Higher education in Oslo 2025

• Innovation of Master's programs

The universities in Oslo pay great attention to the most pressing problems and interdisciplinary research: from marine architecture and Arctic urban planning to global journalism and geotechnics. Norway ranks 19th in the world according to the Global Innovation Index. Specialties in the oil industry, renewable energy, sustainable management, and information technology are particularly popular. Global warming, Arctic and Scandinavian studies are popular in the country.

• Modern campuses and facilities

In terms of one university student, Norway spends almost 22,000 USD per year and in this indicator it is second only to Sweden and Luxembourg in Europe. Norwegian universities are equipped with libraries, laboratories, leisure and sports centres.

• Free doctoral studies

The foreign students can get a PhD at a public university in Norway for free. The remaining programs for international students from March 2023 are paid.

Norway has been participating in the Bologna Process since 2003, so the stages of education at universities are similar to other European countries and includes three stages: bachelor's, master's and doctoral studies.

It takes three years to obtain a bachelor's degree at universities in Oslo, a master's degree takes two years, and a doctorate degree takes another three years. The foreign students can also choose a single-tier master's degree, allowing you to combine a bachelor's and master's degree in one continuous program lasting five years - this is often offered for architecture, business management, engineering, dentistry and law programs.

If students want to study in Oslo in English, they can choose from over 200 Master's and Bachelor's degree programs taught in English. For example, the English language programs offered at the University of Oslo include humanities, social sciences, law, theology, mathematics and natural sciences, education, medicine, dentistry, energy, development, gender studies, as well as "Norwegian for Academics", which does not require prior knowledge of the Norwegian language.

The academic year is divided into 2 semesters. It starts in August, so foreign students submit documents to state universities strictly before December 1, and in some private universities the reception of documents is open until the beginning of May.

For admission to English-language programs, you can take both IELTS Academic and TOEFL ibt, and for programs in Norwegian, only a single Bergenstest is suitable, which does not differ in levels, but confirms the presence of sufficient language skills to study in the country.

Kevin McDonnell

Specialist in International Students of the University of Sussex

What advice would you give to potential students before applying to a university?

Be proactive and start your application early, ideally almost a year in advance. Seek recommendations from your teachers and academic advisors. The earlier you apply, the more time universities have to consider your application, and the more time you have to explore your options and make an informed decision.

All universities in Oslo are divided into three types:

• Universities

The status of research universities, which are exclusively state-owned, implies that a wide range of fundamental sciences (natural, humanitarian, social) can be studied at the university. Since 2005, in order to obtain university status, at least 5 master's and 4 PhD programs must be accredited at the university. Over the past 15 years, 6 state universities have received university status, including the prestigious Norwegian University of Technology.

• Profile universities

Specialized universities provide studying of specialists of a certain profile. Here the foreign students can study architecture, design, business, management, music, sports sciences, theology or economics at a high level. They are well suited for those who want to fully immerse themselves in the environment of their future profession.

• University colleges

Colleges were created by combining smaller technical and vocational schools. They are, as a rule, small educational institutions where specialized programs in applied sciences are widely presented. The main purpose of creating colleges is to prepare nurses, teachers, educators, engineers and managers. Colleges are located in every region of Norway, including in very small towns.

All state—accredited universities are united in the Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institutions (UHR) - in total, it includes 33 universities. The organization was established in 2000 to coordinate and interact accredited public universities, and since 2018, all accredited private institutions have been added to it. Only universities included in the UHR can issue invitations for international students.

For a student who focuses on interuniversity exchange programs and research scholarships, it is important to pay attention to international associations. For example, the University of Stavanger is a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU), and the University of Bergen is part of the European Alliance Arqus, aimed at developing European values, multiculturalism and social responsibility. In addition, three Norwegian universities are members of the International Association of Universities under the auspices of UNESCO (Norwegian University of Natural Sciences, Universities of Oslo).

Requirements vary from university to university in Oslo, but the standard package of documents includes:

• Completed online application;
• Official documents on education, certified by apostille and notarized translated into English or Norwegian: school certificate and all diplomas of higher education together with appendices;
• Motivation letter;
• Resume;
• Recommendation letters.

Additionally, an academic essay, a research plan and other documents may be required.