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Study in Norway

A Scandinavian country, Norway is well developed and forward thinking. Known for its Viking ancestors, Norway has a long and fascinating history. With beautiful fjords, the famous Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) and a great reputation for research, Norway is perfect for any international student.

Why choose Norway as an international student

A progressive country, Norway strives to provide students with high quality education. There are three types of public higher education institution in Norway. These are universities, university colleges and specialist university colleges. There are also many private higher education institutions. The Norwegian education system follows the Bologna Process, meaning that you can gain a bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree.

There are 4 of Norway’s universities in the 2023 QS World University Rankings top 500. The highest ranked is the University of Oslo, which is placed at 101st. The next highest ranked is the University of Bergen, which is placed at 207th.

Couple the fantastic quality of universities in Norway with the gorgeous scenery and high standards of living, and you have a great study environment.

Across Norway there are many interesting cities that are ideal for international students. These include Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim.

International students are required to have a study permit to study in Norway. For more information about this, see our Norway Student Visa Guide.

Search for courses in Norway

Highlighted courses in Norway

Education Master Degree

Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo Norway

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Economic Analysis MSc

NHH Norwegian School of Economics Norway

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Master of Architecture Master

The Oslo School of Architecture and Design Norway

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Master Programme in Global Health Master Degree

University of Bergen Norway

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Philosophy Master Degree

University of Oslo Norway

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View all courses in Norway

More information about Norway

Capital City Oslo
Currency NOK, Norwegian Krone
Language(s) Norwegian, Sámi
Universities on StudyLink 14 universities
Major Student Cities Bergen, Trondheim

Language Requirements

Norway has two official languages, and these each have variants. The first is Norwegian, with the variants being Bokmål and Nynorsk. The second is Sami, with the variants being Norther, Lule and Southern. As well as these, there are three official minority languages; Kven, Romani and Romanes.

It is very common for degrees to be offered in Norwegian and English at institutions in Norway. A large majority of the population also speak good English. If you choose to study in a non-native language, you may have to provide evidence of your language proficiency. If you do not meet the language requirements, your institution may offer language courses to help you improve. Some degrees require you to have advanced knowledge of the Norwegian language, and these usually include a one-year language course for non-Norwegian speakers.

Even if you are able to study in English, you should still make the effort to learn as much Norwegian as possible. Communicating with locals and other students is the perfect way to practice. This is a skill that will make your everyday life easier, as well as looking great on your CV/resume!

Photos from universities in Norway

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