Scholarships in Norway 2026-2027 Without IELTS: Study in Norway Guide

Scholarships in Norway without IELTS are one of the most searched opportunities among international students, and for good reason. Norway hosts several of Europe's top-ranked universities, offers English-taught degree programs, and - for many applicants - does not require an IELTS or TOEFL score for admission. This guide covers everything you need to study in Norway without IELTS: how tuition works by nationality, government and university scholarships, IELTS-exemption criteria, eligibility, benefits, and the full application process, with official links you can check for the latest figures and dates.

Is Education Free in Norway?

This is the most important - and most misunderstood - part of studying in Norway, so here's the accurate picture rather than the outdated "free for everyone" claim you'll still see on many sites.

1. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens study tuition-free at Norway's public universities, paying only a small semester welfare fee.
2. Non-EU/EEA students are generally required to pay tuition at public universities, with fees varying by institution and program. Norwegian universities gained the right to charge non-EU/EEA students tuition in 2023, and fee policy continues to evolve, so treat any published tuition figure as a snapshot, not a fixed rule.
3. PhD candidates, regardless of nationality, remain tuition-free almost everywhere in Norway, and many PhD positions come with a salaried employment contract.
4. Because individual universities set their own fees within the national framework - and that framework itself is periodically reviewed by parliament - the only reliable source of the current fee for your nationality and program is the university itself.
5. This is exactly why scholarships and funded programs (covered below) matter so much for non-EU/EEA applicants - they can offset or fully cover tuition that would otherwise apply.

Before applying, always verify current tuition and any fee waivers directly on your target university's official admissions page and on Study in Norway, the Norwegian government's official portal for international students - both are kept current, unlike static articles.

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Types of Scholarships Available in Norway

Funding for international students in Norway generally falls into four categories. Understanding which type fits your profile makes it much easier to target the right applications instead of applying broadly.

1. Norwegian Government Scholarships

Historically funded and administered by Norwegian government bodies. This category has shrunk significantly in recent years - Norway's main government scholarship, the Quota Scheme, has been discontinued, and its replacement program, NORPART, is being wound down. As of now, there is no Norwegian government scholarship open to individual international applicants.

2. University-Funded Scholarships

In most other countries this is a major funding source, but in Norway it's the exception rather than the rule: almost all public universities (Oslo, NTNU, Bergen, Stavanger, and others) state explicitly that they do not offer scholarships to international students, since state funding generally can't be used this way. Private institutions, particularly BI Norwegian Business School, are the main exception and run genuine entrance scholarship programs.

3. EU-Funded Scholarships

Programs like Erasmus+ and Erasmus Mundus fund study or exchange periods in Norway as part of broader European mobility schemes, open to both European and non-European applicants depending on the program.

4. External and Private Scholarships

Foundations, home-country ministries, and bilateral agreements (such as your country's own scholarship board) sometimes fund study specifically in Norway - check with your home country's ministry of education or embassy as well as Norwegian sources.

Government and National Scholarship Programs in Norway

Norway's national-level funding landscape has changed significantly in recent years, and several programs that older guides still describe as active are no longer accepting new applicants. Here is the current, verified status of each:

1. Norwegian Quota Scheme - This was Norway's flagship government scholarship for students from developing countries, Central/Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. It has been discontinued; it is no longer possible to apply through it. If you see it listed as "active" on other sites, that information is outdated.
2. NORPART - Norwegian Partnership Programme for Global Academic Cooperation - NORPART funded institutional partnerships (not individual applications) between Norwegian universities and partner institutions in the Global South, occasionally including a small number of full-degree master's scholarships. The Norwegian government has proposed ending funding for the program, and no new project calls are expected - existing, already-funded projects will run to completion, but individual students cannot apply to NORPART directly in any case; access has always gone through the partner institution.
3. Erasmus+ Programme - Funds exchange periods and joint programs for European and, in some tracks, non-European students studying in Norway. This remains active.
4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Scholarships - Fully funded joint master's degrees delivered across multiple European universities, including Norwegian partner institutions. This remains active and is currently one of the most reliable fully funded routes into Norway for non-EU/EEA students.
5. Lånekassen (Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund) - Provides loans and grants, but eligibility for non-Norwegians is narrow: broadly, EEA/EFTA citizens, permanent residents, refugees, or those with a close family connection to a Norwegian or EEA citizen resident in Norway. Most international applicants from outside Europe will not qualify - check the eligibility pages carefully before assuming it applies to you.

Bottom line: as of now, the Norwegian government does not run an open scholarship that all international students can individually apply to. Study in Norway itself states this directly. This makes Erasmus Mundus, home-country funding, and PhD positions (which are salaried jobs, not scholarships) your most realistic funded routes - see below.

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University Scholarships in Norway for International Students

Here's something most articles on this topic get wrong: almost all Norwegian public universities officially state that they do not offer their own scholarships to international students. This isn't an oversight - Norwegian public institutions are funded by the state and are generally restricted from using that funding to cover individual students' costs. So when a university's website lists "financing information," it usually means external and third-party options it's pointing you toward, not money the university itself is giving out.

The exception is Norway's private institutions, particularly BI Norwegian Business School, which run genuine, well-funded entrance scholarship programs.

Universities with real, direct scholarships

1. BI Norwegian Business School Scholarships - BI is private and runs a substantial merit-based entrance scholarship program, including the Bachelor International Scholarship, Master International Scholarship, the A. Wilhelmsen Foundation Scholarship, and the Future African Leader Scholarship, among others. These are awarded automatically when you apply for admission and submit a scholarship letter - no separate application is needed for most of them.

