Norway is an excellent choice for higher education in many ways, including its high-quality public universities, beautiful natural environment, high standard of living, and diverse student communities. At public higher education institutions, students from Norway, Switzerland, and EU/EEA countries are generally exempt from tuition fees. Degree-seeking students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland normally have to pay program-specific tuition unless they qualify for an exemption. Some students may be eligible for limited, program-specific, or external scholarship options, but Norway does not offer a general government scholarship open to all international students.
Student life in Norway can include studying in a safe and welcoming social environment, enjoying breathtaking landscapes and the northern lights, accessing modern research facilities, and improving language skills. International students can choose from a variety of degree programs in fields such as sustainability, technology, social sciences, engineering, medicine, and management. English-taught options are especially common at the master’s and exchange levels, while many bachelor’s and professional programs are taught in Norwegian. Read on to learn about seven prominent public universities in Norway.
Top Public Universities in Norway
| University | Selected Academic Areas |
|---|
| University of Oslo | Theology, Law, Medicine, Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Dentistry, Social Sciences, and Education |
| University of Bergen | Ocean Research, Climate and Energy Transitions, and Global Challenges |
| Norwegian University of Science and Technology | Science, Technology, Engineering, Computer Science, Medicine, Health Sciences, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts |
| UiT The Arctic University of Norway | Arctic Studies, Law of the Sea, Public Health, Psychology, Engineering, Geosciences, Physics, Mathematics, and Biotechnology |
| University of Stavanger | Energy, Natural Sciences, Technology, Risk Management, Societal Safety, Health, Medicine, Innovation, Economics, and Education |
| Norwegian University of Life Sciences | Veterinary Medicine, Environmental and Development Studies, Ecology, Data Science, Aquaculture, Economics, and International Relations |
| University of South-Eastern Norway | Arts, Science and Technology, Smart Systems, Electrical Engineering, and Embedded Systems |
1. University of Oslo
The University of Oslo was founded in 1811 and remained Norway’s only university until 1946. It is a comprehensive, research-intensive university with eight faculties: theology, law, medicine, humanities, mathematics and natural sciences, dentistry, social sciences, and education.
The University of Oslo offers many English-taught master’s programs and individual courses, although many bachelor’s and professional programs are taught in Norwegian. Five Nobel Prize laureates have been affiliated with the university: Fridtjof Nansen, Ragnar Frisch, Odd Hassel, Trygve Haavelmo, and Ivar Giæver.
2. University of Bergen
The University of Bergen has roots in Bergen Museum, which was founded in 1825, and became Norway’s second university in 1946. It is a research-intensive, comprehensive university with particular strategic strengths in ocean research, climate and energy transitions, and global challenges. The university describes itself as Norway’s most cited university.
The University of Bergen had more than 20,000 students in spring 2025. It offers a wide range of master’s programs taught in English, as well as English-taught courses for exchange students. The university also reports that approximately half of its Ph.D. graduates come from outside Norway.
3. Norwegian University of Science and Technology
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, commonly known as NTNU, is Norway’s largest university. It has its headquarters in Trondheim and additional campuses in Gjøvik and Ã…lesund. Although it is particularly prominent in science and technology, NTNU also offers programs in the humanities, social sciences, medicine, health sciences, economics, entrepreneurship, and the arts. Popular study areas for international students include engineering, computer science, and entrepreneurship.
NTNU offers numerous English-taught master’s programs and research opportunities. Degree-seeking students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must generally pay tuition unless they qualify for an exemption. Tuition varies by subject and program and is adjusted annually. NTNU does not offer general scholarships or scholarships that cover tuition fees, although limited external or program-specific funding may be available.
