Norway remains a popular student destination, but public universities are no longer tuition-free for everyone. Students from Norway, the EU/EEA, and Switzerland are normally exempt from tuition fees at public higher education institutions, while degree-seeking students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must normally pay tuition. All students should also budget for the semester fee and living costs. Medicine can still be a comparatively direct route in Norway: the professional medical degree normally takes six years, or up to 6.5 years in some study plans, and leads to the cand.med. qualification.
Undoubtedly, this has given Norway an advantage in terms of healthcare. Compared with many OECD countries, Norway has a high proportion of practicing doctors. OECD Health Statistics 2025 reports 5.0 practicing doctors per 1,000 people in Norway, compared with an OECD average of 3.9.
If you are looking to be part of this respected industry, here are some aspects to keep in mind about studying medicine in Norway:
1. What are the requirements to enter Norwegian medical schools?
Applicants generally need the Higher Education Entrance Qualification and the special science requirements for medicine. These include Mathematics R1, or Mathematics S1 + S2, Physics 1, and Chemistry 1 + 2.
High grades are also needed because medicine is highly competitive and the number of study places is limited.
At the University of Bergen, the official study plan lists the Higher Education Entrance Qualification plus the same special science requirements. Applicants must also have strong written and oral Norwegian skills because the program is taught primarily in Norwegian.
Since medical programs are taught mainly in Norwegian, foreign applicants must document Norwegian proficiency. For the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the medical degree is offered in Norwegian, and applicants to Norwegian-taught programs must meet Norwegian language requirements. International applicants may also need to document English proficiency for general admission.
International students normally submit applications for undergraduate medical programs through the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service, also known as NUCAS or Samordna Opptak.
2. In what language do you study medicine in Norway?
Norwegian is the primary language of instruction in Norwegian medical schools. As such, proficiency in Norwegian is required for medical school applicants. This requirement can be met through approved documentation, including the following:
- Norwegian written and oral exams at Vg3/third-year upper secondary level, where this route applies to the applicant’s admission situation.
- The Norwegian Language Test, or Norskprøven, with at least B2 in all four parts.
- Norwegian for International Students, Level 3.
- A one-year, 60 ECTS course in Norwegian language and social studies for foreign students.
Although Norwegian is primarily used for teaching, some parts of medical education may be offered in English. At the University of Oslo, for example, Module 6/MED5600 is taught entirely in English for exchange students.
At UiT The Arctic University of Norway, students take a seventh-semester course called the International Semester. It is a 30 ECTS semester taught and examined in English and is designed for both Norwegian and international medical students.
3. Can you study medicine in Norway as an international student?
International students may apply to Norwegian medical schools if they meet the academic, science, and language requirements. Applications for undergraduate programs are normally submitted through the NUCAS website. Requirements vary according to the country where the student completed secondary education.
Non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss students who will study in Norway for more than three months normally need a residence permit for studies. Applicants must generally be admitted to a full-time program, document sufficient funds, show that they have housing, pay the application fee, and document tuition coverage if tuition fees apply. EU/EEA and Swiss students register with the police after arrival, while Nordic citizens staying longer than six months must report their move to the National Registry.
4. What are the components of the medical curriculum in Norway?
Medical education in Norway normally takes six years to complete. At the University of Bergen, the current study plan is 360 ECTS and has a six-year A cohort and a 6.5-year B cohort. At NTNU, the program is full-time, lasts six years, and is worth 360 credits. The degree awarded is candidatus/candidata medicinae, or cand.med.
The cand.med. degree provides the theoretical, practical, and professional skills needed to become a physician. It covers biological, environmental, social, and mental factors related to human health, as well as health services and medical practice.
As part of their training, students complete clinical learning in primary health care settings and specialist health services.
While all medical schools prepare students for the same profession, the curriculum design varies by university.
At the University of Tromsø, the professional medical program is a six-year program. Its International Semester, MED-2520, is the seventh semester and covers women’s health, children’s health, medical genetics, and global health in English.
At the University of Oslo, the full medical course lasts 12 semesters and leads to the cand.med. degree. The university also offers Module 6/MED5600 in English for exchange students.
Some medical students may also pursue research training. The University of Bergen, for example, offers a Medical Student Research Programme for up to 10% of medical students. This extends the nominal length of study to seven years for the A cohort and 7.5 years for the B cohort.
At NTNU, the Medical Student Research Programme extends the medical degree from six to seven years and gives 120 ECTS credits.
Research training can be useful preparation for later PhD studies.
5. How many medical schools are in Norway?
There are four universities offering professional medical programs in Norway: the University of Oslo, the University of Bergen, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
6. How difficult is it to study medicine in Norway?
The difficult part of studying medicine in Norway starts with getting in. Universities have limited annual intakes, and admission is highly competitive. The University of Oslo states that 220 students are admitted each summer, while NTNU’s program summary states that 155 new students are admitted each year.
Nationally, the Norwegian government reported that 900 medical study places were available in 2026. The government also stated that 255 additional medical study places had been created since 2021.
Because medical study places have expanded, applicants should rely on current admissions data.
7. What do you need to become a doctor in Norway?
After completing a Norwegian cand.med. degree, graduates apply to the Norwegian Directorate of Health for authorization as medical practitioners. The former separate internship system, known as turnustjeneste, has been replaced by the current LIS1 system.
LIS1 is the first part of Norwegian specialist training. It lasts 18 months, normally consisting of 12 months in hospital and six months in municipal health services. Doctors who receive an LIS1 position apply for authorization as medical practitioners rather than a separate LIS1 license.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Available Courses in Europe for International Students and Europe Scholarships Page.
