Becoming an international student might seem far-fetched if you’re not sure which country to choose. In this case, Norway is an excellent choice for international students for its high-quality education. And if you’re concerned about the relatively high cost of living here, no worries, you can apply for the best scholarships in Norway for international students.
It’s hard to think about Norway without imagining its beautiful fjords, mountains, and glaciers. This stunning Scandinavian country showcases nature at its finest while offering plenty for the adventuresome. You can enjoy the outdoors through hiking, skiing, and fishing. And if you want to explore its urban life, you can stroll through its cities and visit museums and cultural buildings.
At some point, you would rather stay here for good. After all, beneath the glorious sceneries are the fact that Norwegians are among the happiest people in the world. In this article, we will be talking about the top scholarships in Norway for international students.
How Can International Students Get a Full Scholarship in Norway?
The most obvious answer is to apply for fully-funded scholarships that are offered to international students who are interested in studying in Norway, but where do you actually start? If you are or close to being a graduating high school student, I would look for scholarships offered by colleges in Norway, funding from your home country, and even awards offered by the Norwegian government.
If you are a college student who is either looking to transfer or thinking about going to graduate school in Norway, try to look for scholarship funding offered by Norwegian graduate schools or look for connections that your home institution might have with universities in Norway, and don’t forget to also look for various national & international organizations that would financially support your academic goals as an international student.
Check Also: Programs in Europe for International Students
Which Colleges in Norway Offer Scholarships to International Students?
Due to its free tuition, there are not that many colleges in Norway that offer scholarships to international students. Since the colleges in Norway don’t really charge students tuition fees, international students have to come up with a way to finance themselves in this Nordic country. However, this is not the case for all colleges since there are few institutions that still offer scholarships to prospective international applicants.
Among the few, the BI Norwegian Business School offers full-tuition scholarships to international applicants who are applying for their master’s programs. Due to its scarcity, the academic requirements for BI Presidential Scholarship are really high, which makes the competition even more fierce.
Best Scholarships in Norway
1. Scholarships for Americans to Study in Norway
The Norway-America Association offers scholarships for Americans to pursue their postgraduate studies in Norway. By this collaboration, the two countries strengthen their ties by investing in their students and researchers.
The scholarship awards ten successful applicants and provides an amount depending on their academic merits and financial needs. Although, the scholarship grant varies between USD $1100 to USD $4,000. Additionally, the amount may depend on the applicant’s stay duration in Norway and research subject and purpose. Note that you can only receive the scholarship twice, one year at a time.
To apply for this Norway scholarship, you must be an American citizen, staying or planning to go to Norway. You are also eligible for the scholarship if you are applying as a full-time graduate student. Exchange students can also apply for the scholarship. Furthermore, you can apply for the scholarship even if you haven’t received an acceptance from any Norwegian institution. But, you will need to present college admission proof if you’re selected for the scholarship.
2. Erasmus + Grant
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: USD $230 ~ USD $700
- Eligible Degrees: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
You can also study in Norway through the Erasmus + Grant, one of the top Norway scholarships for international students. To qualify for this program, you’ll need to register first for a degree or tertiary level studies at a higher education institution. Also, your home institution and your target university in Norway must have the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education. It is also essential that your studies in Norway are relevant, or at least part, of your degree program in your home institution.
Through this program, you can study in Norway for up to one year per degree level. If you’ve used up the 12-month limit for your bachelor’s study, you can still apply for Erasmus + Grant if you pursue master’s or Ph.D. studies. To apply, inquire with your home institution’s International Office for assistance.
The program will provide financial support for your travel and living costs. However, the amount may depend on the living costs in your home country, how far it is from Norway, the number of applicants in the grant, and other grants’ availability. You also need not pay for tuition, registration, laboratory and library use, and examinations. But, you might still need to pay for student union fees and insurance.
3. Tuition-free Master’s Programs at the University of Bergen
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full Tuition Waiver
- Eligible Degree: Master’s
Norway is also known for its public universities that don’t charge tuition from international students, regardless of their country of origin. The University of Bergen is among these institutions, and you can study in Norway through its tuition-free Master’s programs. To apply to the university, start by choosing your Master’s program from its catalog. Some of its offered programs are Medicine, Humanities, Linguistics, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts.
