Cost of Studying in Norway for International Students (2026)

For decades Norway was one of the last genuinely tuition-free destinations in the world, open to every nationality at its public universities. That changed for one large group of applicants from the autumn 2023 intake, when Norway introduced tuition fees for students from outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. The change is the single most important fact for most international applicants to understand: if you hold an EU, EEA, or Swiss passport you still study at public Norwegian universities without paying tuition, but if you come from anywhere else — including the UK, the US, India, Nigeria, or China — you now pay a per-programme fee that varies widely by university and subject. Layered on top of tuition is Norway's famously high cost of living, which is the real budget challenge for the many students who are exempt from fees. This guide breaks down tuition by fee category and level, what a month costs in Oslo versus Bergen or Trondheim, the total annual figure you should plan for, and the levers — scholarships, city choice, part-time work, and the PhD route — that bring the number down. Treat every figure here as a planning range and confirm the current amounts with each university and with the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) before you commit.

Key Takeaways

• Since autumn 2023, non-EU/EEA/Swiss degree students pay tuition at public Norwegian universities, typically in the region of NOK 130,000–390,000 (roughly €11,000–€33,000) a year depending on subject; EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and all PhD candidates still pay no tuition.
• A reform proposal that could let universities charge lower fees (planned figures near NOK 60,000–85,000) from around August 2026 was still unconfirmed at the time of writing, so full-cost fees applied to recent intakes — confirm the exact fee on each programme page.
• Norway's official estimated student living cost is about NOK 15,488 a month (NOK 170,368 a year, roughly €14,500) for 2026–2027, and Oslo sits at the top of that range while Bergen and Trondheim are somewhat cheaper.
• Non-EU/EEA students must prove funds of roughly NOK 137,000–170,000 for the year to get a study permit — treat this as a floor for budgeting, not a comfortable amount.
• Non-EU/EEA students can work up to 20 hours a week during term and full-time in holidays, but Norway's own guidance is not to rely on part-time work to cover core costs.

Tuition fees by level and fee category

The first thing to pin down is your fee category, because it changes your bill more than anything else. If you are a citizen of Norway, an EU/EEA country, or Switzerland, you pay no tuition at public higher education institutions, at any degree level. If you are a citizen of any other country, you normally pay tuition for bachelor's and master's study at public universities, while doctoral study remains free for everyone.

Because fees are set at institution and programme level rather than nationally, the spread is genuinely wide. The European Commission's Study in Europe profile cites a typical range of about NOK 130,000–390,000 per year (roughly €11,000–€33,000) for non-EEA students. Under the full-cost model in force for recent intakes, universities grouped programmes into study categories with set rates — one large Norwegian university published 2025/26 rates of NOK 141,000, 173,000, 195,000, and 280,000 a year across different subject bands, for example. Laboratory-heavy science, technology, and health programmes sit at the top of the range; humanities, social science, and administrative subjects at the bottom. Always confirm the exact current figure on the specific programme's admissions page, since these are adjusted annually.

A reform in progress — why your fee may change

Norway's fee policy is unusually unsettled right now, which is why hedging matters. After the full-cost fee regime introduced in 2023 was blamed for a sharp fall in non-EEA enrolments — third-country degree students dropped from around 3,700 in 2022 to roughly 2,000 in the following years — the government proposed removing the rule that fees must be at least cost-covering, which would let universities set lower fees. Planned lower figures discussed by one university were in the region of NOK 60,000 for humanities, social sciences, and economics subjects and NOK 85,000 for science, technology, health, and related fields, aimed at taking effect around 1 August 2026. Crucially, that change requires legislation and was not confirmed when this guide was written, so institutions applied full-cost fees to the 2025 and 2026 intakes. Check each university's current tuition page rather than assuming the lower figures apply to you.

Private institutions charge everyone

The fee split above applies to public universities. Private institutions in Norway — such as BI Norwegian Business School — charge tuition to all students regardless of nationality, so an EU/EEA passport does not make private study free. If you are comparing a free public place against a private programme, factor the full private fee into your budget.

Living costs by city

For fee-exempt students, and even for many fee-paying ones, living costs are the larger part of the budget. Norway is one of the most expensive countries in Europe for everyday life, and the official national estimate is a useful anchor: the study cost for a student is stipulated at about NOK 15,488 a month, or NOK 170,368 for the 2026–2027 academic year. Where you study shifts that figure — Oslo is consistently the priciest city, while Bergen, Trondheim, Tromsø, and smaller towns run somewhat lower, mostly because of rent.

These city figures are planning estimates rather than official per-city numbers — the national NOK 15,488 monthly figure is the authoritative anchor, and the city columns show how rent pulls Oslo above it and other cities a little below. On top of monthly costs, every student pays a semester fee of roughly NOK 600–1,000 to the student welfare organisation ("Samskipnad") tied to their institution, which unlocks subsidised housing, health services, sports facilities, and food. Confirm current local costs with your specific university's international office and the Samskipnad before you set your budget.

What drives the difference between cities

• Rent is the whole story. Groceries, transport passes, and connectivity cost much the same nationwide, so almost the entire gap between Oslo and other cities comes down to housing.
• Student housing beats the open market. Housing allocated through the Samskipnad is normally cheaper and more secure than a private rental, but it is competitive, especially in Oslo and Bergen, so apply the moment you have an offer.
• Sharing cuts costs sharply. Many international students share a flat or take a room in student housing rather than renting a studio, which is one of the most effective ways to stay near the bottom of the rent range.

