🇳🇴 Norway · Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in Norway — government, university, and international programs.
Quick answer
Norway has relatively few dedicated scholarships for individual international students, and since 2023 non-EEA/Swiss students pay tuition at public universities. Funding mainly comes through Erasmus+, specific cooperation programs and individual university or department scholarships (especially funded PhD positions, which are salaried jobs). Check each university's site and apply by the deadline.
Norway’s main public student-finance body is Lånekassen. Support is primarily for Norwegian citizens, but foreign nationals can qualify in defined situations such as permanent residence, EEA/EFTA rights, family immigration or protection.
- Foreign-citizen eligibility is rule-based and should be checked before relying on support.
- Norwegian university support is usually loans, with part convertible to grants if conditions are met.
- Institutional scholarships and tuition-fee exemptions are separate from Lånekassen support.
Step-by-step
- 1
Map the funding landscape
Map Norwegian funding: Erasmus+ and cooperation programs, and university/department scholarships (notably salaried funded PhD positions).
- 2
Check eligibility and deadlines
Confirm eligibility (level, nationality, grades, language) and note that scholarship deadlines are often months before course start.
- 3
Prepare your documents
Prepare transcripts, a language-test score, reference letters, a strong personal statement and (for research) a proposal.
- 4
Apply to the scheme and university
Submit the scholarship application and, where required, a separate university/admission application by each deadline.
- 5
Interview, results and acceptance
Attend any interview or selection stage; if awarded, formally accept the scholarship and your study place.
- 6
Handle visa, funds and conditions
Apply for your student visa, arrange disbursement, and note any conditions such as progress requirements or a return/service obligation.
Checklist
- Funding sources identified (government / university / private)
- Eligibility + deadlines confirmed
- Transcripts + language test + references
- Personal statement / research proposal
- Scholarship + university applications submitted
- Interview / selection completed
- Offer accepted + funding terms understood
- Student visa + disbursement + any bond/return rules
Official authorities
- Lånekassen — foreign nationals
Official eligibility rules for foreign nationals.
- Lånekassen — grants and loans
Official grants and loans overview.
Frequently asked questions
Are there many scholarships in Norway?
Relatively few dedicated ones; since 2023 non-EEA/Swiss students pay tuition, so look at Erasmus+, cooperation programs and university awards.
How are PhDs funded in Norway?
PhD positions are usually salaried jobs at a university or institute, advertised as vacancies rather than scholarships.
Do non-EEA students now pay tuition?
Yes — since 2023, students from outside the EEA/Switzerland generally pay tuition at Norwegian public universities.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.