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Study in Norway: Education in Norway

Norway prides itself on delivering high quality higher education. In fact, the higher education system is more than 200 years old. Norway is part of the Bologna Process. This means that its higher education system is split into three levels, called tiers.

May 31, 2017

Norway prides itself on delivering high quality higher education. In fact, the higher education system is more than 200 years old.

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Norway is part of the Bologna Process. This means that its higher education system is split into three levels, called tiers. These tiers are:

  • First Tier - this is the undergraduate level. Bachelor’s degrees normally take three or four years to complete. Specialized subjects, like medicine and engineering will normally take the extra year.
  • Second Tier - this is the postgraduate level. Master’s degrees normally take two years to complete. Some qualifications, like teaching certificates, sometimes only take one year.
  • Third Tier - this is the doctoral level. PhDs normally take three to five years to complete. Some students choose to teach whilst researching, so this takes PhD qualifications up to the five-year mark. 

Norway is part of Erasmus. This means that you can take part of your qualification, or even an internship, outside of Norway. You can even get a bursary while you study or work. 

Norwegian and English are widely used across all three tiers. In fact, you can even study other languages, like German and Russian, in Norway.

Overview

Norway is known as the Land of the Fjords. But there is so much more to this country than just is natural beauty. This section gives you an overview of what it's like to study in Norway.

Student Visas

Do you need a visa to enter Norway to study? Learn more about the student visa process, and what you need to enter the country, depending on your citizen status. You will also be required to bring certain documents with you to passport control at the airport, which we cover as well.

Housing & Living Costs

Norway is considered more expensive compared to other countries in Europe. We’ve detailed average living and housing costs so that you can get a better idea of what you would be paying as a student in Norway.

Tuition Fees & Scholarships

Tuition fees for degree programs in Norway may vary. However, in general, education at public universities is free for all students. To cover the rest of the costs, there’s plenty of scholarship opportunities.

Language & Culture

Find out more about what Norway offers in terms of language, culture, cuisine, and more!

Application Process

The deadlines to apply for the autumn semester at most universities are in June, however, international students are strongly advised to apply as early as possible and to leave time for sorting out the details.

Programs

Ready to look at education in Norway? Use our search engine to find and compare top programs in Norway.

Keystone Team

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The Keystone Team is comprised of experienced educators and advisors dedicated to providing valuable resources and advice to students all over the world.