Norway is located in northern Europe. Norway is bordered by the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea, and Sweden to the east.
Winter in Norway can be bitterly cold and harsh, even in April. Temperatures are regularly below freezing and many parts of the country are blanketed in snow. The hottest months are June, July and August. The warmest time of year is generally in late July where highs are regularly around 65.1°F (18.4°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 51.6°F (10.9°C) at night.
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Norway is known to be one of the safest countries in the world. Crime rates are extremely low even in major cities such as Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger. One just need to take certain precautions as there are instances of pick pocketing and petty theft. Norwegians are known to appear aloof to strangers as they are typically shy and reserved. New arrivals should bear in mind not to talk excessively loud, especially in public as that is deemed as rude to Norwegians. While education is free, the general cost of living is slightly higher than some countries.
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Norway is one of the few countries that offer international students free education in public universities, whether they come from EU/EEA countries or not. Many universities require applicants to prove Norwegian (B1 Level)/English proficiency.
To prove Norwegian proficiency, applicants need:
- An interview during audition week.
- Documentation that the applicant has passed The Norwegian language test at the level B1 or higher.
Ways to Prove English Proficiency
- English (140 hours) from Norwegian upper secondary school: written and oral exam.
- TOEFL with a minimum of 500 points from TOEFL PBT (paper based test) or 60 points from TOEFL IBT (Internet based test). DI code: B387
- IELTS, academic test with a minimum score of 5.0.
- PTE Academic, academic test with a minimum score of 51.
- Cambridge ESOL Examinations: First Certificate in English, Certificate in Advanced English, Certificate of Proficiency in English.
You can also meet the English requirements if you have completed one of the following:
- A university degree in English language and literature.
- A minimum of one year of university studies taught in English in one of these countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Great Britain or USA.
- Completed a master’s degree where the language of instruction was English
How Much Do You Need to Study in Norway?
Students do not need to pay tuition fees in public schools but they have to pay a semester fee of about 30 – 60 EUR/US$ 36 – 71 to the student union.
Students also need to apply student visa and applicants must document access to 10383 Euros/US $12349.48 for the first academic year (10 months) As a main rule, this money must be in a Norwegian bank account.
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An estimate of an average student budget in Norway is about 1154 euros/US $1372 for expenses including housing, food, study materials, transport and activities. Here are some of the costs of living in various cities in Norway.
Oslo: 1,200 – 2,000 EUR/US $1427 – 2378
Bergen: 1,100 – 1,800 EUR/ US $1308 – 2140
Tromso and Trondheim: 1,000 – 1,600 EUR / US $ 1189 – 1345
Other smaller cities in Norway usually have an average monthly living cost of 800 – 1,000 EUR.
Some Reputable Universities that Offer Free Arts Programmes to International Students
Norwegian Academy of Music
University of Oslo
It is important to consult Embassy of Norway in your country for other queries.
