25 Best Universities In Norway For International Students

If you are looking to study in Norway, you are surely making a great choice. This location has a lot to offer for international students, including world-class universities and exciting student experiences. With more than 29 universities and colleges in Norway, you’ll surely have a wide range of choices.

Out of 29 universities in Norway, University of Oslo and University of Bergen are the top-performing schools in Norway. This list covers both public and private institutions in Norway.

To help you narrow down your school options, we’ve compiled the best universities in Norway. We based our rankings on academic reputations from reputable sources and the number of international students. By doing this, you’ll have an efficient way of comparing your target universities and choose your host university in Norway.

Rank University Founded Year Type City
1 University of Oslo 1811 Public Oslo
2 University of Bergen 1946 Public Bergen
3 Norwegian University of Science and Technology 1760 Public Trondheim
4 UiT The Arctic University of Norway 1968 Public Tromso
5 Norwegian University of Life Sciences 1859 Public As
6 University of Stavanger 2005 Public Stavanger
7 Western Norway University of Applied Sciences 2017 Public Bergen
8 University of South-Eastern Norway 2018 Public Notodden
9 Oslo Metropolitan University 2018 Public Oslo
10 University of Agder 2007 Public Kristiansand
11 University Centre in Svalbard 1993 Public Longyearbyen
12 BI Norwegian Business School 1943 Private Oslo
13 NHH Norwegian School of Economics 1936 Public Bergen
14 Ostfold University College 1994 Public Halden
15 Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences 2017 Public Hamar
16 Nord University 2016 Public Bodo
17 Norwegian School of Sport Sciences 1968 Public Oslo
18 Volda University College 1994 Public Volda
19 Molde University College – Specialized University in Logistics 1994 Public Molde
20 Oslo School of Architecture and Design 1945 Public Oslo
21 Norwegian Academy of Music 1973 Public Oslo
22 MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society 1907 Private Oslo
23 Kristiania University College 1914 Private Oslo
24 Oslo National Academy of the Arts 1996 Public Oslo
25 Sámi University of Applied Sciences 1989 Public Kautokeino

How do I get admission to the best universities in Norway?

Applying to the universities in Norway involves submitting requirements and following specific admissions procedures set by your chosen university. The requirements often include a student visa, application packages, and language scores. Check out our guide for international students who want to study in Norway to learn more about applying for admission in this country’s universities!

How much are the tuition fees at the best universities in Norway?

Tuition fees at Norway’s universities can vary depending on which university, degree, and program you will be enrolling in. Generally, tuition fees for the bachelor’s level range from 0 NOK to 632,800 NOK , while tuition fees for the master’s level range from 0 NOK to 632,800 NOK. If you are interested, check out the affordable universities in Norway!

As we cover the best universities in Norway for international students, feel free to check out the university’s information on Admission, Tuition, Courses, and Language Requirements by looking at the individual university pages.

Top Universities in Norway for International Students

1. University of Oslo

  • Total Number of Students : 25960
  • QS Rankings : # 101 in the World
  • Times Higher Education Rankings : # 119 in the World
  • US News Rankings : # 90 in the World
  • University of Oslo Page

University of Oslo tops the list for best universities in Norway.

For more than 200 years, the University of Oslo has built its reputation as the top-performing university in Norway. They have a consistent position in global rankings, proving their excellence in various academic and research fields. Today, they are home to more than 25,000 local and international students and they offer a wide range of programs to all levels, including science, education, and humanities.

Consistently being counted among the top schools in Norway is a great sign for quality education. University of Oslo is definitely a great university to consider if you’re planning to study in Norway.

2. University of Bergen

  • Total Number of Students : 17500
  • QS Rankings : # 199 in the World
  • Times Higher Education Rankings : # 201 in the World
  • US News Rankings : # 183 in the World
  • University of Bergen Page

Second on this list for best universities in Norway is University of Bergen. Because of its strong academic reputation, University of Bergen regularly has a sizable student population.

The University of Bergen is one of the most prestigious academic institutions in Norway, consistently ranking among the top 1% of universities in the world. It offers research-intensive programs and is acknowledged as the leading university in the field of natural sciences. Throughout the years, the university has won several awards for its high-quality education and valuable research.

3. Norwegian University of Science and Technology

  • Total Number of Students : 42840
  • Total Number of International Students : 3629
  • Percentage of International Students : 8.5 %
  • QS Rankings : # 352 in the World
  • Times Higher Education Rankings : # 401 in the World
  • US News Rankings : # 266 in the World
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology Page

Another great school in Norway is Norwegian University of Science and Technology. It is also one of the most widely-recognized names in education around the world and gets high numbers of student applications annually.

