Study in Norway
Updated 6 September 2026
Norway offers high academic standards, a strong focus on research, and a high quality of life. Public universities charge little or no tuition for many programmes, and a growing range of master’s degrees are taught in English. Oslo, the capital, is the country’s main academic and business hub.
Top business school in Norway
- BI Norwegian Business School: Norway’s largest and highest-ranked business school, with Triple Crown accreditation.
Key facts and figures
- Tuition: degree-seeking students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland normally pay tuition fees at Norwegian institutions, while EU and EEA students are normally exempt at public institutions (source: Study in Norway, consulted on 6 September 2026).
- Language of instruction: most bachelor teaching is in Norwegian, while a large share of master programmes are taught in English, so the choice of level changes the language requirement completely.
- Business: BI Norwegian Business School is the country’s largest business school and the usual entry point for international applicants in management, finance and economics.
- Cost of living: Oslo is one of the more expensive student cities in Europe, and non-EEA students must evidence funds for the year.
Who Norway suits
Norway rewards students who already know what they want to study. Class sizes are small, teaching is discussion-based and professors expect independent reading from the first week. Students who do well there tend to like research, sustainability, energy, marine science or economics, and are comfortable in a flat, informal academic culture.
Families often compare Norway with the Netherlands or with the United Kingdom. The honest comparison is this: the Netherlands offers far more English-taught bachelor degrees, the United Kingdom offers a much larger choice of courses and a single application platform, and Norway offers a smaller, quieter system with strong public funding. Our bachelor admissions coaching starts with that comparison rather than with a list of universities.
Applying: what actually matters
The application route depends on the programme. Samordna opptak processes applications for many undergraduate programmes based on secondary education; master’s applications go directly to the institution. Check the route and document requirements for your chosen course, including any certified translations. The Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills explains these routes. If you need a study permit, check its separate requirements and timetable.
We plan the file backwards from the intake date: test booking first, then references and transcripts, then the motivation letter, then the residence permit. Students who also apply to the United Kingdom keep the same timeline as their UCAS file, since the UCAS deadline for 2027 entry is 18:00 UK time on 13 January 2027, and 15 October 2026 for Oxford, Cambridge, medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses (source: UCAS, consulted on 6 September 2026).
How Your Dream School helps
We build a shortlist that mixes Norway with one or two comparable systems, so a family is never left with a single option. Our coaches then work on the written file, the English test and the interview when there is one. Coaching is delivered in French and in English, our admissions counselling starts at 3,000 EUR, and every other formula is quoted on request. If no admission is obtained in one of the three first-choice universities defined at the start of the coaching, we accompany the re-application. You can also read our bachelor admission results, our master admissions coaching and our student and parent testimonials.
Frequently asked questions
Is studying in Norway free?
Not for everyone. Study in Norway states that degree-seeking students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland normally pay tuition fees at Norwegian institutions, while EU and EEA students are normally exempt at public institutions (consulted on 6 September 2026). Private institutions charge fees to all students, so the answer depends on your passport and on the institution.
Can I study in English at bachelor level?
Rarely at public universities, where most bachelor teaching is in Norwegian. English-taught options are concentrated at master level and at business schools such as BI. Students set on an English-taught bachelor usually apply to the Netherlands, the United Kingdom or Ireland alongside Norway, which is exactly the kind of shortlist we build.
How much does your coaching cost?
Our admissions counselling starts at 3,000 EUR. Each formula is quoted on request, since the figure depends on the number of applications, the countries involved and any test preparation added.
Thinking about Norway for 2027? Tell us about the student, the subject and the target intake, and we will tell you honestly whether Norway belongs on the shortlist. Contact our team.