Study in Norway

Famous for its natural beauty and celestial spectacles, Norway is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful countries in the world, as well as one of the happiest. From its fjords to food, to its 'midnight sun' and Northern Lights (aurora borealis), Norway is a slice of Scandinavian paradise for adventurous students who are looking for an opportunity to travel off the beaten path. The kingdom of Norway sits on the western edge of the Scandinavian peninsula in far northern Europe.

Norway is also renowned for its contributions to art and culture. The cities of Norway retain much of the old-world architecture, creating a rich blend of both ancient and contemporary styles. Intermixed with the heritage of seafaring fishermen and pirates, there is a strong influence of rural farm culture that is still very evident in traditional costumes, folk music, and folklore. The Norwegian ethos is celebrated as one of the most egalitarian in the world, having legally recognized minority rights long before other major Western countries. Studying in Norway is considered to be a refreshing experience irrespective of the program one applies for.

Benefits of Studying in Norway

The obvious benefits of studying in Norway include the high living standards and top-notch education standards that the country provides. International students in this country are considered to be an asset to universities and colleges since they improve the overall developmental aspects of educational programs. A few of the benefits of studying in this country include-

Academic spaces in this country offer an informal working atmosphere where students can interact freely with professors. Each student will get the attention and space they require to excel in their field of study.
Public universities offer free education to all students irrespective of their nationality. While private universities can charge a tuition fee, this isn’t too high when compared to other countries.
Most of the programs offered here are English-taught and hence students will not be required to learn the local language unless they want to. They will also be able to communicate with locals easily since most of them speak English fluently.
The quality of education offered at both public and private universities here is high making it easy for candidates to get better career prospects anywhere in the world.
Living in Norway has it's own perks.

Eligibility for Studying in Norway

The eligibility requirements for enrolling in programs in this country depend on the university they are attending and the field of study they have chosen. The requirements can change from even department to department and it is hence ideal if candidates contact their respective universities to learn about their set requirements. A few of the general requirements and documents that students might need while studying here include-

Educational Transcripts
TOEFL/IELTS certificate to prove language proficiency
Letters of Recommendation
Work Experience, for graduate programs

Students who are applying for undergraduate programs will have to cross-check with the GSU list to know the requirements they will have to fulfill based on their country. All higher education institutions in the country use the GSU list to track the eligibility of the candidates.

Cost of Studying in Norway

The cost of studying in Norway is based on the university one is applying to. Students will be able to get free education in public universities here but at the same time, they will be required to pay around 350 to 600 NOK per semester as part of the student welfare fund. Students will be able to get public funding along with other fellowships and scholarships while studying in this country which will cover all of their educational expenses as long as they are in a public university.

Private institutions here are allowed to charge a tuition fee, but this fee will be the same for all EU and non-EU/EEA candidates. The fee charged is considerably less when compared to other countries especially considering how the fee is the same for all students irrespective of nationality.

Degree Programs in Norway

The educational institutions in Norway are mostly public-funded and students will be able to take undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs from the universities here. The higher education system here follows the Bologna system where undergraduate programs have a duration of 3 years, graduate programs have a duration of 2 years, and doctoral programs take up another 3 years in all.

Some universities here offer a 5-year program combining both undergraduate and graduate programs. Such programs are mostly offered in the fields of engineering, law, business, etc., and not for programs in arts and humanities. Students will be able to apply directly to the universities of their choice. The academic year in this country starts in August and ends in June.

A few of the best degree programs one can opt for in this country include-

Energy and Sustainability
Engineering and Technology
Biotechnology
Visual Arts
Applied Computer Science
Digital Media

Top Universities in Norway

There are many public and private universities in Norway along with other university colleges. Some universities offer specialized courses to candidates while others offer more comprehensive programs. Students will have a wide range of programs to choose from if they plan to study in Norway. They can also go for short-term continuous learning programs. The focus of education here is more on providing vocational knowledge to the students. Some of the best universities in Norway are-

University of Oslo (UiO)
Nord University
University of Tromso
University of South-Eastern Norway (USN)
Univweeisty of Bergen (UiB)
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
University of Stavanger (UiS)
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
University of Agder (UiA)
Norwegian Business School (Bi)

Scholarships to Study in Norway

Most universities and state colleges are government-funded and hence there are no tuition fees charged from both local and international students. As far as private institutions are concerned, the tuition fee charged is still less than that of universities in other parts of Europe.

Some of the scholarships offered include-

Norwegian-Chinese Government Scholarship- This program offers 10 scholarships every year to research scholars from China. It is provided irrespective of the field of study the scholar has chosen and is like an exchange program allowing the candidate to stay for 10 months in the country. The grant provides 21,600 NOK every month and an additional 1000 NOK. Students will not be required to pay the tuition fee and their one-way travel ticket will be covered by the scholarship. Visa and accommodation costs will not be covered by the scholarship.
Norwegian-Russian Scholarship- Russian students who are studying in the country for a semester or two are provided with 30 scholarships every year. Half of these scholarships are provided to Norwegian language/literature programs and the other half are given to other subjects. This grant is offered only to students from specific institutions. Students will receive around 11,450 NOK per month. Rent, visa, and travel are not covered as part of the scholarship though accommodation is provided by the institute.
Quota Scheme- This is a scholarship provided by the Norwegian government to students from developing countries. It is provided to 1,100 students in all and every year students with this scholarship are admitted to different universities and university colleges in the country. Candidates who wish to learn about the scholarship can contact the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education.

Study Residence Permit in Norway

Students who have taken up programs with a duration of more than 3 months are required to take a student residence permit. They will be required to take a visa before they visit the country which has a maximum duration of 90 days after which they will have to apply to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration. Candidates from Nordic countries are not required to apply for a residence permit while candidates from EU/EEA countries will have to register at the local police station within the first 3 months of their stay.

The application process is different for non-EU/EEA candidates. They are required to submit proof of financial stability to live in the country along with their admission details, to the university they have applied to. The study residence permit is different from the study permit which students will require if they wish to work while studying in the country.

Working While Studying in Norway

Since the tuition fee for all programs here is affordable, students from public universities will mostly not have to work while studying in the country. But at the same time, living expenses in the country can be extremely high due to the high living standards the country has in general. Students who also wish to earn extra income and gain work experience will be able to work during their educational years in the country.

Students from EU/EEA countries are not required to get a work permit if they wish to work in the country but non-EU/EEA candidates must have a study permit to work part-time in the country. Students are allowed to work only for a maximum of 20 hours per week but they can work full-time during university holidays. The study permit has to be renewed after the first year of study and at this point, students will have to record their study progress to renew their work permit as well.

Career Options in Norway

Norway has a relatively stable economy and has lots of career opportunities for candidates who are looking for both part-time and full-time jobs. One of the biggest employers in the country is the service sector but this will require young professionals to have a basic understanding of Norwegian though most of the people will be familiar with English. The main industries in the country include petroleum, natural gas, aquaculture, textiles, tourism, etc.

Since the country is open to technology-driven start-ups, students will be able to get internship opportunities in their preferred field of study easily. The popular jobs in the country are in the fields of-

Nursing
Engineering
Fishing Industry
IT
Tourism