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Studying in Norway

Tuition, living costs, visas and how to apply, from the European Commission's official profile — with student numbers from Eurostat and the Erasmus Mundus master's you can take here.

🇳🇴 Browse Norway’s universities on CollegeMatcher — or find your matches

At a glance

Tuition · EU/EEA students

No tuition at public universities

Tuition · non-EU/EEA students

Most programmes charge, typically NOK 130,000 – 390,000 a year (€11,000 – €33,000)

Fees — more detail

Every student also pays a semester fee of about NOK 600 (€50 – €60).

Living costs

NOK 166,860 a year (2025–26), per the national higher education office

Erasmus Mundus master's

16 joint programmes with a university here

CollegeMatcher note: The profile gives this as a yearly figure inside a sentence about monthly costs; it works out at roughly NOK 13,900 a month. We don't convert it to euros, so Norway sorts last on living costs.

Students in Norway

Tertiary students · 2024

315,674

From abroad · 2024

13,2744.2% of all students

Of whom from the EU · 2024

4,67735.2% of students from abroad

Largest countries of origin: Germany (863), Iran (758), Pakistan (674), China (645), Denmark (642).

“From abroad” means degree-mobile students — enrolled for a whole degree, having gained their previous qualification in another country. Exchange students on Erasmus aren't counted.

Tertiary students by year
201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
255,416264,207268,231277,449284,042288,739290,014294,043311,592320,418313,273315,674

Tuition fees and living costs

There are no tuition fees at public universities in Norway for EU/EEA students.

If you’re a non-EU/EEA student, you will need to pay tuition fees for most study programmes. These fees vary by institution and programme, with the typical range being NOK 130,000–390,000 per year (€11,000–€33,000).

All students must also pay a small semester fee of approximately NOK 600 (€50–€60).

According to the Norwegian national higher education office, estimated monthly living costs are around 166 860 NOK per year in 2025-2026.

Get more details on tuition and living costs

Visa requirements

EU/EEA students do not need a visa to study in Norway. HOwever, you must register with the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) within 3 months of arriving.

If you are a non-EU/EEA student, you’ll need to apply for a student resident permit before you arrive.

You will need to have

  • admission letter
  • proof of sufficient funds (minimum NOK 137,907 per year)
  • health insurance
  • housing documentation

Processing time can take several weeks, so make sure you apply early.

Find out if you need a study permit

Education system

Norway offers high-quality education at all levels, with most higher education institutions being public and research-based. There are universities, university colleges, specialised universities and private institutions (some of which charge tuition feeds for all attending students).

Get a list of study institutions

Degree structure

  • Bachelor's degree: 3 years
  • Master's degree: 2 years
  • PhD: 3–4 years

Language of instruction

Most master’s programmes and many bachelor’s courses are offered in English.

Application process

  1. Find a programme on studyinnorway.no
  2. Check admission requirements, including language tests (usually IELTS or TOEFL for English)
  3. Apply directly to the institution, usually via their application platform
  4. Deadlines vary by institution and programme, but for autumn intake
    1. EU/EEA students: often between December and March
    2. Non-EU/EEA students: often earlier, from December to February
  5. Receive your offer and prepare for arrival

Scholarships

Some universities offer tuition waivers or partial funding for international students.

While individual scholarships are not available from the Norwegian government, there are other programmes and schemes such as Erasmus Mundus that you may be able to apply for.

Students can also apply for Erasmus+ mobility grants through their home universities.

Student life

Norway offers a safe, modern society with easy access to nature, skiing, hiking, and cultural life.

Language

Norwegians speak excellent English, and many classes are taught in English.

Part-time work

If you are a Nordic/EU/EEA/Swiss citizen you can work in addition to your studies. If you are a citizen from a country outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland you can only work up to 20 hours a week while you are studying, and full-time during holidays.

Housing

Student housing is available but competitive – apply early!

Welfare

Student welfare organisations offer discounts, activities, health services, and counselling.

Read some students’ experiences of studying in Norway

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in Norway for free?

Yes, if you are from an EU/EEA country. Non-EU/EEA students must pay tuition fees at most public universities as of 2023.

Do I need to speak Norwegian?

No. Many programmes, especially at master’s level, are taught in English. However, learning basic Norwegian is useful for daily life.

Can I work while studying?

If you are a Nordic/EU/EEA/Swiss citizen you can work in addition to your studies. If you are a citizen from a country outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland you can only work up to 20 hours a week while you are studying, and full-time during holidays.

Are there any scholarships?

Some institutions offer scholarships or tuition waivers for international students. Erasmus+ funding may also be available.

How expensive is life in Norway?

Monthly living expenses are around NOK 12,000 (~€1,050), depending on location and lifestyle.

Source: Study in Norway – education, tuition, scholarships and student life, last updated 24 March 2026.

Erasmus Mundus master's with a university in Norway

Joint master's taught by several universities in different countries, open to students from anywhere, with EU-funded scholarships on many of them.

Country guidance adapted from the European Commission’s Study in Europe country profiles, © European Union, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Condensed, restructured and combined with other data by CollegeMatcher.

Student numbers: Eurostat, tables educ_uoe_enrt01 (tertiary enrolment) and educ_uoe_mobs02 (degree-mobile students from abroad).

Programmes: the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue of the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA); partner institutions from the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform. © European Union, CC BY 4.0.

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