Norway is a highly developed country known for its safe environment, high standard of living, and beautiful, fairytale-like natural scenery. Norwegian society highly values equality and openness, meaning students from different nationalities and backgrounds can access many services and opportunities.
Education in public Norwegian universities is state-funded, and students from Norway, the EU/EEA, and Switzerland are normally exempt from tuition fees at public higher education institutions. Degree-seeking students from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland normally pay tuition fees, although doctoral candidates, exchange students, and students in some specific exchange or scholarship schemes may be exempt. Norwegian higher education also emphasizes active student participation, independent thinking, and collaboration in the learning process.
Norway is a prosperous nation that excels in many fields. Listed below are five strong subjects to study in Norway. If you are an international student looking to pursue your degree in the country, this article can help you decide which field suits you best.
Top Courses to Study in Norway
1. Petroleum Engineering
The oil and gas industry in Norway remains an important economic driver. Recent official figures show that the petroleum sector accounts for a large share of Norway’s GDP, state revenues, and exports, while crude oil and natural gas continue to make up more than half of the country’s goods exports. Norway also continues to award production licenses on the Norwegian continental shelf, so the industry still needs engineers and geoscience specialists who can work safely and efficiently in offshore energy, drilling, reservoir management, well operations, decommissioning, and related subsurface fields. Petroleum engineering is a strong choice for students interested in Norway’s energy sector, where technical roles in oil, gas, and related engineering industries are often well paid compared with many other fields in the country.
Petroleum engineering students in Norway gain strong theoretical knowledge in engineering, mathematics, physics, geology, drilling, reservoir studies, production, and energy systems. Because the Norwegian energy sector is also changing, many programs now connect petroleum expertise with topics such as geoenergy, carbon storage, hydrogen storage, and sustainable use of the subsurface.
Examples of Norwegian institutions offering petroleum engineering or closely related subsurface and geoenergy education include the University of Stavanger, which offers a master’s program in Petroleum Engineering; the University of Bergen, which offers a master’s program in Reservoir and Geoenergy; and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, where older petroleum engineering and petroleum geosciences programs have been replaced by newer geoscience and georesources pathways.
2. Digital Media
Internet use in Norway is nearly universal among the working-age population, and the country has a mature digital society. The Norwegian media sector has a long history of producing innovative, reliable, and high-quality content. Known for its innovative culture, Norway has moved from a strong print media tradition to a media environment shaped by digital platforms, streaming, design, communication technology, and interactive media.
Digital media is a relevant choice for international students who wish to study in Norway. Depending on the university, programs may cover media technology, communication, interaction design, digital culture, marketing communication, media theory, and the social, cultural, political, and economic impacts of digital platforms. Students may work on practical and research-based projects connected to media production, design, technology, and communication.
Examples of institutions with digital media, media technology, or digital communication-related programs include the University of Bergen, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the University of Inland Norway, and BI Norwegian Business School. The University of Oslo still has media and communication courses and academic expertise, but its old English-language Media Studies master’s program no longer admits new students.
3. Performing Arts
Norway is an ideal destination for art and theater lovers because of its vibrant performing arts sector. Norway has several performing arts institutions, including the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in Oslo, one of the country’s major national institutions for opera, ballet, orchestra, chorus, and ballet training. The country also has organizations and academic environments dedicated to developing professional performers, building networks, and promoting Norwegian performing arts locally and internationally.
Performing arts degrees are a good choice to study in Norway because they are versatile and combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience in a professional environment. Students spend significant time in studios, rehearsal rooms, and theaters while learning about performance, music, dance, acting, directing, stage design, production, and artistic research. They may also attend workshops where they develop their artistic abilities and find their own creative voice.
The University of Stavanger offers several performing arts programs, including dance, music performance, and a master’s degree in Performing Arts. Ostfold University College’s Norwegian Theatre Academy has historically been an important institution for acting, scenography, performance, and theater in the expanded field, but prospective students should check the latest admissions information because the university college board decided in 2024 to close the academy.
4. Data Science
Norway is a technologically advanced economy with citizens who are highly digitally competent. Data science is a strong subject to study in Norway because public agencies, businesses, research institutes, and universities increasingly rely on data, artificial intelligence, and digital systems. The Norwegian government has also prioritized digitalization and artificial intelligence, including increased research efforts in AI and digital technologies.
The digital transformation in Norway provides opportunities for employment and experiential learning for data science students in the country. Data science degrees equip students with statistical, analytical, mathematical, programming, and machine learning expertise to extract and analyze complex data and generate relevant and useful insights.
Some of the top educational institutions in Norway offering data science or closely related analytics programs are the University of Oslo, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Noroff School of Technology and Digital Media, and BI Norwegian Business School.
5. Environmental Science
Norway ranks highly in international environmental performance measures, making environmental science a strong subject to study in the country. Norway has several environmental and climate policies in place, including efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, regulate natural resources, promote electric vehicles, and support other sustainable practices.
Studying environmental science in Norway can allow you to experience a sustainability-focused society while learning from researchers and professionals working on climate, ecology, environmental engineering, biodiversity, Arctic environments, environmental law, and sustainable resource management. Environmental science programs aim to provide an in-depth understanding of global environmental challenges and the impact of human actions on different ecosystems.
Among the institutions for studying environmental science or related fields in Norway are the University of Bergen, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, and the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences.
Norway is home to many well-established institutions and study programs that are carefully designed to provide students with high-quality education. Norwegian institutions offer numerous academic disciplines, but the programs listed above are especially relevant because of Norway’s strengths in energy, digitalization, performing arts, data-driven innovation, and environmental research.
We hope this article has helped you choose the best study program for your application in Norway. Read more articles about the country in our Study in Norway guide. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe!
