TOP 9 Free Universities In Norway

Most free universities in Norway are public institutions because the government fully funds them, so students only have to pay semester fees and living expenses, not tuition.

The Scandinavian country has consistently ranked as one of the best places for students who want to further their education on a tight budget.

The interesting irony is that Norway is home to many free universities, but the standard of living in this country for students is very high. So, lifting the financial pressure of settling tuition fees is a good move to attract international students.

If you’re considering pursuing an education in Norway for free, you should focus on schools that offer English-taught programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. levels. 

Luckily, we’ve done the search for you:

Best 9 Free Universities in Norway

As cited earlier, Norway is among the countries in Europe with an expensive living cost even for the average joe. But the same narrative does not play out when it comes to studying.

As a rule, state university colleges do not charge tuition fees for international students. Here is our list of Norwegian free universities that are worth considering:

1. Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet)
2. University of Bergen
3. Nord University
4. Norwegian University of Science and Technology
5. University of Agder
6. Arctic University of Norway
7. Norwegian University of Life Sciences
8. University of South-Eastern Norway
9. University of Stavanger (UiS)

Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet)

• Tuition Fee: Null
• Oslo Metropolitan University Admission Requirement Page 
• Oslo Metropolitan University Tuition Details Page 

Oslo Metropolitan University is one of the best options when deciding which free Norwegian University to enroll in.

The institution offers tuition-free programs, but students must pay a registration fee of NOK 820 to study at the University. Here, students are provided with numerous Master and Ph.D. programs.

Most programs are taught in English, but some are administered in Norwegian and English.

Another mouth-watering thing about attending this University is that the government subsidizes student housing, allowing students to pay as low as NOK3,200 upwards for housing fees.

University of Bergen

• Tuition Fee: Null
• University of Bergen Admission Requirement Page 
• University of Bergen Tuition Details Page 

Another outstanding university in Norway that is tuition free is the University of Bergen. It is a popular choice for international students, offering only two-year master’s programs (the second year is about writing a thesis.)

Students are offered about 25 Master’s programs, all taught in English, including humanities and aesthetic studies, music, and design, medicine, natural sciences, technical subjects, fine art, social sciences, and psychology.

There is no tuition charge at the University of Bergen, but students must pay NOK 590 for the semester fee to the Student Welfare organization. Living in Norway may be expensive, but the narrative is different when studying in a place like UB. Why?

Here, the student welfare organization offers all students guaranteed affordable housing that is less than NOK 4,000 a month.  

Nord University

• Tuition Fee: Null
• Nord University Admission Requirement Page 
• Nord University Tuition Details Page 

The novelty of Nord University in Norway does not send an appealing impression to students looking for high-profile free universities abroad. However, it is one of the best to consider when choosing free Norwegian universities.

The school opened its doors in 2016 and has maintained the reputation of offering quality education with free tuition on various English-taught programs across all levels.

Students must pay NOK 725 as a semester fee during application. You must prove your financial capability to cover your cost of living in Norway for the time you’d be studying in this school.

Nord University began operation a few years ago. Despite its novelty, the institution still offers quality education.

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

• Tuition Fee: Null
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology Admission Requirement Page 
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology Tuition Details Page 

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology is one of the country’s publicly-funded educational institutions, which means it doesn’t levy a tuition fee. However, international students would have to pay NOK 580 for semester fees which serve as payment for student organization funding and welfare services.

The institution started in 1760 and has established campuses in Trondheim, Gjøvik, and Ålesund. Besides being a free university, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology is among the few institutions responsible for offering Engineering and Information Technology courses.

Students are offered programs in Humanities, Natural Sciences, Management, Medicine, Health Science, Architecture & Design, Economics, Social Science, and Education.

University of Agder

• Tuition Fee: Null
• University of Agder Admission Requirement Page 
• University of Agder Tuition Details Page 

With over 11,000 local and international students, the University of Agder (USA) is a free university in Norway that actively researches Signal Processing, Gender studies, Artificial intelligence, European studies, and many other fields.

It was established in 2007 and offered tuition-free programs from its campuses in Kristiansand and Grimstad.

The USA administers different courses through Faculties of Health & Sports Science, Business & Law, Engineering & Science, Social Science, Fine Arts, Humanities & Education, and Teacher Education.

All students are not required to pay tuition at the University of Adger. However, you will be expected to pay a semestral fee of NOK 800 if you enroll for a full-time degree.

The tuition fee may be out of the way, but students need to consider other expenses like accommodation, textbooks, and transportation costs, to name a few.

Arctic University of Norway

• Tuition Fee: Null
• Arctic University of Norway Admission Requirement Page 
• Arctic University of Norway Tuition Details Page 

Health science, Humanities and Education, Bioscience and fisheries, Law, Fine arts, Sports and social work, and Science and Technology are fields that the Arctic University of Norway offers degrees free of charge.

The University opened its doors in 1972. Besides being one of the oldest in Norway, it has risen to become one of the best. It is also an excellent option for international students because there is a lot in such category currently studying for various degrees there.

The only academic fee students need to worry about while attending the Arctic university is the Semestarial fee of NOK 625, which covers student welfare and registration expenses.

Norwegian University of Life Sciences

• Tuition Fee: Null
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences Admission Requirement Page 
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences Tuition Details Page 

Norwegian University of Life Sciences, otherwise known as NMBU, has the highest number of international students at 20 percent. This is not just due to the tuition-free status of the University.

NMBU is the fifth-best full-fledged University that offers degrees in Biotechnology, Business, Science, Technology, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Management, Biosciences, Chemistry, Food Science, Landscaping, Economics, and Veterinary Medicine.

With only a 5,800 student body, the school allows students to study different programs without worrying about tuition, but they have to pay a total of NOK 470 for the semester fee.

The free public institution is situated in As, Norway, and has been operating since 1859 as the Norwegian Agriculture Postgraduate College before becoming a full-fledged university in 2005.

University of South-Eastern Norway

• Tuition Fee: Null
• University of South-Eastern Norway Admission Requirement Page 
• University of South-Eastern Norway Tuition Details Page 

A semester fee of about NOK 929 per semester is required to cover copying, printing, and student welfare cost at the University of South-Eastern Norway. Aside from this charge, students do not need to worry about other academic expenses.

Located in the southeastern region of Norway, USN is a young institution established because of the continuation of Buskerud, Vestfold, and Telemark university colleges.

The University offers degrees in Humanities and Education, Technology & Maritime sciences, Health & Social Sciences, and Business, with campuses located in Horten, Porsgrunn, and Hnefoss.

University of Stavanger (UiS)

• Tuition Fee: Null
• University of Stavanger (UiS) Admission Requirement Page 
• University of Stavanger (UiS) Tuition Details Page 

Lastly, the University of Stavanger (UiS) is another free university in Norway. The academic programs offered at this institution cover hotel and tourism, natural science, language, business, engineering, health science, music, and social science

The University is located on the southwest coast of Norway, precisely in Stavanger, and offers two-year master’s programs that are tuition-free and taught in English

Wrapping up 

It is only possible to list all the best free universities in Europe by mentioning an institution based in Norway. The country may be one of the most expensive, but studying here will not require breaking the bank, regardless of nationality.

Norway isn’t a popular learning destination compared to Canada and France, but tuition-free universities gradually push the country up the ladder.

If you plan to be part of the booming student population enjoying tuition-free education, you must apply to any free universities in Norway reviewed above.