Study in Norway
Table of Contents
Norway, with its population of just over 5 million, is one of the three Scandinavian countries. It is ranked as one of the best countries to live in and has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. In recent years, Norway has repeatedly been ranked as ‘the best country to live in’ by the United Nations Human Development Report.
This annual ranking is based largely on average levels of education and income, combined with life expectancy, but also factors such as human rights and cultural freedom. Norway is also rated high for its literacy rate, educational levels and material wealth. In addition, Norway has one of the best welfare systems in the world, making sure that people who are unemployed or unable to work are given support so that they can lead dignified lives. Norway also has one of the lowest crime rates in the world Norwegian cities are cosmopolitan and full of stunning Scandinavian architecture. There are 5.2 million people living in Norway. About 32 per cent of the population have higher education.
Like Sweden and Denmark, Norway has grown to become a multicultural country. Today, 33 per cent of the population in Oslo are immigrants or Norwegian-born to immigrant parents.
Studying In Norway
It is increasingly common in Norway to complete higher education. One of the reasons is the fact that taking a degree is affordable. The educational system is generally state-supported, to ensure that access to education is equal for all. This means that most institutions have no tuition fees.
With such favorable conditions, you are almost expected to get a degree and experience the carefree student life. The high quality of Norwegian universities and university colleges have led to more and more international students choosing to Study in Norway.
The expectation that students should be ‘responsible for their own learning can, however, be a challenge for international students – especially considering all the opportunities on and off campus.
Students at Norwegian universities and university colleges are committed, both on and off campus. For international students, extracurricular activities can be the key to successful integration.
The largest and oldest universities in Norway are naturally located in the major cities. However, the government actively encourages growth in outlying districts by supporting smaller towns with grants and other funding schemes. In keeping with this policy, university colleges have been established in the countryside as well as in the cities.
Reasons To Study In Norway
Universities in Norway provide a great number of high-quality English-taught programs in a wide range of specializations. The majority of students have only goodthings to say about the teaching staff and the university services offered to those who study in Norway. here it’s some reasons to study in Norway:
1- Studying in Norway will give you a full grasp of the Scandinavian leadership model. You will understand how the inherent Norwegian mentality for equality and a flat hierarchy provide such an effective work force, by experiencing it first hand.
2- Norway is a world leader in industries such as oil and gas, oil and gas services, renewable energy, shipping, telecommunications, high-tech products and fish farming. If you are planning a career in any of the aforementioned industries, studying in Norway and at BI will provide you with a huge advantage.
3- All Norwegians speak English brilliantly, and they love practising their language skills with people from other countries. They are known for being a bit reserved, but always helpful. And they make loyal friends you will keep for a lifetime.
General Requirments To Study In Norway
Applications and admissions to higher education in Norway is handled by each institution, and the different institutions may have different requirements and deadlines.
Make sure you obtain all necessary information about requirements, documentation and deadlines for the different study programmes and institutions.
Below you will find the minimum requirements for admission to higher education in Norway.
Bachelor´s/ undergraduate studies
Completion of secondary education at advanced level, equivalent to passing the exam at the end of Norwegian secondary school, is the general basic requirement for entry to Norwegian universities and university colleges set by the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT). For students from some countries at least one year of completed studies at the university level is required in addition.
Some study programmes have special admission requirements, usually related to specialist subjects or fields of study from secondary school. Please check with the institution for information about these special qualifications
Applicants for Masters programmes have normally obtained an undergraduate/Bachelor’s degree or equivalent of at least 3 years’ duration. The degree must include courses equal to at least 1 1/2 years of full-time studies in a subject relevant to that of the programme applied for.
Degree seeking students: Language requirements
For courses where the language of instruction is English all applicants should expect to document their language skills according to the requirements set by the institutions. Beware that the requirements may vary from institution to institution, and sometimes from study programme to study programme, and that different English tests and scores may be required by different institutions.
Admission requirements
1-A signed printout of your application form
2-Copy of identity document
3-Official academic transcript(s) from each university you attended
4-Language proficiency certificates (German/French/English)
6- Passport
7-Proof of financial means
General Requirments To Apply For Norway Student Visa
1- Duly accomplished application form Valid passport
2- Recent photograph
3- Letter of admission or acceptance into a university
4- Proof of funds
5- Proof of accommodation in Norway
6- Medical or health insurance
7- Flight return ticket
8- Send your application either online or in print. Some countries would be advised to submit their forms to a Swedish or Danish consulate.
Accommodation
The cost of housing eats into a student budget, but don’t worry: As an international student you have the right to accommodation through Sammen Student Housing. Sammen’s housing costs tend to be lower than average housing costs in Norway.
In fact, all students admitted to UiB who are applying from abroad are guaranteed student housing Sammen Housing offers various types of accommodation on several locations in Bergen.
The average price per month is NOK 4000. Rent also includes free Internet access. The biggest student residence is Fantoft Student Accommodation, with 1300 units.
Transportation
Travelers with an ISIC card now get student discount on travels with Ruter. The student discount applies to those up to 30 years of age, studying full time at upper secondary schools, universities, university colleges, academies and equivalent educational institutions that qualify for loans from the Norwegian State Educational Fund (only in Norwegian).
As a student, you get 40% student discount on their 30-day ticket, and you can choose whether you like to have it as a mobile ticket or as a travel card.
Proof must display your name and date of birth, the name of the establishment that you are attending, and the dates of the term for which it is valid. The spring term extends until the end of August, and the autumn term until the end of January. If you are terminating your studies, the last dates for activation of a new student ticket are 31 July and 31 December, respectively.
Work during studying
If you are granted a study permit, you are automatically also granted permission to work part-time. EU/EEA students do not need a work permit, and can work in Norway after they have registered with the police.
Non-EU/EEA students can work 20 hours pr week during their first year of study. Beware that when renewing the study permit the part-time work permit is not automatically renewed. To renew the work permit the students have to document satisfactory progress in their studies. Please consult your institution.
Regardless of whether you are looking for a full-time or a part-time job it is important to know Norwegian. Although most Norwegian´s English skills are quite good most employers will prefer employees with a certain level of Norwegians, and in many cases a certain proficiency in Norwegian is required. Therefore, the best advice we can give you is to learn Norwegian as soon as possible.
Life after graduation
As a EU/EEA national you are entitled to work, study and live in Norway. All EU/EEA nationals who are staying in Norway for more than three months must register.
International students may stay in Norway for until one year after graduating from a Norwegian university or university college in order to look for work. Beware that you must apply for residence permit as a job seeker before your current permit expires and after completing your degree.