A Nordic country located in the Northern part of Europe that holds territory over the West and North of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Norway’s standard of education and policies isn’t overlooked in the global sector. Students are grouped and taught, helping them build their creativity and independence from scratch.
As a popular destination for international students to get higher education, the Norwegian Government has made schooling available for free as a way of breaking barriers for students who cannot afford the high cost of living. There are over 200 Master’s degree courses taught in English with a few exceptions for the Bachelor’s degree.
The cost of living in Norway is quite high as it comprises accommodation, books, and other school accessories and utilities. Students pay at least 30% of the total living costs and spend between 250 to 400 EUR per month on food. While students study for free in some Universities, living in this part of Europe can be demanding.
With a population of five million, Norway admits about 15,000 international students every year from around the world, creating a strong chain of cultural diversity. Universities set their application deadlines in December and run through till April the following year.
Free Universities For International Students in Norway
International students can choose to study in any of the listed Universities as tuition is free; they only have to be concerned about their cost of living which includes accommodation, health, and food.
University of Oslo
Founded in 1811, the University is ranked 30th in Europe, having about 25,000 students and 5,000 staff members. Aside from the free tuition, the University accepts a semester fee of $100 and advice students to work 20 hours a week during school hours and 40 hours a week on holidays to assist their expenditure (accommodation, feeding, and transportation).
Program: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degree
Courses
- Dentistry Education
- Educational Measurement
- Educational Research
- Special Needs Education
- Culture, Religion, Asian Languages, Asian and African Studies
- Ibsen Studies
- Media and communication
- Musicology
- Philosophy, History of Arts, and Ideas
- Law
- Human rights
- Criminology and the Sociology of law
- Biosciences
- Chemistry
- Geosciences
- Informatics
- Physics
- International Health
- Medicine
- Nutritional health management and Health Economics.
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Social Anthropology
- Theology and Religion
- Gender studies
- Development and the Environment
- Greek and Latin.
Requirements
All undergraduate courses are held in Norwegian which requires a certain Language Proficiency Test. Master’s however, do not need to be fluent in Norwegian as many of the courses are taught in English. Ph.D. students are sometimes encouraged to engage in Fellowships as they assist in their accommodation and living expenses.
University of Agder
This University was established in 2007 as Agder University College with campuses in Kristiansand and Grimstad. There are about 10,000 students and 1,000 administrative staff members in Faculties like Sciences, Fine Arts, Health, Engineering School of Law and Business. Owned by the Government, the student accommodation is offered by the Student Association of Agder making living easier for them.
The facilities on the campuses include hospitals, recreational centers (gyms, swimming pool, and a climbing wall), and a smart house for eHealth. The University offers Master’s degree courses in the following Programmes;
- Business Administration
- International Business
- Global Development and Planning
- Sustainable Management (MSc, MBA)
- Coastal Ecology
- Renewable Energy
- Civil constructional Engineering
- Mechatronics
- Popular Music
- Information and Communication Technology
- Classical Music Performance
- Mathematics
- Multimedia and Educational Technology
- English
Bachelor’s degree courses are;
- Academic e-sports
- Classical Music Performance
- English
- Global development
University of Bergen
Undergraduate courses are not taught in English at this University so Master’s students are encouraged to apply. Offering about 25 Master’s programs in various fields such as Medicine, natural sciences, and Psychology within a study period of two years, the University also hosts more than 800 exchange students every year.
Courses
- Biomedical Sciences
- Child protection and welfare
- Health Promotion
- Psychology
- Health and society
- Society and Politics
- Fine art, music, and design
- Language, literature, and culture
- Technology or Engineering
- Natural Sciences
- Aquaculture
- Energy
- Dentistry
- Ocean Technology
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Nanoscience
- Physics
- Physical Geography
- Software Engineering
- Informatics
- Economics
- Computer science
- Journalism
- Media and communication studies
- TV production
- Computer security
- Chemistry
- Information science
- Ocean technology
- Cognitive Science
- Art History
- Latin
- Philosophy
Requirements
To apply for a bachelor’s degree, applicants must have obtained a bachelor’s degree issued by an officially recognized university. Degree must include courses of at least 80 ECTS.
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
With a modern style and state of the Art campus design, the University is open to International students who wish to study here. As one of the largest educational institutes in Norway, it hosts about 16,000 students undergoing Master’s degree courses in Fire Safety, Health, Climate change Management, Maritime Operations, and software engineering. Students at the Postgraduate and Undergraduates level are exposed to the exchange programs.
There are student clubs like the Samfunnet, student scuba club, sidekick, The NITO students MAST, the International students’ union, etc.
Courses
- Fire Safety
- Maritime Operations
- Software Engineering
- Climate change Management
Documents required for Application
Applicants should upload their documents while applying online. These documents are;
- CV
- Passport
- Enclosure form
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
- Educational Documents
- Letters of recommendations
- Motivation letters
- Declaration of financial support
- Health and life insurance
- Application fee
- Student Visa
- Supervisor agreement
- Benefits of studying in Norway
- Good education
- Free study
How to apply for a Norway Visa
To apply for a Norway Visa, applicants are required to check their eligibility status;
- Individuals who wish to study in Norway
- Individuals who have family members in Norway
- Workers who are exempted from the residence permit requirements
- Parents children who have children over the age of 21 living in Norway
- EEA citizens and family members living in European countries
Here are the documents needed to apply;
- Two passport photographs
- Valid passport
- A copy of the return-ticket reservation
- Travel Insurance
- A cover letter stating your purpose for the visit
- Flight reservation with dates
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of financial means
- Proof of status
How to apply to Norway Universities
- To apply for a free University in Norway, applicants must first run through the list of Universities and courses available, checking for schools that match their educational qualifications.
- Prepare for application by checking the documents required for your choice of study and have them at hand.
- Apply online, submitting the documents requested of you.
- Await a mail that states their acceptance.
Benefits of studying in Norway
Renowned for its security and awesome weather, here are more reasons why students choose Norway as their destination of study.
- Free education
- Norway is an extremely expensive place to live in as food and accommodation have to be taken care of by the students as they begin their studies. However, the educational scheme has been set to ease financial hurdles and stress.
- European citizenship
- As a member of the EU/EEA, Norwegians are allowed to visit all countries in Europe for work, business, or Tourism. Studying in Norway automatically gives you some rights, opening opportunities to explore and enjoy Norway’s rich culture.
- Access to Schengen Visa
- Students have access to a Schengen Visa.
- No need for IELTS
- Students can apply to any of the Universities with little or no need for language proficiency as many of the courses is taught in the English language.
- Grants are provided by the Government to assist students in their studies.
- Students have an active student life with associations and extra-curricular activities, work and study programs, students’ councils, and societies. These activities build their confidence and boost their academics.
- Degrees are recognized
- The degrees from Norway Universities are well recognized.
Aside from the standard education, Norway’s natural environment gives students a home away from feeling with activities like skiing, climbing, and summer experiences.
