Norway is one of the most attractive global educational destinations, with a range of higher education institutions that offer high-quality programs for international students. It is a country of choice for students who wish to experience a rich blend of modernity, culture, and strong academic standards.
For international students wishing to study in Norway, the official languages are Norwegian and Sámi, but English is also used as a medium of instruction in many university programs, especially at the master’s level. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), a standardized international test that measures reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in English, is an admission requirement for many applicants who need to document English proficiency. As of January 21, 2026, TOEFL iBT score reports use a 1–6 scale, while many universities still list older 0–120 TOEFL iBT score requirements during the transition period. Read on to discover five universities in Norway accepting TOEFL scores.
TOEFL Scores Accepted at Norwegian Universities
English proficiency is an important requirement for admission into Norwegian universities, as it helps ensure that international students can understand lessons taught in English and communicate adequately inside and outside class. We’ve listed five universities accepting TOEFL scores in Norway for your consideration. Always check the official program page before applying, as some programs may have higher or more specific English requirements.
1. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
- TOEFL Requirement | Tuition Fees
- TOEFL iBT Score: minimum of 80, or 4 on the new TOEFL scale, for international master’s applicants who must document English proficiency
The Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, or HVL as it is commonly known in Norway, is a public higher education institution established in 2017 through the merger of Bergen University College, Stord/Haugesund University College, and Sogn og Fjordane University College. HVL has campuses in Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndal, and Stord.
HVL offers programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels across disciplines such as education, arts, sports, health and social sciences, engineering, natural sciences, business, and social sciences. However, HVL states that undergraduate programs are offered in Norwegian, so bachelor’s applicants must document Norwegian proficiency.
For international master’s programs, HVL accepts TOEFL with at least 80 points on the Internet-based test or 4 points on the new 1–6 TOEFL scale. HVL accepts TOEFL iBT Home Edition, but it does not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores.
2. Norwegian University of Science and Technology
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, known in Norway as NTNU, is a public research university with its headquarters in Trondheim and campuses in Gjøvik and Ålesund. It traces its roots to the Trondheim Academy of 1760, and a merger in 2016 made NTNU Norway’s largest single university.
While the university is mainly focused on science and technology, it also offers programs in the humanities, social sciences, medicine, health sciences, educational science, economics, entrepreneurship, architecture, art disciplines, and artistic activities.
For general admission English requirements, NTNU lists a TOEFL iBT minimum score of 60. Applicants to NTNU’s international master’s programs must meet the separate English requirement for those programs, which includes a TOEFL iBT minimum score of 90. TOEFL Home Edition is accepted for international master’s applicants, but TOEFL MyBest Scores and TOEFL Essentials are not accepted.
3. University of Oslo
The University of Oslo is a public research university and Norway’s oldest university. It was founded in 1811 as the Royal Frederick University and is one of Norway’s leading universities.
The university has an impressive list of programs for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students across disciplines such as Theology, Law, Medicine, Humanities, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Dentistry, Social Sciences, and Education.
The University of Oslo is among the Norwegian universities accepting TOEFL scores. For bachelor’s admission, UiO lists a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 60, or 3.5 on the new TOEFL scale from January 21, 2026. For master’s admission, UiO lists a minimum TOEFL iBT total score of 90 with component minimums, or 4.5 on the new TOEFL scale with component minimums.
4. BI Norwegian Business School
BI Norwegian Business School was established by Finn Øien in 1943 and began as a night school. It is an independent foundation whose purpose is teaching and research, with its main campus in Oslo. The Financial Times ranks BI as Norway’s top business school in its European Business Schools Ranking 2025.
The school offers a variety of business courses for bachelor’s, master’s, executive, and doctoral levels. These include Business Administration, Data Science for Business, Digital Business, and Business Analytics, among others.
The English proficiency requirement for admission into BI’s international bachelor’s programs includes a minimum TOEFL iBT overall score of 80. For Master of Science admission, BI requires a minimum TOEFL iBT overall score of 90 for applicants who must document English proficiency.
5. University of Bergen
The University of Bergen, popularly known in Norway as UiB, is a public research university in the historic city of Bergen and among the Norwegian universities accepting TOEFL scores. The university was founded in 1946 and has academic roots dating back to Bergen Museum, established in 1825.
Internationally recognized for ocean and marine research, UiB offers a wide range of programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels in fields such as Fine Art, Music, Design, Humanities, Law, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Medicine, Psychology, and Social Sciences. For master’s programs taught in English, UiB requires a TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition minimum total score of 90. UiB does not accept TOEFL MyBest Scores for meeting its English language requirements.
These are only some of the many universities in Norway accepting TOEFL scores. With so much to offer in terms of education, culture, and experiences, Norway remains a strong option for discerning international students.
We hope that this article on the best universities in Norway accepting TOEFL scores was informative. You can also find more information about studying abroad by visiting our Study in Norway and Available Programs in Europe!
