Study in Norway
The beautiful country of Norway offers wonderful opportunities to foreign students to pursue education in its numerous high standard educational institutes. The students can avail the various under graduate courses and graduate courses offered by the universities of Norway. There are a total of eight universities, 21 state university colleges, nine specialized university institutions, two national academies for art and sixteen private colleges which offer under graduate, graduate, master’s degree and doctorate programs.
Thousands of foreign students are enrolled in the universities of Norway in various disciplines as exchange students or come here as free movers. Students can also avail the opportunity to study in Norway under the institutional agreement programs.
Studying in Norway as Exchange Students
A number of universities in Norway are linked with recognized universities and university colleges of the world and students who are enrolled in those universities can apply to study in Norway as exchange students. The students can choose from hundreds of different bachelor’s and master’s courses and can study in Norway for one or two semesters. The courses offered to exchange students are mostly in English language. Students can also study in Norway through institutional agreement or the mobility programs for example students from Europe can study up to two semesters under the Erasmus program. Students of the Nordic and the Baltic regions enrolled in institutes of higher education can study in Norway through the Nordplus/Nordlys mobility program. Other exchange programs are the EEA (for selected European countries), Fulbright program and the Hecua DSE/SUST (for USA students).
Most of the educational institutes in Norway are owned by the State and there are few private institutes as well. Education at all levels is free in Norwegian public institutes; however a reasonable tuition fee is charged for certain courses and specialization programs. Foreign students too are entitled to free education but it depends on the choice of subjects, some courses like BBA and MBA do require tuition fee. Education in private institutions is not free. The process of getting into a university is a bit lengthy. First of all you have to select a course and see whether you fulfill the university’s criteria; for higher education, upper secondary education which is thirteen years of schooling is required. Once the university approves your basic qualifications and offers admission you then have to transfer a specific amount of money in the university’s bank account. Next step is to apply for student’s visa (student’s residence permit); you need the admission letter, your educational certificates, passport and confirmation from the university that you have transferred money for the visa. You only get a student residence permit on the understanding that after the completion of studies, the student will return to his country.
Living in Norway
The cost of living in Norway is high and often foreign students look for jobs while studying to cover the living expenses. A student residence permit does not mean that you can work while you study in Norway for that you will have to seek a part time work permit or a permit allowing you to work during the vacations. The student can apply for the work permit at the local police station along with a letter from the university stating that the job will not affect the studies. The student is then allowed to work for 20 hours a week. The student can work full time during semester breaks. Please note that not all universities offer on-campus jobs. The government of Norway offers limited grants and scholarships to the deserving foreign students as well.
Most universities offer accommodation in the students’ villages. Usually the foreign students are offered low costing accommodations in which they have to share bathroom and kitchen with other students. Studying in Norway is a valuable experience and should be availed.
Last modified: 2011-09-20 00:06:52