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, shortly referred to as NTNU, is a public university in Trondheim, Norway. It specializes in Engineering and Technology degree programs, along with Arts, Social Sciences, and Architecture. With a history that goes back to 1760, NTNU became one of the largest universities in the country, with its over 40,000 student population.

4. UiT The Arctic University of Norway

It's always a good plan to have several options when choosing your host university abroad. And among your top choices at Norway is UiT The Arctic University of Norway.

UiT The Arctic University of Norway, a public institution established in 1968, is located in Tromsø. As the world’s northernmost university, its studies are focused on the Arctic, the problems it faces, and its preservation. Students who take this challenge experience learning amidst an arctic and wild environment. They choose from high-quality courses in the sciences, humanities, technology, economics, etc. The university even offers some English-taught courses.

5. Norwegian University of Life Sciences

Next on our list of top universities in Norway for international students is Norwegian University of Life Sciences. This university provides good programs in various fields such as International Environment and Development Studies .

Norwegian University of Life Sciences, a public institution in As, Norway, aims to contribute to the solution of environmental, developmental, health, food, and resource problems. Thus, it offers 60+ programs centered around such global issues. Besides inspiring social responsibility and generating solutions, the institution provides quality education for its students, ranking 9th for agriculture and forestry in the QS World Rankings by Subject.

6. University of Stavanger

  • Total Number of Students : 12000
  • Times Higher Education Rankings : # 401 in the World
  • US News Rankings : # 1068 in the World
  • University of Stavanger Page

Besides academic and research excellence, extracurricular activities, leadership participation, and career opportunities are also worth it to consider when choosing your host university. All these reasons make University of Stavanger one of the best universities in Norway.

The University of Stavanger is one of the public universities in Norway, providing students with tuition-free education. It was founded in 2005 after its predecessor, Stavanger University College achieved a university status. The university is currently home to more than 12,000 students and offers bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degree programs in Arts, Education, Social Sciences, Engineering, and Natural Sciences.

7. Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, a public institution, specializes in the sciences, humanities, engineering, teacher education, sports, economics, and management. It is known shortly as HVL, the acronym of its Norwegian name: Høgskulen på Vestlandet. A large institution comprising five campuses (Bergen, Førde, Haugesund, Sogndal, and Stord), these locations may have been previously independent colleges whose merging resulted in HVL. Thousands of students choose from various programs every year, including a selected number of English-taught courses.

8. University of South-Eastern Norway

The University of South-Eastern Norway, or Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge in Norwegian, is a state-funded university with eight campuses in Norway. It was founded in 2018 through the merger of several academic institutions in the country. At present, the university has four faculties and enrolls more than 18,000 students.

9. Oslo Metropolitan University

Oslo Metropolitan University, or OsloMet, is a relatively young state university in Norway. It has more than 21,900 students and around 2,200 employees. The university offers degree programs in Engineering, Computer Science, Technology, Health and Social Sciences.

10. University of Agder

A young public educational institution, the University of Agder has two campuses in Norway. They have six faculties, and they offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs to domestic and foreign students. Before being a university in 2007, the University of Agder was a college offering various courses. After having an outstanding performance in the field, they were given a “university” status.

11. University Centre in Svalbard

  • Total Number of Students : 743
  • Total Number of International Students : 371
  • Percentage of International Students : 49.9 %
  • Edurank : # 3045 in the World
  • UniRank : # 2740 in the World
  • University Centre in Svalbard Page

The University Centre in Svalbard, also known as UNIS, is an English-taught public research university in Longyearbyen, Norway. It is among the world’s northernmost institutions and focuses on arctic biology, geology, geophysics, and technology. A relatively small university, it welcomes less than a thousand students, most of whom are international students. Transition is easy for foreigners since English is the primary language in UNIS.

12. BI Norwegian Business School

BI Norwegian Business School is the leading academic institute specializing in business and management studies in Norway. It operates across four campuses and offers programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The school also maintains links to several businesses from Norway and abroad, allowing students to access the best internship and research opportunities.

13. NHH Norwegian School of Economics

  • Total Number of Students : 3500
  • Total Number of International Students : 280
  • Percentage of International Students : 8.0 %
  • Edurank : # 1473 in the World
  • UniRank : # 2390 in the World
  • NHH Norwegian School of Economics Page

The NHH Norwegian School of Economics, or simply NHH, is one of the state-funded universities in Norway. It was the first business school in the country, with a history dating back to 1936. At present, the university has around 3,500 students, 8% of which are from outside Norway.

