Norway is one of the more picturesque countries nestled within the Nordic region of Europe. Being a part of the welfare economies of the world, this small yet populous country of northern Europe boasts a robust higher education system and scope for aspiring foreign students.
Just like its European counterparts, higher education is free in Norway making it one of the preferred destinations. And not to mention the work opportunities that come with it. In this article, we take a detailed look into the requirements and admission process to land a higher study opportunity in Norway.
Why Should You Study in Norway?
Since 2003, the government of Norway has focused on reforming the entire education system to make it in line with the Bologna system. The move was made as part of making Norway a global education hub as the country required more and more skilled labor in its diverse economic sectors.
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As a result, the 49 state and private-run universities have seen a massive overhaul over the last two decades which has prompted Norway to emerge as one of the top higher education destinations in northern Europe. Among its universities, the University of Oslo broke into the global top 100 ranks for best universities and currently holds the 90th position as the best higher study destination according to QS ranking.
Does that grab your attention? Because now we will take step-by-step requirements for different higher study options like bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. in Norway.
How Can International Students Do Post Graduation in Norway without Tuitions
Educational Requirements
The minimum standard to get into a Norwegian university is set by the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education NOKUT every year. The agency works directly under the ministry of education and has been a regulatory authority for international and domestic higher education since the reform in 2003.
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The website itself won’t be of much help to you if you can’t understand Norwegian. But the consensus is pretty standard across the board.
If you are looking to apply for a bachelor's, you will need to show 13 years of completed formal education in your home country. Yes, the requirements are a year more where you actually need to enroll at a university in your home country and then apply for a bachelor's in Norway anew.
For a master's, students need to complete either a 3 year or 4 year’s accredited bachelor's program and are allowed to pursue the core stream of bachelor's in masters only. For a Ph.D., the requirements are standard with a completed master's and concentration in academia.
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Language Requirements
Higher study in Norway is available in both English and Norwegian. But most international students opt to study English for their higher education. An exception can be seen for students who pursue Norwegian linguistics as a higher study subject.
Generally, students need to clear a 5-band score on the IELTS academic test. The score roughly equates to a 60 point scale for TOEFL IBT.
Most international students look for part-time jobs and we’ll talk about it in detail in the cost of living section. But to get any type of job in Norway, you will need to clear level 3 of Norwegian for International students. This specific course varies between institutes, but the general curriculum is the same.
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Application Documents
Just like most European universities, there’s a checklist of documents you need to submit for admission to any of the three higher study levels. The first thing to note here is that SAT isn’t required for admission to a bachelor’s degree. Neither is GRE or GMAT a mandatory requirement for masters. Norway only checks for educational transcripts and language proficiency. Additional requirements include –
1. Transcripts verifying years of schooling
2. 2 LORs
3. CV
4. Statement of Purpose
5. Financial Statements
As long as you can manage these documents, you’re good to apply to any higher study institution in Norway.
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Financial Requirements
Students wishing to study in Norway can do so for free. Other than a select few private institutes, all the national universities are completely free without any tuition requirements. But it also comes with a few caveats.
Even though there are no tuition fees, students are still required to show that they can support their stay and living expenses in Norway with an annual amount of around 13,600 USD which roughly translates to 12,88,464 BDT (1 USD = 94.74 BDT)
Like other European countries, this amount needs to be shown in a blocked account created by the university for the student. So while education itself is free in Norway, the cost of living is definitely something to take note of.
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Students can get part-time jobs in Norway as opportunities are abundant. but as mentioned earlier, they will need to cover at least level 3 of Norwegian to be able to land most jobs.
Now the question is, is a part-time job sustainable in Norway? There are a lot of scholarships and grants available in universities. Students can apply to them if they want to minimize part-time jobs and stay focused on their studies. To be honest, money management is the key here. And as for whether it is enough to sustain living in Norway with part-time jobs, it's definitely possible.
Academic Calendar
Sessions in Norway are usually for 10 months divided between two semesters in each academic year. Students can apply in both the semesters. But historically, the intake is always high for the fall semester as it provides better scholarship and grant opportunities.
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For fall intake, students need to apply to prospective universities around November – December of the previous year when the application opens. There’s no centralized application system in Norway, so you will have to apply to each university individually following their respective guidelines.
To know more about selection, scholarships, and application deadlines, visit Study in Norway created by the Norwegian Directorate of Higher Education.
Final Words
With its breathtaking mountain range and picturesque cities, Norway is a country straight out of storybooks. As a welfare nation, the demand for skilled labor is higher than ever with the government showing intent to make the country a global education hub. Now is a better time than ever to consider higher education opportunities in Norway at free of cost. So far, we have discussed how to get admission in the tuition-free universities in Norway at masters and PhD programs. The international students from Bangladesh or any other country can take this opportunity to shape their future. Hope it helps!
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