How to Apply to Study in Norway for 2027

There is no single application portal

This trips up a lot of people. Norway has no single portal for international students seeking scholarships. You apply directly to individual universities, and each sets its own deadlines, requirements and processes. There is no “Norwegian scholarship portal” where you submit once and get matched. There are three main pathways, depending on level:

Bottom line: identify your target programmes first, then visit each university’s site for its process. Starting early matters more in Norway than in countries with central systems, because you’re managing several separate timelines.

Application timeline for autumn 2027

This timeline fits most English-taught master’s programmes starting in August 2027. PhD positions run on their own schedules (watch Jobbnorge continuously). Adjust for your target university.

1. 1
   Aug–Oct 2026 (12–14 months before start)

   Research programmes

   Identify which Norwegian universities offer your field. Browse English-taught programmes on studyinnorway.no and shortlist 3–5. Check whether each offers any scholarships or fee waivers — and remember that public universities charge non-EU/EEA students tuition, on top of living costs.

2. 2
   15 Oct – 1 Dec 2026

   Check university-specific deadlines and apply

   Deadlines differ for EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA applicants. Non-EU/EEA: usually between 1 November and 1 December, earlier to allow time for visa processing — UiO’s portal opens 15 October and UiB’s 1 November, and both close 1 December 2026, as does NTNU. EU/EEA: usually 1 February to 1 March 2027, since no visa is needed.

3. 3
   2–3 months before the deadline

   Prepare your documents

   Gather certified transcripts and degree certificates, take an English test if needed, write a motivation letter customised for each programme and line up recommendation letters. Don’t leave this to the last week.

4. 4
   At the deadline

   Apply to university and scholarship together

   Where possible, submit admission and scholarship applications at the same time. Some universities combine them; others have a separate scholarship form. Check each institution — it’s not standardised. The BI Presidential Scholarship deadline is 1 March.

5. 5
   March – May 2027

   Receive the admission decision

   Most decisions arrive between March and May; UiO notifies non-EU/EEA applicants by 5 April. Scholarship decisions may come at the same time or later. If you’re waitlisted, don’t panic — places open as others decline.

6. 6
   Allow 2–4 months

   Apply for the study permit

   Non-EU/EEA students apply to UDI (the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) for a student residence permit, handing in documents at the embassy, consulate or visa centre. Processing takes 2–4 months in most countries, sometimes longer. Apply as soon as you have your admission letter.

7. 7
   Immediately after admission

   Arrange housing

   Student housing is limited. Apply through the student welfare organisation (studentsamskipnad) the moment you have your admission letter. In Oslo and Bergen, waiting a few weeks can mean the far pricier private market.

8. 8
   NOK 170,368 (2026–27 rate)

   Deposit the financial guarantee

   You must prove you can support yourself: NOK 170,368 per academic year for 2026–27 (the 2027–28 figure is normally published in spring). It must be in a Norwegian bank account or the university deposit account, or documented as a scholarship, grant or loan. No exceptions.

9. August 2027

   Arrive in Norway

   Register with the police within 7 days (non-EU/EEA citizens with a study permit). You’ll get a D-number, your temporary Norwegian ID, needed for a bank account, phone contract and most services. Attend orientation week — it’s genuinely useful.

Exact requirements vary by university and programme, but this is the core set for virtually every application. Last-minute scrambling for certified copies or test scores is the number one reason applications go in incomplete.

• Completed application form. Each institution has its own online system. Fill in every field; incomplete forms are typically rejected without review.
• Certified copies of transcripts and degree certificates. Officially certified or notarised. Documents not in English or a Scandinavian language need authorised translations. Some universities accept digital verification through services like WES or ENIC-NARIC.
• English proficiency documentation. IELTS Academic (typically 6.5+), TOEFL iBT (typically 90+) or university-specific alternatives such as Cambridge C1 Advanced or Pearson PTE. Minimum scores vary. Native speakers from certain countries may be exempt.
• Motivation letter. Customise it for each programme. Reviewers can tell when you’ve copy-pasted and swapped in a university name.
• CV / résumé. Academic format: education, relevant work and research experience, publications, languages, volunteering. Two pages maximum, clean and readable.
• Passport copy. Valid for your entire study period; if it expires within two years, consider renewing before applying. A clear, high-resolution scan of the photo page.