14. Ostfold University College

Østfold University College is a state-funded educational institution in Norway. Founded in 1994, it has built two campuses in Halden and Fredrikstad, which are now home to around 8,000 students. The university offers bachelor’s and master’s programs, including some delivered in the English language.

15. Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, or INN University, is a public institution formed by merging an applied science university with a university college. It has six campuses: Blæstad, Elverum, Evenstad, Hamar, Lillehammer, and Rena. Its programs, a few of which are English-taught master’s, are research-intensive, training students to contribute and produce innovations.

16. Nord University

  • Total Number of Students : 11000
  • Edurank : # 2763 in the World
  • UniRank : # 3497 in the World
  • Nord University Page

Nord University is a relatively young public institution established by merging the University of Nordland, Nesna University College, and Nord-Trøndelag University College in 2016. It is composed of several branches, with two of them considered to be the university’s main campuses: Bodø and Levanger. The multi-location nature of Nord University allows it to welcome thousands of students, offer a variety of programs, and form many strong community ties. Besides local relationships, the university also collaborates with international institutions.

17. Norwegian School of Sport Sciences

Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, a specialized public institution, was established in 1968 in Oslo. It offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, as well as part-time courses. These courses and programs focus on sports science and other related studies. Degree-granting programs are only available in Norwegian, but a few part-time individual courses are taught in English.

18. Volda University College

Volda University College, or Høgskulen i Volda in Norwegian, is one of the state-supported academic institutions in Norway. It was founded in 1994 through the merger of two colleges in Møre og Romsdal county. At present, the college has 4,500 students and offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

19. Molde University College – Specialized University in Logistics

Molde University College – Specialized University in Logistics, also known as HiMolde, is a specialized public institution established in 1994. It offers graduate programs focused on logistics, economics, business administration, management, sports sciences, social sciences, health sciences, and social care. There are a few English-taught, international degree courses; however, they are for graduate students only. Bachelor’s programs are offered only in Norwegian.

20. Oslo School of Architecture and Design

Oslo School of Architecture and Design is a public institution dedicated only to graduate studies in architecture, design, and landscape architecture. There are no bachelor’s or undergraduate programs offered by this school. Instead, students may pursue master’s or doctoral studies. It is among the world’s leading universities in architecture, ranking 151st in QS Ranking by Subject. International students are much welcomed and even comprise a significant fraction of the population.

21. Norwegian Academy of Music

The Norwegian Academy of Music is the largest music conservatory in the country and the only one with university status. It upholds the highest standards in musical education and offers programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Several of its graduates have become world-renowned composers, singers, and researchers who are continuously contributing to the growth of the music industry.

22. MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society

MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, a private institution, is located in Oslo, Norway. However, since it is non-profit, the school does not accept or charge tuition fees. MF takes pride in being the most prominent institution in Norway for theological education and research. Its 1000+ students can choose from its bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs.

23. Kristiania University College

Kristiania University College, one of Norway’s oldest private institutions, was established in Oslo in 1914. Over the years, several institutions have merged with it, including Westerdals Oslo ACT, the Norwegian College of Musical Theatre, and the Norwegian University College of Dance. Committed to its social responsibility of equipping individuals with training and education to become skilled experts, the university offers several programs in design, communication, and technology, some of which are English-taught.

24. Oslo National Academy of the Arts

Oslo National Academy of the Arts, a specialized public institution, was established in Oslo. One of the few Norwegian schools dedicated to visual arts and design, the academy offers a variety of programs and courses through its six divisions: academy of opera; academy of theater; academy of fine art; design; art and craft; and academy of dance. Each division has its own admission procedures and selected programs. Students may expect high-quality training and learning, as the academy is ranked 51st in the performing arts by QS Rankings.

25. Sámi University of Applied Sciences

Sámi University of Applied Sciences is dedicated to the Sámi indigenous people and culture. It is the only one of its kind in the world. The primary language of instruction is Sámi; thus, proficiency in it is required. However, if you’re not that fluent, don’t be discouraged, as you can learn Sámi at the university. Despite its small population, the university delivers a range of programs that focus on indigenous journalism, teaching, Sámi language and literature, social science, and even reindeer herding.

We know that choosing your dream school in Norway not an easy task. After all, you need to consider other factors like the cost of your education, school background, and population, as it can be overwhelming on your part.

So, to help you out further in weighing your school options for studying in Norway, make sure to visit our list of the best public and private universities in Norway! These articles will surely help you in deciding your next study destination!