Make sure to note the admission requirements and deadline so you can submit your application on time. Although you won’t have to pay for tuition at the University of Bergen, if you’re from a non-EEA country, you’ll need to provide proof of sufficient funding. Also, the university does not offer self-funded scholarships, so you’ll have to manage your finances for living and travel expenses during your stay in Norway.
4. Nord University Ph.D. Fellowships
If you’re looking to fully fund your postgraduate studies in Norway, Nord University offers Ph.D. fellowships to qualified candidates. The university itself does not charge tuition, but as a fellow, you’ll also earn money in exchange for research, teaching, or administrative duties, amounting to US$56,000 annually.
Besides the salary, fellows also become Norway’s Government Pension Fund members, providing them with borrowing, pension, and insurance advantages. Having flexible working hours and a creative working environment in a place with progressive development are also some of the fellowship perks.
To qualify for this Norway scholarship, applicants must have a Master’s degree in a related field and provide documentation of completed theoretical and practical research prerequisites. They should also have outstanding written and oral English language skills. Proficiency in Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish is an advantage.
5. Tuition-Free Programs at Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full Tuition Fee Coverage
- Eligible Degrees: Bachelor’s, Masters, Ph.D.
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology also offers tuition-free programs for international students. However, applicants from non-European Union countries must provide proof that they have sufficient funding amounting to about US$14,200 for their stay in Norway.
Upon receiving confirmation of admission, the applicants must transfer these funds to their university deposit account. The university will return the amount to the applicant at the beginning of the semester.
Even if the university does not offer any scholarships for international students, you can still pursue your studies in Norway by applying for grants from other institutions. Some of the organizations that finance studies are Erasmus Mundus for EU nationals and the Anglo-Norse Society for British citizens.
6. BI Norwegian Business School Bachelor International Scholarship
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Up to NOK 125,000 for the whole study
- Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s degree
The Norwegian Business School is a prestigious university, among the top universities in the country. The university awards scholarships to most countries, from which applicants can choose different educational programs, and international applicants with top academic records are eligible for the Bachelor International Scholarship. The scholarship is worth about 125,000 NOK in total. This Norway scholarship program partly covers the tuition for each semester of the chosen program. The application process for this Norway scholarship is easy and students have to write or compose a scholarship application letter to display their motivation and skills.
The Bachelor International Scholarship is available to international applicants who apply with an acceptable international degree and is given to students with a solid academic record. This scholarship can be maintained if the students show promising and distinguishing results through their studies.
7. BI Presidential Scholarships for International Master Students
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition fee coverage and a monthly stipend
- Eligible Degree: Master’s degree
The Norwegian Business School is the second-biggest business school in all of Europe and the largest in Norway. BI has four sites in total, with its main campus in Oslo. The institution employs a total of 845 individuals, including 441 administrative and 404 academic staff members. Additionally, the Norway scholarship pays for the program’s tuition over two years, and scholars receive a stipend for living expenses.
When it comes to the application process, students have to write a one-page scholarship application letter stating why they deserve the scholarship and how their grades make them eligible for consideration. The BI Presidential Scholarships for International Master’s Students can be maintained for more than a single year if the students show potential for the future or have great academic achievement.
8. Tuition-free NUTU International Master’s Program
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition fee coverage
- Eligible Degree: Master’s degree
The NUTU International Master’s Program is one of the distinguished educational programs in Norway, which helps local and international students advance their skills and knowledge in fields such as architecture and history.
The application process at this university is straightforward, and students have very high chances of acceptance because international students who wish to enroll in postgraduate programs at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology are not required to pay a tuition fee. The NUTU International Master’s Program is a great choice for future educational development, and extra information regarding this opportunity can be found in the attached scholarship link.
9. Tuition-free Master’s Programs at UiT
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition fee coverage
- Eligible Degree: Master’s degree
The Arctic University is located in Troms and is the northernmost educational institution in the world. It was started in 1968 and opened its doors to local and international students in 1972. It provides a range of degrees in the humanities, sciences, business, and education.