Total annual estimate

Combining tuition and living gives a realistic full-year picture. The range is very wide because fee category dominates:

• EU/EEA/Swiss student, any level: no tuition + living costs of roughly NOK 150,000–200,000 a year (about €13,000–€17,000), plus the semester fee.
• Non-EU/EEA humanities or social science master's: roughly NOK 280,000–500,000 a year all-in (tuition ~NOK 130,000–300,000 + living ~NOK 150,000–200,000).
• Non-EU/EEA science, technology, or health master's, in Oslo: roughly NOK 320,000–590,000 a year all-in (tuition ~NOK 170,000–390,000 + living ~NOK 150,000–200,000).
• PhD candidates: no tuition, and most doctoral researchers hold salaried positions, which can make the doctoral route the cheapest way to study in Norway.

On top of these, budget for the study-permit application fee (in the region of NOK 6,500, confirm current with UDI), mandatory health insurance if you are not otherwise covered, flights, and a housing deposit. Because these are ranges, use the official living-cost figure and each programme's published tuition to build your own precise number.

How to reduce the cost

Several realistic levers bring the total down without giving up a strong Norwegian degree:

• Check your fee exemption first. If you hold an EU, EEA, or Swiss passport — or are coming as an exchange student or through a scheme such as Erasmus Mundus, NORPART, or Fulbright — you may pay no tuition at all. Confirming your category is the single biggest saving available.
• Apply for scholarships and tuition waivers early. Norway offers no blanket government scholarship open to all international students, but some universities offer tuition waivers or partial funding, and programmes such as Erasmus Mundus and Erasmus+ mobility grants are worth pursuing. Institution-linked awards like the BI Presidential Scholarship and research-funded positions such as the PhD Fellowship in Societal Security and Disaster Research at UiT show the kind of funding that exists. Browse the current list on our scholarships catalogue and use the scholarship finder to match your profile to active awards.
• Consider the PhD route if research is your goal. Because Norwegian doctoral study is tuition-free for all nationalities and most PhD candidates are salaried employees of their university, this path can be dramatically cheaper than a self-funded master's — often it pays you rather than costs you.
• Study outside Oslo. Bergen, Trondheim, Tromsø, and smaller university towns offer strong institutions at lower rents, which is where most of the cost difference lives.
• Secure Samskipnad housing immediately. Student welfare housing is cheaper and more secure than the private market; apply as soon as you receive your offer to avoid the priciest rentals.
• Work part-time, but don't bank on it. Non-EU/EEA students on a study permit can work up to 20 hours a week during term and full-time in holidays, which helps with living costs, though official guidance is that you are a full-time student first and should not rely on work to cover tuition or core expenses.

If you are researching Norwegian universities directly, the University of Oslo, the University of Bergen, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) each publish their own current subject-level fees and scholarship pages and are worth comparing. You can also browse all universities and programmes on TheUniFinder. For the practical next steps once you have picked a target, read our companion guides on how to apply to universities in Norway and how to get a student visa for Norway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is university free in Norway for international students?

Only for some. Since the autumn 2023 intake, students from outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland pay tuition at public Norwegian universities, typically in the region of NOK 130,000–390,000 a year depending on subject. Citizens of Norway, EU/EEA countries, and Switzerland still study tuition-free at public institutions, and PhD study is free for everyone. Private institutions charge all students. Confirm the current fee for your programme on the university's page.

How much does it cost to live in Norway as a student?

Norway's official estimated student living cost is about NOK 15,488 a month, or NOK 170,368 for the 2026–2027 year (roughly €14,500). Oslo tends to sit at the top of that range because of high rent, while Bergen, Trondheim, and smaller cities run somewhat lower. Every student also pays a semester fee of around NOK 600–1,000 to the student welfare organisation. These are planning figures — confirm current costs with your university's international office.

How much money do I need to show for a Norwegian study permit?

Non-EU/EEA students must prove they can support themselves, and the required figure is tied to the official annual living-cost estimate — recent requirements have fallen in the region of NOK 137,000–170,000 for the academic year. This is a minimum floor for the permit, not a comfortable budget, and the amount is reviewed regularly. Always confirm the exact current figure on UDI's official website before you apply.

Can international students work while studying in Norway?

Yes. Nordic, EU/EEA, and Swiss students can work alongside their studies without a specific hour cap. Students from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland on a study permit can work up to 20 hours a week during term and full-time during official holidays. Norway's own guidance stresses that you are a full-time student first and should not count on part-time earnings to cover tuition or core living costs.

Will Norway's tuition fees go down again?

Possibly, but it was not confirmed at the time of writing. After enrolment fell under the full-cost fee model introduced in 2023, the government proposed letting universities charge lower fees, with figures discussed around NOK 60,000–85,000 a year and a target of roughly August 2026. That change needs legislation and had not passed, so institutions applied full-cost fees to recent intakes. Check each university's current tuition page rather than assuming lower fees apply.

Sources

• Study in Norway — Cost and requirements
• Study in Norway — Tuition fees for students
• European Commission — Study in Norway country profile
• Nord University — Tuition fees for international students
• University World News — Universities make own decisions about foreign student fees
• UDI — Study permit (want to apply: studies)