Norway Scholarships for International Students look very different today than they did even two years ago. If you’ve read that Norway offers free tuition to every international student, that information is out of date — and has been since 2023. Here’s the honest, current picture: non-EU/EEA students have paid full tuition at Norwegian public universities since autumn 2023, but the rules changed again on August 1, 2026, giving individual universities new freedom to lower or eliminate those fees. Whether that actually happens depends entirely on which university you’re looking at. Here’s what’s confirmed, what’s still settling, and the real scholarship and funding options available right now.
Quick Facts
- EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens: Tuition-free at public universities, as always — just a small semester fee (roughly NOK 600-1,000)
- Non-EU/EEA Citizens (the situation most Study Tribune readers face): Paid full “cost-covering” tuition since autumn 2023, typically NOK 130,000-390,000/year (approximately €11,000-33,000) — but this is now changing per-institution, not nationally, as of August 1, 2026
- What Changed August 1, 2026: The national requirement forcing all public universities to charge full-cost fees to non-EU/EEA students was lifted. Universities can now set their own rates, including zero — but nothing is guaranteed or universal
- Estimated Annual Living Costs: Approximately NOK 151,690-170,368/year (varies by source and year), used as the proof-of-funds benchmark by Norwegian immigration authorities (UDI)
- Semester Fee: Applies to all students regardless of nationality or tuition status, roughly NOK 600-1,000
What This Means for You, Right Now
Because this policy shift is only weeks old at the time of writing, the honest answer is: it depends entirely on which university and program you’re looking at, and you need to check directly rather than trust any single source, including this one, without verifying the date it was last confirmed. Some universities are expected to move toward lower or zero fees quickly; others may keep near cost-covering rates for longer, since the change removed the mandate but didn’t ban fees. Contact your target university’s international admissions office directly and ask for their current, confirmed fee status for your specific nationality and program before making any financial plans.
Norway Scholarships for International Students: University-Based Funding Options
Since Norway doesn’t run one central government scholarship scheme the way some other European countries do, most funding comes through individual universities or targeted mobility programs:
NORPART (Norway Partnerships Programme for Global Education and Research) Administered by the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (Diku), NORPART funds exchange opportunities between Norwegian universities and select partner institutions abroad, primarily benefiting students at universities with an active NORPART partnership agreement. It covers a monthly stipend and travel grant. Priority regions include Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, the Western Balkans, and South America. This isn’t something you apply for independently — check whether your home institution already has a NORPART partnership with a Norwegian university.
University of Oslo Offers the Oslo Scholarship, providing monthly living stipends for admitted non-EEA students in select programs.
NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) Runs its own NTNU International Scholarship for select Master’s programs, particularly in technology and natural sciences.
University of Bergen Offers merit-based scholarships administered through its international office, for outstanding non-EEA applicants.
Given how recently the fee structure changed, check each university’s current scholarship and fee-waiver pages directly — some institutions may be rolling out new fee-reduction or scholarship offers specifically in response to the August 2026 policy change, and this is exactly the kind of detail that shifts month to month right now.
What You’ll Need Regardless of Tuition Status
- Proof of funds meeting Norwegian immigration authority (UDI) requirements — recently estimated around NOK 151,690-170,368/year, so confirm the current figure before applying for your student visa
- The mandatory semester fee, which every student pays regardless of nationality or scholarship status
- A realistic living-cost budget — Norway remains one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in, independent of whatever happens with tuition
Frequently Asked Questions
Is university tuition really free in Norway for international students? Not automatically. It’s free for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens. For non-EU/EEA students, tuition has been charged since autumn 2023, though a policy change on August 1, 2026 now allows individual universities to set lower or zero fees at their own discretion — check your specific target university’s current status.
What changed on August 1, 2026? Norway’s national requirement forcing public universities to charge non-EU/EEA students full cost-covering tuition was lifted, giving individual institutions the freedom to set their own rates, including potentially free. This is not a guarantee of universal free tuition — it varies by university.
How much did non-EU students pay before this change? Typically NOK 130,000 to NOK 390,000 per year (roughly €11,000-33,000), depending on the university and program.
Is there a national Norwegian government scholarship like other European countries have? Not in the same centralized way. Most funding comes through individual university scholarships or targeted programs like NORPART, which depends on your home institution having an existing partnership with a Norwegian university.
How much does it cost to live in Norway as a student? Recent estimates put annual living costs, used as the immigration proof-of-funds benchmark, at roughly NOK 151,690-170,368. Norway remains one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in.
Do EU/EEA students pay anything at all? Just the standard semester fee, roughly NOK 600-1,000, which every student pays regardless of nationality.
Official Resources
- Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) / Study in Norway: studyinnorway.no
- Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (Diku) / NORPART: diku.no
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