Norwegian Universities: What You Need to Know

Public vs private — a key distinction

Norway has roughly ten public universities and a handful of private institutions. Until autumn 2023, every student at a public university paid zero tuition, whatever their nationality. Now non-EU/EEA students pay, and since the 2026 law change each university sets its own level — but it must still charge a real fee. The fees vary a lot.

Private universities charge everyone, including Norwegians and EU/EEA citizens. The counter-intuitive part: some private universities charge less than certain public ones for non-EU/EEA students, so “public equals cheaper” no longer always holds.

Quality is high across the board. Norway invests heavily in higher education, and its universities consistently rank in the top tier for research output per capita.

Major public universities

These are the public universities you’ll meet most often. Each sets its own non-EU/EEA fee, and the differences can be striking.

University of Oslo (UiO)

Norway’s oldest and largest university (founded 1811, 27,000+ students) and consistently its highest-ranked globally, strongest in law, humanities, medicine and natural sciences. The downside: Oslo is Norway’s most expensive city, and UiO offers no institutional scholarships for international degree students. You’re on your own financially. The good news for 2027 applicants: UiO’s 2027–28 fees fall to NOK 186,000 or 218,000 for most master’s, from NOK 204,000 or 295,000 (UiO table of costs).

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

The largest technical university in Norway and the go-to for engineering and technology. Trondheim is a genuine student city — about 20% of the population are students — and noticeably cheaper than Oslo. The trade-offs: no institutional scholarships for degree students, and a cold, dark, long winter. NTNU kept full-cost fees for 2026–27 and says it offers no scholarships that cover tuition.

University of Bergen (UiB)

Norway’s second-largest university, in a city surrounded by mountains and fjords, globally recognised for marine biology, geosciences and climate research. Bergen is famously rainy — around 230 days a year — but strikingly beautiful. For 2026–27 most English-taught master’s cost NOK 197,000 or 226,000 (UiB fees), and UiB offers no scholarships. Living costs sit between Oslo and the smaller cities.

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

The world’s northernmost university and the place for Arctic studies, fisheries science, indigenous studies and space physics. Tromsø has the northern lights from September to March and the midnight sun from May to July. UiT has taken part in the High North Fellowship for students from specific partner countries; we could not confirm the scheme for 2027. Unique — if you can handle serious cold and long winter darkness.

Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)

Based in Ås, a small town about 30 km south of Oslo, focusing on agriculture, environmental science, veterinary medicine and life sciences. It took part in NORSTIP and NORPART, which funded students from developing countries — but NORSTIP has been cancelled and NORPART is ending, so don’t count on them for 2027. For 2026–27 NMBU charges NOK 80,000, 150,000 or 275,000 a year depending on the programme, and it offers no scholarships that cover tuition (NMBU fees). Ås is quiet and affordable, with a limited social scene outside the student community.

University of Stavanger (UiS) Best value

UiS stands out for one practical reason: it cut non-EU/EEA fees from 2026–27 to NOK 60,000 (for example Business and Administration or Sustainability Studies) or NOK 85,000 (for example Computer Science or Petroleum Engineering) — well under half of UiO or NTNU. UiS adjusts its fees every year. Strong in petroleum engineering and health sciences. Stavanger itself isn’t cheap (about 95% of Oslo’s cost level), but the tuition savings are significant (UiS fees).

Other public universities

Private universities

Private universities charge everyone but tend to have better scholarship availability. The two business schools you’ll hear most are BI (private) and NHH (public, listed here for comparison).

BI Norwegian Business School

Norway’s largest business school and one of Europe’s largest, with campuses in Oslo and Bergen. It charges everyone, including Norwegians. BI’s deposit guidance points to roughly NOK 180,000 a year in master’s tuition (our estimate) — which can be cheaper than some public universities for non-EU/EEA students. BI offers the Presidential Scholarship and a Master International Scholarship, among the few merit-based institutional awards in Norway. Strong industry links, particularly with Oslo’s finance sector, and triple-accredited (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA). Check BI’s current fee table: BI’s study-permit page tells non-EU master’s students to deposit about NOK 353,000 for a year of tuition plus living costs.

NHH Norwegian School of Economics

A publicly funded specialised university. Norway’s top school for economics and finance, with a very strong reputation among Scandinavian employers and among the highest graduate starting salaries in Norway. Non-EU/EEA master’s students starting in 2026–27 pay NOK 204,000 a year; the 2027–28 fee is due to be set in early 2027. NHH says it offers no scholarships (NHH financial matters). A compact, well-resourced Bergen campus.

Finding English-taught programmes

Most university teaching in Norway is in Norwegian, and at bachelor’s level that’s non-negotiable: there are only about 20 English-taught bachelor’s programmes in the whole country. At master’s level the picture changes dramatically, with over 200 English-taught programmes — where most international students end up.

PhD positions are salaried jobs, listed on jobbnorge.no. You apply with a cover letter, CV and research proposal, and get a salary (UiO’s 2026 adverts list NOK 550,800–595,800 a year), pension and full employee benefits.

Where to search for programmes

1. studyinnorway.no — the official search tool. Filter by language, level and field. The most comprehensive database and the best starting point.
2. Individual university websites — sometimes more up to date than the central database, especially for new programmes or changed admission requirements.
3. jobbnorge.no — for PhD positions. Search “PhD” or “stipendiat”. New positions are posted throughout the year.

How to choose a university

Ranking obsession doesn’t serve you well in Norway; the quality gap between universities is much smaller than in many countries. Practical considerations matter more for your daily life and finances over two years or more. Six things to check before you apply:

1. 1
   Does your target programme exist in English?

   Many programmes that look available are actually taught in Norwegian. Check the language of instruction on the university’s own site. “Norwegian” or “Scandinavian languages” means Norwegian, with no English alternative.

2. 2
   Compare tuition fees across institutions

   The range is dramatic: UiS charges NOK 60,000–85,000 while NTNU charges NOK 176,300–205,600 for the same type of degree — over NOK 100,000 a year apart, or NOK 200,000+ over a two-year master’s.

3. 3
   Factor in city costs, not just tuition

   Rent in Oslo can be NOK 3,000–5,000 a month more than in Trondheim, Tromsø or Ås — NOK 72,000–120,000 extra over two years.

4. 4
   Look at research specialisations

   UiT for Arctic research, UiB for marine science, NTNU for engineering, NMBU for agriculture. Aligning with a university’s speciality means better labs, more engaged faculty and stronger networks.

5. 5
   Check housing guarantees

   Some universities guarantee first-year housing for international students; others don’t, and the private market in Oslo and Bergen can be brutal. A guarantee saves weeks of stress and thousands of kroner.

6. 6
   Verify scholarship availability (most have none)

   Most public universities offer no institutional scholarships for international degree students. If funding matters, look at UiS (lower fees), BI (Presidential Scholarship) or the High North Fellowship. NORSTIP and NORPART are no longer options for new students.