Some programmes also require:

• Recommendation letters — usually two, from academic or professional referees. Give at least 4 weeks’ notice, with your CV and a short programme description.
• Portfolio — for design, architecture, fine arts and some media programmes. Follow the format exactly.
• Work experience documentation — signed employer letters with dates and role descriptions.

For the study permit you will also need: the admission letter; proof of funds (NOK 170,368 per year for 2026–27, in a Norwegian bank account or equivalent documentation); housing confirmation or an accommodation plan; and passport photos meeting Norwegian specifications.

The motivation letter — what actually works

The motivation letter is where most applications are won or lost. Reviewers spend limited time on each of thousands of applications, and a vague letter won’t get you in.

1. 1
   Explain why Norway, why that university, why that programme

   Don’t write that you want Norway for “beautiful nature” or “high-quality education” — everyone does. Explain what about the curriculum, faculty, research groups or approach connects to your goals. Name a professor whose work interests you. Reference a specific course or project.

2. 2
   Connect your background to the programme’s research focus

   Draw a clear line from what you’ve studied and done to what the programme offers. If it focuses on Arctic sustainability and you’ve worked on environmental policy at home, say so explicitly.

3. 3
   Show you understand the cost of living and have planned for it

   Showing a realistic financial plan (savings, family support, part-time work or a scholarship you’re applying for) signals maturity. Universities don’t want students who arrive and can’t afford to stay.

4. 4
   Don’t use AI-generated content

   Reviewers can tell. AI-written letters have an overly polished tone with vague superlatives and no personal specifics. Write it yourself, in your own voice, with real details.

5. 5
   Keep it under two pages

   Unless the programme specifies otherwise. One page of focused, genuine writing beats three pages of padding.

Common application mistakes

These come up year after year, and most are entirely preventable.

• Starting too late. Deadlines fall 6–12 months before the semester starts. If you begin researching in June for an August start, you’ve already missed every deadline.
• Not following instructions precisely. If it says “upload as a single PDF”, don’t upload four files. If it asks for 500 words, don’t send 1,200. Norwegian institutions take instructions literally.
• Submitting low-quality scans. Blurry phone photos, cut-off edges, unreadable stamps. Reviewers won’t chase you for a better version; use a proper scanner or a good scanning app.
• Asking for recommendation letters too late. One week’s notice usually gets a rushed, generic letter. Give referees 4–6 weeks, plus your CV and the programme description.
• Assuming “tuition-free” means cost-free. Public universities are tuition-free only for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens; non-EU/EEA students pay fees. And Norway is extremely expensive for everyone: rent, food, transport and the semester fee (around NOK 1,000 a semester) add up fast. The financial guarantee alone is NOK 170,368 a year, and real costs in Oslo can be higher.
• Waiting to arrange housing until after arriving. The private market is tight and expensive, and SiO (Oslo) or Sammen (Bergen) housing fills fast. Apply as soon as you get your admission letter.

After you get accepted

The admission letter is a milestone, not the finish line. Miss any of these and you could lose your place or arrive unprepared.

1. 1
   Accept the offer within the deadline

   If you don’t respond by the date, your offer goes to a waitlisted candidate. Set reminders; don’t assume flexibility.

2. 2
   Apply for your study permit immediately

   Processing times are long and unpredictable. Submit to UDI (through VFS Global or the Norwegian embassy in your country) as soon as you have the admission letter, with proof of funds, passport and photos.

3. 3
   Open a deposit account or transfer the financial guarantee

   Some banks (like DNB or SpareBank 1) let students open an account from abroad with an admission letter and passport. Many students use the university deposit account instead. A scholarship award letter can serve as proof of funds.

4. 4
   Apply for student housing through the welfare organisation

   SiO in Oslo, Sammen in Bergen, Sit in Trondheim. Demand always exceeds supply, so apply early.

5. 5
   Book flights and temporary accommodation

   If housing isn’t confirmed when you book flights, arrange a hostel, Airbnb or short-term rental for the first week or two. Flights to Norway are cheapest booked 2–3 months ahead.

6. Prepare for police registration on arrival

   Register within 7 days with your passport, permit decision letter, admission letter and housing contract. You’ll get a D-number, needed for bank accounts, phone contracts, health services and more.

Continue with the student visa guide, housing and life in Norway.