Norway can still be an affordable study destination for many international students, but tuition rules now depend heavily on your citizenship and study program. Students from Norway, the EU/EEA, and Switzerland are generally exempt from tuition fees at public universities and colleges, while degree-seeking students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland normally have to pay tuition fees.
While Norway is no longer broadly tuition-free for all international students, there are still comparatively affordable options. Some Norwegian universities and university colleges list annual tuition fees for non-EU/EEA/Swiss students from around NOK 50,000 to NOK 60,000 for selected programs, while other programs can cost far more. In addition to tuition, you will need to budget for living expenses. For 2026/2027, Study in Norway estimates student living costs at NOK 15,488 per month, or NOK 170,368 per year.
If you are looking for the cheapest universities in Norway for international students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, this article is for you.
| University | Lowest published tuition fee for non-EU/EEA/Swiss students |
|---|
| University of South-Eastern Norway | From NOK 50,000 per year |
| University of Inland Norway | From NOK 58,200 per 60 ECTS |
| University of Stavanger | From NOK 60,000 per 60 ECTS |
| NLA University College | From NOK 60,000 per year |
| Nord University | Planned from NOK 60,000 per year |
| Norwegian University of Life Sciences | From NOK 80,000 per year |
| Volda University College | From NOK 84,000 per year |
| MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society | NOK 120,000 per year |
| Western Norway University of Applied Sciences | From NOK 130,000 per year |
| BI Norwegian Business School | From NOK 138,400 per year |
Cheapest Universities in Norway for Non-EU/EEA/Swiss Students
1. University of South-Eastern Norway
- Tuition Fees Page
- Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA/Swiss students: from NOK 50,000 per year for selected one-year programs, and from NOK 60,000 per year for selected master’s programs
The University of South-Eastern Norway, also known as USN, is one of the most affordable options in Norway for students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. It has campuses in several cities, including Bø, Drammen, Kongsberg, Notodden, Porsgrunn, Rauland, Ringerike, and Vestfold.
USN lists some of the lowest verified tuition fees in Norway for the 2026 intake. Selected one-year programs, such as Blues and Americana and Norwegian Folk Music/Art, are listed at NOK 50,000 per year. Several master’s programs, including Digital Transformation, Human Rights and Multiculturalism, Innovation and Technology Management, Maritime Management, and Sustainability Management, are listed at NOK 60,000 per year. Students should note that tuition fees are separate from living costs, semester fees, visa costs, and other personal expenses.
2. University of Inland Norway
- Tuition Fees Page
- Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA/Swiss students: from NOK 58,200 per 60 ECTS
The University of Inland Norway, also known as INN University, is a public university with campuses across inland Norway. It offers study programs in areas such as education, social sciences, business, film, health sciences, technology, and applied ecology.
For 2026/2027, INN lists its lowest tuition category at NOK 58,200 per 60 ECTS for programs in the humanities, social sciences, economics, and administration. Programs in natural sciences, technology, health, social work, sports, teacher education, performing arts, and media studies fall into a higher fee category, so students should always check the exact fee for their chosen program before applying.
3. University of Stavanger
- Tuition Fees Page
- Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA/Swiss students: from NOK 60,000 per 60 ECTS
The University of Stavanger, also known as UiS, is a public university located in Stavanger, a city known for energy, business, technology, and international industry links. It offers English-taught programs in fields such as business, data science, engineering, social sciences, humanities, and sustainability.
From August 2026, UiS lists two main tuition categories for students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland: NOK 60,000 per 60 ECTS for humanities, social sciences, and economics/administrative subjects, and NOK 85,000 per 60 ECTS for natural sciences, technology, health, social work, sports, teacher education, performing arts, and media studies. This makes UiS one of the most affordable public universities in Norway for eligible programs.
4. NLA University College
- Tuition Fees Page
- Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA/Swiss students: from NOK 30,000 per semester, or NOK 60,000 per year
NLA University College is a private university college with campuses in Bergen, Oslo, and Kristiansand. It offers programs in fields such as journalism, communication, theology, education, and social sciences.