A recipient’s path: Tayyab Tahir entered the Erasmus Mundus Marine and Maritime Intelligent Robotics master’s and spent his second year at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) after earning a 3.96/4.00 Electrical Engineering GPA and a gold medal. His application emphasized a nationally funded robotics project, research publications, a highly tailored motivation letter connecting his background to robotics, control, and renewable energy, and recommendations from professors who knew his work well; he chose MIR over two other fully funded Erasmus Mundus offers because of its industrial involvement and flexibility in courses and thesis topics. His studies were supported by the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarship, and at NTNU he also worked as a teaching assistant with his supervisor. View More Norwegian University of Science and Technology recipients →
4. UiT – Arctic University of Norway
The University of Tromsø was established in 1968, welcomed its first students in 1972, and is now officially known as UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Its location and academic profile make it particularly important for research and education related to the Arctic, northern communities, climate, marine environments, and Indigenous issues.
UiT offers English-taught programs and courses in fields such as law of the sea, public health, psychology, engineering, geosciences, physics, mathematical sciences, biotechnology, and Arctic studies. Full-degree students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland generally pay tuition unless they qualify for an exemption. The university publishes program-specific fees for each academic year.
5. University of Stavanger
The University of Stavanger received university status on January 1, 2005. Its academic activities are organized across six faculties, several national research and competence centers, and the Museum of Archaeology. Its research strengths include energy, natural sciences and technology, risk management and societal safety, health and medicine, innovation, economics, and education. For a broader comparison, see this overview of universities in Norway.
International students can choose from several English-taught bachelor’s, master’s, and postgraduate programs. For the 2026–2027 academic year, students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who do not qualify for an exemption generally pay NOK 60,000 per 60 ECTS for humanities, social sciences, economics, and administrative subjects, or NOK 85,000 per 60 ECTS for programs in areas such as science, technology, health, education, and the performing arts.
6. Norwegian University of Life Sciences
The Norwegian University of Life Sciences, commonly known as NMBU, traces its history to an agricultural school that opened at Ã…s in 1859. In 2014, the former Norwegian University of Life Sciences merged with the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science to form the present-day NMBU.
NMBU’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is Norway’s only veterinary educational institution, although its professional veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing programs are taught in Norwegian. English-taught degrees are available in fields such as international environment and development studies, ecology, data science, aquaculture, economics, and international relations.
For the 2026–2027 academic year, students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who do not qualify for an exemption generally pay NOK 80,000, NOK 150,000, or NOK 275,000 per 60 ECTS, depending on the program category. NMBU states that it does not offer scholarships for bachelor’s or master’s students or scholarships that cover tuition fees.
7. University of South-Eastern Norway
- Admissions | Tuition Fees | Scholarships
- Location: Bø, Drammen, Hønefoss, Kongsberg, Notodden, Porsgrunn, Rauland, and Vestfold | Medium of Instruction: English and Norwegian, depending on the program
The University of South-Eastern Norway was granted university status on May 4, 2018. It has approximately 18,000 students across eight campuses and offers more than 300 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs through four faculties.
Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland generally have to pay tuition unless they qualify for an exemption. For programs beginning in August 2026, the university’s current fee page lists annual tuition of NOK 50,000 for two selected one-year arts programs, NOK 60,000 for selected master’s programs, and NOK 90,000 for selected science and technology master’s programs. Applicants should check the current program page because fees vary by course and may be updated annually.
One student’s journey: Muhammad Hassaan completed the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s in Smart Systems Integrated Solutions, studying part of the degree at the University of South-Eastern Norway alongside partner universities in Finland and Hungary. Coming from Electrical Engineering and embedded-systems work, he targeted programs with strong hardware, SoC-design, industrial-partnership, and startup components, then strengthened his application through technical projects and publications, an early application, tailored statement, and recommendation letters emphasizing his research potential. The degree was funded through the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarship; he later completed his thesis at imec in Belgium on power-delivery challenges in sub-2nm technology. View More University of South-Eastern Norway recipients →
Norway attracts international students with its research environment, educational opportunities, and Nordic lifestyle. The universities above offer different academic strengths, locations, tuition structures, and language requirements. Review the current admission requirements and deadlines before you apply to universities in Norway.
To learn more, visit the Study in Norway guide for additional articles. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
