15 Free and Cheap Universities in Norway for International Students

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In Norway, there are a lot of affordable universities that you can find. Enrolling in these schools will help you fulfill your dream of studying in Norway without paying a lot. These institutions also provide well-rounded academic programs and curriculums, allowing students to earn a degree with less burden on their pockets.

Now, if you’re planning to study in Norway, you’ll have a lot of school options, as they are home to 29 universities. But if you’re looking for cheap universities in Norway, make sure to read more!

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Cheap Bachelor's Colleges and Universities in Norway for International Students

Here is the list of affordable institutions in Norway ordered by their tuition fee for international bachelor's students.

University Annual Bachelor’s International Tuition % Cheaper than Average*
University Centre in Svalbard 0 NOK 100%
University of Agder 47,000 NOK - 135,000 NOK 61%
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences 58,200 NOK - 68,500 NOK 51%
Oslo Metropolitan University 67,000 NOK - 95,000 NOK 44%
University of Oslo 71,500 NOK - 88,000 NOK 40%
Norwegian University of Life Sciences 80,000 NOK 33%
Volda University College 84,000 NOK - 156,000 NOK 30%
University of Stavanger 85,000 NOK 29%
MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society 120,000 NOK -1%
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences 130,000 NOK - 500,000 NOK -9%
BI Norwegian Business School 138,400 NOK -16%
Lovisenberg Diaconal University College 140,000 NOK -18%
Ostfold University College 141,000 NOK - 538,000 NOK -19%
Nord University 141,000 NOK - 280,000 NOK -19%
Oslo National Academy of the Arts 154,000 NOK - 221,000 NOK -30%

* Average Bachelor’s International Tuition is 118,400 NOK for universities in Norway.

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1. University Centre in Svalbard

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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. University of Oslo

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.

6. Norwegian University of Life Sciences

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.

7. 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.

8. University of Stavanger

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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Lovisenberg Diaconal University College

The Lovisenberg Diaconal University College (LDUC), also known as Lovisenberg diakonale høgskole, is an outstanding Norwegian institution that focuses on providing excellent nursing education. LDUC strives to incorporate Christian values and teachings, as well, as it is a diaconal institution. The school is home to and makes use of modern facilities and technologies in order to deliver high-quality education for students.

13. 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.

14. Nord University

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.

15. 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.

Cheap Master's Colleges and Universities in Norway for International Students

Here is the list of affordable institutions in Norway ordered by their tuition fee for international master's students.

University Annual Master's International Tuition % Cheaper than Average*
UiT The Arctic University of Norway 0 NOK - 351,000 NOK 100%
University Centre in Svalbard 0 NOK 100%
VID Specialized University 20,800 NOK 82%
Norwegian University of Science and Technology 26,500 NOK - 205,600 NOK 78%
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences 58,200 NOK - 68,500 NOK 50%
NLA University College 60,000 NOK 48%
University of Stavanger 60,000 NOK - 85,000 NOK 48%
University of Agder 63,000 NOK - 135,000 NOK 46%
Oslo Metropolitan University 67,000 NOK - 95,000 NOK 42%
Norwegian University of Life Sciences 80,000 NOK - 275,000 NOK 31%
MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society 120,000 NOK -4%
Volda University College 128,000 NOK -11%
BI Norwegian Business School 128,200 NOK - 135,600 NOK -11%
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences 130,000 NOK - 500,000 NOK -12%
Nord University 141,000 NOK - 280,000 NOK -22%

* Average Master's International Tuition is 115,200 NOK for universities in Norway.

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1. 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.

If you're looking to save the most on your graduate studies abroad, UiT The Arctic University of Norway should be at the top of your list. International students here pay only 0 NOK to 351,000 NOK annually for their master's degree.

2. University Centre in Svalbard

One of the universities you should definitely check out for practical reasons is University Centre in Svalbard. Here, you can finish your master's degree with minimal stress on your finances. After all, the tuition rate for graduate studies at University Centre in Svalbard is 0 NOK.

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.

3. VID Specialized University

VID Specialized University is among the biggest institutions for higher education in Norway. They offer many study programs across different levels, with most courses focusing on the health and social sciences. Through different initiatives, commissions, and partnerships with other organizations, the school is also able to demonstrate its dedication to the development of its community.

The tuition fee at VID Specialized University for incoming international master’s students is 20,758 NOK. With its cheap rates, you can guarantee you’ll get a quality education without breaking the bank!

4. Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Another affordable university to consider in Norway is Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

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.

The tuition fee in Norwegian University of Science and Technology for master’s program for foreign students starts from 26,445 NOK.

5. Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Aside from its outstanding quality of education, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences has some of the lowest tuition fee prices for foreign students who are planning to take a master's degree here. International master's students only pay as low as 58,200 NOK yearly.

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.

6. NLA University College

NLA University College, a private and religious institution established in 1968, is located in Bergen, Norway. It started as a college for training Christian teachers and has grown into a university with several campuses in Bergen, Oslo, and Kristiansand. Students can expect to receive value-based education that instills ethics and an understanding of Christian values.

7. University of Stavanger

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.

8. 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.

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. Norwegian University of Life Sciences

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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. Nord University

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I get admission to affordable universities in Norway?

Applying to cheap universities in Norway requires you to complete different requirements depending on your degree and chosen university. These usually include admission forms, language proficiency scores, and a visa. Check out our full guide to studying in Norway for a more comprehensive guide!

2. What can I study at Best affordable universities in Norway?

International students can study a variety of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in Norway. For example, one of the best affordable schools in Norway is the BI Norwegian Business School, which offers Business Administration, Data Science for Business, and Digital Business to students seeking a bachelor’s degree. At the master’s level, the BI Norwegian Business School offers Applied Economics, Sustainable Finance, and Strategic Marketing Management.

It's important to take a look at all your options when selecting where to attend post-secondary school. With so many different types of schools, degrees, and universities in Norway, it can be tough to know where to start looking.

So, make sure to explore the best public universities in Norway as well if you're looking for affordable education!

We hope that this article on free and affordable institutions in Norway for international students was helpful!