Without sophisticated software and computer technology, it would be impossible to create mobile phones, robots, drones, self-driving cars, video games, simulations, machine intelligence, and virtual worlds. A master’s degree in applied computer science will enable you to make a difference in the advancement of health care, teaching, security, or technology in general. The tuition at this institution is free for both international and local students, so it is a great opportunity to take your chance.
10. Tuition-free programs at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition fee coverage
- Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees
Norway is renowned for providing free tuition for all international students, regardless of their country of origin, at its public universities. One of these schools is the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, which offers free study-abroad opportunities.
This university is a non-profit organization and goes by the initials NMBU, with a respectable 5,200 local and international students. Even though NMBU does not charge tuition for international students, they must nevertheless pay $55 per semester for administrative fees. Before applying, students should first choose an educational program from the university’s catalog. Additional information regarding this fascinating university can be found in the attached scholarship link.
11. Tuition-free programs at the University of South-Eastern Norway
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition waiver
- Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees
The University of South-Eastern Norway is one of the most welcoming universities for international students in Norway, where more than 17,000 local and international students are enrolled in studies in the areas of business, technology, and maritime sciences, as well as health and social science. This is a public university that has a full tuition waiver for local and international students, but students must pay a mandatory semester fee of NOK 929 ($108) for administrative purposes.
The University of South-Eastern Norway provides a range of courses in the arts, applied sciences, law, and social sciences. Although you must speak Norwegian fluently to enroll in one of its programs, they do offer English degrees as part of their different programs.
12. Tuition-free programs at the University of Agder
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition waiver
- Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees
The University of Agder was founded in 2007 and has many campuses in Kristiansand and Grimstad. Previously, it was known as Agder University College before evolving into a full-fledged university.
The University of Agder has more than 11,000 students in different programs such as social sciences, fine arts, health, sports, sciences, humanities, education, engineering, and science, as well as a school of business and law. The university offers a variety of programs, from bachelor’s degrees up to Ph.D. degrees, and the tuition is free for all the students that are applying. International students must pay a semester fee of approximately NOK 800 per semester for administrative fees.
13. Tuition-free programs at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition waiver
- Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees
As we are all aware, Norway is a small nation with significant resources. A high-quality educational system that is free and accessible to all students, regardless of background, is something that the Norwegian government and leadership prioritize above all else. Even though there is no tuition fee at this university, international students are nonetheless obliged to pay an annual fee of less than $125 to cover academic-related expenses.
Science, Biology, Technology, Geology, and Visual Arts are just a few of the distinguished programs which this university offers for international students, and they can start the application process by selecting the desired educational program from the university’s list of programs before applying. The application system goes through two phases where students choose the desired program in the first one, and they submit their documents in the second phase. Extra information regarding the application phases and requirements can be found in the attached scholarship link.
14. Tuition-free programs at the Harstad University
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition waiver.
- Eligible Degree: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees.
Harstad University is among the top colleges in the nation and has a reputation for providing education of the highest caliber. Additionally, this university is ranked in Norway’s top overall rankings, and this remarkable accomplishment was made in less than 30 years. The tuition fee at this university is free for both international and local students who are interested in studying in the fields of teaching, medicine, arts, and economy.
The university supports all levels of study, and the only requirement for postgraduate studies is that the main degree should be on par with a degree that can be achieved in Norway. The application process is done online through the university webpage, and the documents can be submitted online or by physical mail. Additional information regarding this university can be found in the attached scholarship link.
15. Tuition-free programs at the Molde University Science College
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Full tuition waiver
- Eligible Degree: Master’s and Ph.D. degrees
The Molde University Science College is situated in the town of Molde in the Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. Higher education in business administration, logistics, computer technology, and health sciences is provided by the institution for local and international students, and there are degrees available at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The Molde University Science College is a public university that provides free education through all degree levels, and it is known for the creation of some of the best leaders in today’s working market.
The application process for this university is done online through the official university page, and the lessons are offered in English and Norwegian. This university is a golden opportunity for students that come from underdeveloped countries because it is accepted as a prestigious education all over the world. Extra information regarding this university can be found on the official university page and the attached link.
I hope this article on the best scholarships in Norway was helpful and insightful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