For 2026/2027, NLA lists tuition for students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland at NOK 30,000 per semester, or NOK 60,000 per academic year, subject to the Norwegian Parliament’s approval of the legislative amendment on tuition fees. In addition to tuition, all students must pay the semester fee to the local student welfare organization.
5. Nord University
- Tuition Fees Page
- Planned tuition fee for non-EU/EEA/Swiss students in 2026/2027: from NOK 60,000 per year
Nord University is a public university with campuses in northern and central Norway, including Bodø and Levanger. The university offers programs in fields such as business, social sciences, education, nursing, biosciences, aquaculture, and technology.
Nord University states that the planned 2026/2027 tuition rates are NOK 60,000 per year for humanities, social sciences, and economics/administrative subjects, and NOK 85,000 per year for natural sciences, technology, health, social work, sports, teacher education, performing arts, and media studies. However, Nord also notes that current rates apply until a new bill is passed, so applicants should check the tuition page before paying any fees.
6. Norwegian University of Life Sciences
- Tuition Fees Page
- Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA/Swiss students: from NOK 80,000 per year
The Norwegian University of Life Sciences, also known as NMBU, is a public university located in Ås, near Oslo. It is especially known for programs connected to environmental studies, sustainability, life sciences, economics, development studies, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and related fields.
For the 2026/2027 academic year, NMBU lists its lowest tuition category at NOK 80,000 per year for selected programs. These include the BSc in International Environment and Development Studies and several English-taught master’s programs, such as Applied Economics and Sustainability, Economics and Environmental Governance, Global Development Studies, Global Economy and Politics, International Relations, and International Environmental Studies. Other programs fall into higher categories, such as NOK 150,000 or NOK 275,000 per year.
7. Volda University College
- Tuition Fees Page
- Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA/Swiss students: from NOK 84,000 per year
Volda University College is a public university college located in Volda, a smaller student town on Norway’s west coast. It offers programs in areas such as media, journalism, animation, social work, education, language, culture, and outdoor studies.
For 2026/2027, Volda University College lists three tuition categories: NOK 84,000, NOK 128,000, and NOK 156,000 per academic year. Its Norwegian language course and many bachelor’s programs are in the lowest category, while the Master in Media Practices is listed at NOK 128,000 per year. The tuition fee does not cover living costs, housing, visa expenses, or books, and degree students must also pay a semester registration fee.
8. MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society
The MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion, and Society is a private, independent specialized university in Oslo. It focuses on theology, religion, social sciences, ethics, and related fields and offers study programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. levels.
MF lists the tuition fee for students from outside the EU/EEA as NOK 120,000 per year. Students should also budget for the semester fee and other living and study costs. MF states that it does not offer scholarships to international students, so applicants should be prepared to finance their studies independently or look for external funding.
9. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
- Tuition Fees Page
- Tuition fee for non-EU/EEA/Swiss students: from NOK 130,000 per year for paid programs
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, also known as HVL, is a public university of applied sciences with campuses in Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndal, and Stord. It offers programs connected to health, engineering, teacher education, business, maritime studies, social sciences, and technology.
For paid programs, HVL lists tuition categories starting at NOK 130,000 per year and rising to NOK 500,000 per year depending on the program category. Some joint degree programs, including Maritime Operations and the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Theatre SPACEs, are listed as exempt from tuition fees. Because HVL’s fees vary widely, students should check the exact program page before applying.
10. BI Norwegian Business School
The BI Norwegian Business School is a private business school with campuses in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger. It is a popular option for students interested in business, finance, economics, marketing, entrepreneurship, data science, and management.
BI is not tuition-free, and tuition fees apply to domestic, EU/EEA/Swiss, and non-EU/EEA/Swiss students. For selected bachelor’s programs, including the Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Data Science for Business, and Bachelor of Digital Business, BI lists the annual tuition fee for students from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland at NOK 138,400. BI also offers selected scholarships, including the Bachelor International Scholarship, which can reduce tuition costs for strong applicants.
The above institutions offer some of the more affordable tuition options in Norway for international students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Because tuition fees, exemption rules, and scholarships can change over time, you must check the latest information on official university websites before applying or paying any fees.
We hope this article has provided the information you are looking for. If you are interested, check out the Available Programs in Europe and Study in Norway!
