree or its equivalent of at least a 3 year duration in a subject that is relevant to the degree program.
Admission application deadline
If you want your application considered by the university, ensure that you apply before deadline. In order to know the application deadlines of universities you are interested in, you need to contact each college or university about their deadlines. The application deadline for international students is usually between December 1 to December 15 for courses starting in August. Please note that some institutions have different pre-qualification deadlines that might be earlier than the one stated above.
How to apply for admission
Admission application is handled by each individual university. You will have to contact the university and request for application details. The good thing is that all the universities accept online application done through their website. Ensure that you follow the instructions carefully when submitting an online application.
Read also: Tuition Free Universities: How to Study Free in Norway
Study permit
For international students travelling to Norway and who wish to stay for more than 3 months will need a student visa. For students from countries outside the EU, you would need to submit your visa application to a Norwegian mission or embassy in your country. In some cases, the applicant may be called for an interview. There is a visa processing fee of $ 430. Due to exchange rates and local administrative issues, this visa processing fee might vary. You should check with your local Norwegian embassy for more information on this.
How to apply for visa
Once you have applied for admission and received your offer letter, it’s time to start your visa application. To apply for student visa, the following documents are needed:
- An application form for student residence with a passport photograph.
- A copy of your passport.
- Documentation of admission to an approved educational institution.
The letter of acceptance from the intuition must contain the following information:
1. The applicant’s name
2. The name of the institution
3. What course/programme the applicant has been admitted to
4. The duration of the course/programme
The course/programme must be full-time and approved for financial support from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund. This also applies for students who have financing from other sources and do not intend to seek support from the Loan Fund. - A plan of study.
A filled out form stating the progress of your studies. - Documentation of housing.
Approved documentation includes a lease copy for a house, an apartment or a room issued by a private person or company. Apartments/rooms provided by the institution’s own Student Housing organization must also be documented with a lease copy. - Documentation of subsistence
(loan from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund or deposits in a Norwegian bank). - Subsistence is ensured at NOK 97 850,- for the school year 2014/2015. If you plan to attend an institution/programme/course that has tuition fees, you must also document that you are able to finance this extra cost.
As a general rule, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration requires the money to be deposited in a Norwegian bank account, and this account must be in the applicant’s name. If the educational institution has set up an account for the students, the student may transfer his/her funds to this account. Documentation in this case should include a statement from the institution confirming that the correct amount is deposited to the account in question, or a bank statement showing a balance for the correct amount. The applicant may apply for part-time work in Norway and submit this as part of the grounds for subsistence. However, the total amount for subsistence will then be higher. As a general rule, a financial guarantee from a third person is not accepted, whether this person is a resident in Norway or another country. In special cases financial guarantees from an applicant’s parents may be accepted if they are Norwegian residents.
List of Tuition Free Universities in Norway
- Agder University College
- Agricultural University of Norway (NLH)
- Ålesund College
- Bergen University
- Bergen University College
- Bodo Regional University
- Finnmark University College
- Gjøvik College
- Høgskolen i Bodø
- Høgskolen i Hedmark
- Høgskolen i Oslo
- Lillehammer College
- Molde University College
- National Academy of Fine Arts
- National College of Art & Design, Norway
- Nesna College
- NKI Nettstudier
- NKS Nettstudier
- Nord-Trøndelag University College
- Norway’s Information Technology University College
- Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine
- Norwegian Institute of Technology, Trondheim
- Norwegian School of Creative Studies
- Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration
- Norwegian School of Management
- Norwegian State Academy of Music
- Norwegian Teacher Academy for Studies in Religion and Education
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Norwegian University of Sport and Physical Education
- Oppland College
- Oslo School of Architecture
- Oslo School of Management
- Østfold College
- Sør-Trøndelag College (HiST)
- Telemark College
- UNIK – Center for Technology at Kjeller, University of Oslo
- University of Bergen
- University of Oslo
- University of Stavanger
- University of Tromsø
- Vestfold College
- Volda College
