Norway gives an amazing student experience and Norwegian universities welcome applications from qualified international students from across the world to study on free tuition. Internationalization is a major consideration within all sectors of the Norwegian education system. Their universities and university colleges are always working to support international students.
It is interesting to note that majority of Norwegian higher education institutions are publicly funded and owned. The Norwegian government values and prioritizes access to tertiary education for all and grants the educational sector large sums. Thus, as a rule of thumb, neither Norwegian students, nor international students, are expected to pay tuition fees when studying. However, do take into consideration the fact that Norway is an expensive country to live in and international students would be expected to keep aside a certain amount of cash to cover their living expenses.
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Academic requirements
Note that completion of your secondary education at advanced level, which is equivalent to passing the exam at the end of Norwegian high-school, is the typical requirement for gaining entry to Norwegian universities and university colleges. Equally,for students from select countries at least one year of completed studies at the university level is required in addition.
Applicants interested in Norwegian Masters programmes are expected to have obtained an undergraduate/Bachelor’s degree or equivalent of at least 3 years’ duration. Such degree should include programs equivalent to at least 1 1/2 years of full-time studies in a course relevant to that of the programme applied for.
Generally, all applications for English taught Bachelor’s and Master’s courses are processed by individual institutions themselves. What this means is that both academic and language requirements may vary between institutions and even between study programmes within the same college or university.
Language requirements
For programs where the language of instruction is English, all applicants are expected to document their language skills according to the requirements laid down by the institutions. Note that different English tests and scores may differ across institutions. For programs where the language of instruction is Norwegian, general proficiency in the Norwegian language is required and has to be documented as well.
How to Apply to a Master’s in Norway
Once you’ve made up your mind to study a Master’s degree at a university in Norway, you will be expected to put together the right documents to prove that you fit the university entry requirements. Do well to complete and provide personal information, previous qualifications, financial information, and a personal statement in addition.
What documents do I need to provide to apply in Norway?
Inorder to apply to a university in Norway you will have to provide some of the following documents:
- birth certificate;
- recent photos;
- your passport or national identity card;
- one or more reference letters from past employers or teachers;
- copies of past diplomas or certificates, including your graduated Bachelor’s degree;
- academic transcripts;
- letter of intent;
- Curriculum Vitae;
- Some form of proof that you can support your stay in the country during your studies.
Depending on the course or specialization of your chosen Master’s, you may be required to provide scores for additional exams such as the GRE, GMAT or LSAT. Check to see if your programme requires any of these, or others.
The overall list of documents will depend on the specific requirements of universities in Norway so you may be required to include additional documents. It’s also possible you’ll have to submit official English translations of your documents, or translations in the local language.
Prove your English skills
Since you’ll study an internationally accredited degree in English, you’ll be expected to present a language certificate. Some popular options for international students are IELTS, TOEFL or C1 Advanced language certificates. You’ll need to meet a minimum language score determined by the university, and your test scores should not be older than 1-2 years. If you don’t meet the minimum language requirements, you will have to improve your skills and scores by taking an English preparation course.
Application deadlines for Norway
Typical deadlines for applying to a Master’s in Norway are usually during summer (June-July), or in winter (January-February). Bear in mind that some universities do not have application deadlines, which means you can apply on a rolling basis- whenever you are ready.
Inorder to avoid needless delays or missed deadlines, please submit your required documents with plenty of time in advance.
Student residence permit
Note that students who plan to stay in Norway for more than three months will require a student residence permit. Standard visitor visas are only valid for up to 90 days and will not cover periods beyond this 90 days validity.
The requirements would vary based on the applicant ́s nationality, we therefore encourage you to carefully review the regulations that apply to you in order to avoid issues and delays during the visa application process. A standard requirement for applying for a student residence permit is that you have been admitted to a Norwegian university or university college.
Do remember that a student residence permit to Norway is usually granted on the premise that the student will return to his/her country of legal permanent residence upon completing his studies.
Health Insurance
Health services in Norway are of the highest high standards. As a student in Norway you will have access to professional medical treatment regardless of which part of the country you are living in. In most cases, the treatment is completely free if a few prerequisites are met. These prerequisites would depend on your nationality and length of stay in the country.
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