Universities & Tuition — Norway

Top Universities in Norway for International Students and Immigrants

Norway remains one of the most attractive study destinations in Europe, partly because public universities charge no tuition fees for most programs, even to non-EU/EEA international students — though this changed in 2023 for non-EEA students in many cases. Details below reflect the most current policy shifts. Always verify with official university websites and Norwegian immigration authorities (UDI), as tuition policy has changed significantly since fall 2023.

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1. University of Oslo (UiO)

• City: Oslo
• Global Ranking: ~Top 120–150 (QS/THE, varies by year)
• Renowned for: Law, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences; Norway's oldest and most prestigious university
• Tuition: Since fall 2023, non-EU/EEA students pay tuition for most master's programs — approx. NOK 150,000–300,000/year (~USD 14,000–28,000). EU/EEA students and PhD candidates remain tuition-free. Bachelor's programs mostly taught in Norwegian.
• Language of Instruction: Norwegian (bachelor's); English (many master's/PhD programs)
• International Student %: ~10–12%
• Notable Scholarships: Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (limited to EU/EEA), UiO:Excellence scholarships, Quota Scheme (for select developing countries, though scaled back)
• Acceptance Difficulty: High – competitive for master's/PhD, especially medicine and law

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2. Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

• City: Trondheim
• Global Ranking: ~Top 300–350
• Renowned for: Engineering, Technology, Natural Sciences, Architecture
• Tuition: Non-EU/EEA students: NOK 150,000–200,000/year (~USD 14,000–19,000) for most master's programs post-2023 reform. EU/EEA: free.
• Language of Instruction: English (many master's programs), Norwegian (bachelor's)
• International Student %: ~8–10%
• Notable Scholarships: NTNU Excellence Scholarship, Erasmus+ funding, some faculty-specific grants
• Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate-High – strong for STEM applicants with solid grades

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3. University of Bergen (UiB)

• City: Bergen
• Global Ranking: ~Top 250–300
• Renowned for: Marine/Climate Science, Law, Medicine, Humanities
• Tuition: Non-EU/EEA: approx. NOK 140,000–180,000/year (~USD 13,000–17,000) for select master's programs; many programs still Norwegian-taught and free
• Language of Instruction: Mix of Norwegian and English
• International Student %: ~7–9%
• Notable Scholarships: UiB International Scholarship, Meltzer Fund research grants
• Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate – competitive for sciences and medicine

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4. Norwegian School of Economics (NHH)

• City: Bergen
• Global Ranking: Top-tier for business in Nordics; often ~150–250 in specialized business rankings (Financial Times, QS Business)
• Renowned for: Economics, Finance, Business Administration
• Tuition: Free for EU/EEA; Non-EU/EEA: NOK 200,000+/year (~USD 19,000+) — check current policy as NHH has selectively implemented fees
• Language of Instruction: English (master's), Norwegian (bachelor's)
• International Student %: ~15–20% (higher than national average due to strong international MSc programs)
• Notable Scholarships: NHH Scholarship for Non-EEA students, Erasmus Mundus partnerships
• Acceptance Difficulty: High – very competitive, especially MSc in Economics/Finance

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5. Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

• City: Ås (near Oslo)
• Global Ranking: ~Top 400–500
• Renowned for: Environmental Science, Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, Biotechnology
• Tuition: Non-EU/EEA: NOK 100,000–160,000/year (~USD 9,500–15,000) depending on program
• Language of Instruction: English (many master's programs), Norwegian (bachelor's)
• International Student %: ~10%
• Notable Scholarships: NMBU Scholarship Programme, Quota Scheme remnants for developing nations
• Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate – more accessible than Oslo/NTNU, still selective for veterinary program

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6. UiT The Arctic University of Norway

• City: Tromsø
• Global Ranking: ~Top 400–500
• Renowned for: Arctic/Polar Research, Fisheries Science, Indigenous Studies, Medicine
• Tuition: Non-EU/EEA: NOK 110,000–150,000/year (~USD 10,500–14,000); some programs remain free
• Language of Instruction: English (Arctic-focused master's programs), Norwegian (bachelor's)
• International Student %: ~8%
• Notable Scholarships: UiT Arctic Scholarship, Nordplus mobility grants
• Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate – more accessible, unique niche programs draw specific applicants

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7. University of Stavanger (UiS)

• City: Stavanger
• Global Ranking: ~Top 500–600
• Renowned for: Petroleum Engineering, Energy Studies, Health Sciences, Social Sciences
• Tuition: Non-EU/EEA: NOK 100,000–140,000/year (~USD 9,500–13,000)
• Language of Instruction: English (energy/engineering master's), Norwegian (bachelor's)
• International Student %: ~7–9%
• Notable Scholarships: UiS Faculty Scholarships, Equinor-affiliated energy sector grants
• Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate – accessible for engineering/energy applicants, less competitive than Oslo/NTNU

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8. OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

• City: Oslo
• Global Ranking: ~Top 700–900 (newer university, rapidly rising)
• Renowned for: Applied Sciences, Nursing, Social Work, Journalism, Teacher Education
• Tuition: Non-EU/EEA: NOK 90,000–130,000/year (~USD 8,500–12,000)
• Language of Instruction: Mostly Norwegian (bachelor's), some English master's programs
• International Student %: ~5–7%
• Notable Scholarships: OsloMet International Scholarship, limited Erasmus+ funding
• Acceptance Difficulty: Lower–Moderate – considered one of the more accessible options, good for applied/vocational fields

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9. BI Norwegian Business School

• City: Oslo (campuses also in Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger)
• Global Ranking: Strong regional business ranking; accredited (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA – "Triple Crown")
• Renowned for: Business Administration, Finance, Marketing, Leadership
• Tuition: Private institution — NOK 100,000–200,000/year (~USD 9,500–19,000) for all students regardless of nationality
• Language of Instruction: English (many programs), Norwegian (some bachelor's)
• International Student %: ~15–20%
• Notable Scholarships: BI International Scholarship, merit-based tuition waivers
• Acceptance Difficulty: Moderate – private institution, more flexible admission than public elite schools but reputable in Nordic business circles

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Key Considerations for International Students & Immigrants

Tuition Policy Shift (Critical Update)

• Prior to fall 2023, Norway offered free tuition to *all* students regardless of nationality at public universities.
• As of August 2023, most public Norwegian universities introduced tuition fees for non-EU/EEA/Swiss students in response to national budget pressures.
• EU/EEA and Swiss citizens continue to study tuition-free at public institutions.
• PhD candidates are classified as employees in Norway and remain unaffected by tuition fees (this is a major immigration/career pathway).

Cost of Living

• Budget approximately NOK 15,000–20,000/month (~USD 1,400–1,900) for living expenses in cities like Oslo/Bergen; slightly lower in Trondheim, Stavanger, Tromsø.

Immigration Pathway Notes

• Norway offers a post-study job-seeker visa (typically 1 year) allowing graduates to remain and seek employment.
• Skilled worker permits often follow graduation, particularly in engineering, IT, healthcare, and energy sectors.
• Language proficiency in Norwegian significantly boosts long-term employment/immigration prospects, even though many programs are taught in English.

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Recommendation for Verification

Given the rapid policy changes since 2023, directly consult:

• Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir)
• Individual university admission offices
• Sian (Samordna opptak) for national application coordination
• UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) for visa/residence permit requirements

Tuition figures, rankings, and scholarship availability should be confirmed directly, as they are subject to annual revision.

More about immigrating to Norway