Unis in Norway where international students can enjoy a tuition-free master’s

As countries worldwide gradually reopen their international borders to fully vaccinated individuals, it’s time to put your study abroad plans back on track if they’ve been upended by the pandemic. If you’re wondering what your options are, studying in Norway can be a good option.

Norway is arguably one of the best countries to live in. It boasts high standards of living, is dubbed one of the safest countries in the world, and is home to stunning sceneries and must-see attractions — including the opportunity to witness the Northern Lights. 

And the icing on the cake? You could save plenty on tuition by studying in Norway — even if you’re an international student. Their public universities offer students a tuition-free education, which means you could study for free — or near enough — whether you’re pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s or a PhD. The only costs you’ll have to bear would be your cost of living and a semester fee, paid per semester.

A poney stands under the Northern Lights on September 30, 2018, in Unstad, Northern Norway. Source: Olivier Morin/AFP

Studying in Norway: Tuition-free unis for international students

So, if you’re consider studying in Norway for a master’s, you might be wondering which are some of the country’s public universities that offer tuition-free English programmes for international students? Here are a few worth exploring:

University of Bergen

You can find English-taught master’s degrees for applicants from countries outside the EU/EEA at the University of Bergen. All their master’s programmes last two years, with the second year devoted to writing your master’s thesis. The university is publicly funded and doesn’t charge students tuition fees, regardless of country of origin. 

Nord University 

Nord University offers programmes and courses on all levels for international students that are taught in English. Their master’s programmes include Business, Biosciences, Global Management and a Nordic Master in Sustainable Production and Utilization of Marine Bioresources. “All degree students at Nord University must pay the semester registration fee each semester,” notes the university. The current semester fee is 725 Norwegian Krone per semester.

When studying in Norway, don’t forget to soak in the country’s breathtaking nature. Source: Odd Anderseb/AFP

University of Oslo

Studyin in Norway gives you the opportunity to choose from some of the world’s top universities. The University of Oslo, for instance, is the country’s highest ranking university, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022. It offers a number of master’s programmes (as well as PhDs) taught in English. These include bioscience, computational science, data science, education and economics.

University of Stavanger

The University of Stavanger notes that academic life at the university is organised into six faculties, comprising a total of 13 departments/schools and two National Research Centres, as well as the Museum of Archaeology. You can find more information about admission to their international master programmes here.

While you can pursue a tuition-free master’s in the above universities, it’s important for international students to take note that the cost of living in Norway are high, so budget accordingly. Study In Norway notes that if you are granted a study permit, you are automatically also granted permission to work part-time, which can help you lower your cost of living while studying in Norway.