Public universities: financing and funding information (not direct scholarships)

These pages are genuinely useful for planning your budget and finding third-party funding, but note they explicitly state the university itself does not offer scholarships:

1. University of Oslo (UiO) - Admission and tuition information (UiO states directly that it offers no scholarships for full degree programmes)
2. NTNU - Financing and Scholarships (lists third-party options only, such as the Anglo-Norse Society award for British citizens and the Erasmus Mundus Master Degree Loans)
3. University of Bergen (UiB) - Tuition fees for international students (confirms UiB offers no scholarships and points to Study in Norway for external funding)
4. University of Stavanger (UiS) - Scholarships and Costs (confirms UiS currently offers no scholarships to incoming international students)
5. Nord University - Tuition fees for international students (confirms Nord offers no scholarships or grants)
6. OsloMet - How to Finance Your Studies (confirms OsloMet offers no scholarships and points to Study in Norway and the EU Scholarship Portal)
7. Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) - Tuition Fees (confirms NMBU offers no scholarships for bachelor's or master's students)
8. UiT The Arctic University of Norway - Scholarships and Funding

Nationality-specific bilateral and foundation scholarships

A few foundations and bilateral programs fund study specifically in Norway, though most are restricted to applicants of a particular nationality:

1. American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowships & Grants - Funds U.S. citizens and permanent residents pursuing graduate research or creative-arts projects in Norway and the wider Nordic region.
2. U.S.-Norway Fulbright Foundation - Offers Fulbright grants for American students, young professionals, and scholars to study, research, or teach in Norway.

If you're not a U.S. citizen, check whether your own country's ministry of education, a national scholarship board, or a bilateral cultural agreement with Norway offers something similar - several countries do, even though Norway's own government scholarships have wound down.

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Public Universities to Check for Low or Waived Tuition

These are well-known Norwegian public institutions that international students commonly research for scholarships in Norway without IELTS. Confirm current tuition status and IELTS policy directly on each university's website, since rules vary by program and change periodically.

1. University of Oslo (UiO)
2. NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
3. University of Bergen (UiB)
4. UiT The Arctic University of Norway (Tromsø)
5. University of Stavanger (UiS)
6. University of Agder (UiA)
7. Nord University
8. Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet)
9. Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
10. BI Norwegian Business School (private institution - tuition applies to all students)
11. Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO)
12. Molde University College
13. MF Norwegian School of Theology
14. The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)

Eligibility Criteria

While specific requirements vary by university, program, and scholarship, most Norway scholarships for international students share these baseline criteria:

1. Completed secondary education (for bachelor's) or a relevant bachelor's/master's degree (for master's/PhD applicants), with official transcripts.
2. Proof of English proficiency - either through IELTS/TOEFL or one of the accepted exemptions listed below.
3. A valid passport and, for non-EU/EEA applicants, an approved student residence permit from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
4. Proof of sufficient funds to cover living costs. UDI sets this amount and updates it annually, so check the current required amount on the official UDI website before applying.
5. Program-specific documents such as a statement of purpose, CV, recommendation letters, or portfolio, depending on the field of study.
6. For government-funded scholarships such as the Quota Scheme, citizenship of an eligible country and, in many cases, a stated intention to return home after graduation.

How to Study in Norway Without IELTS

There are three main routes international students use to waive the IELTS requirement in Norway.

1. Prior Education in English

If your most recent degree (secondary school, bachelor's, or master's) was taught fully in English, most Norwegian universities will accept this in place of an IELTS score. You'll typically need to request an official English Medium of Instruction (EMI) letter or English Proficiency Certificate from your previous institution confirming that English was the language of instruction.

2. Recognized Secondary-Level Qualifications

Students who completed one of the following English-medium secondary qualifications are commonly exempted from IELTS at several Norwegian universities. Always confirm the exact list with your target university, since exemption lists differ by institution.

1. General Certificate of Education (O-Level / A-Level) - widely accepted from countries including The Gambia, Botswana, Cameroon (English-speaking regions), Ghana, Nigeria, Eswatini, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and others.
2. West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) - Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia.
3. Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and Certificate of Kenya Advanced Education.
4. South African Senior/Matriculation Certificate.
5. East African Certificate of Education and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education.
6. Tanzania's Certificate/Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education.
7. Malawi School Certificate of Education.
8. Cambridge Overseas School Certificate.

3. Online English Assessment or Video Interview

Some universities conduct a short online English assessment or a video interview instead of requiring a standardized test. This is used mainly to confirm your ability to study and communicate in English, and is typically arranged only after your academic application has been provisionally approved.

If none of these apply to you, contact the university's admissions office directly - many will accept an official English proficiency letter from your previous institution as an alternative.

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Documents You'll Typically Need

Gathering these in advance makes the application process much faster:

1. Academic transcripts and degree certificates (with certified translations if not already in English or Norwegian).
2. English proficiency proof or IELTS-exemption letter.
3. A valid passport with sufficient remaining validity.
4. CV/resume and a statement of purpose tailored to your chosen program.
5. Two or more academic or professional reference / recommendation letters.
6. Proof of funds for living costs (for the residence permit application).
7. Portfolio or writing sample, where required by the program (common for design, architecture, and research-based degrees).

How to Apply to Study in Norway Without IELTS

1. Shortlist universities and programs that match your field of study, and confirm each one's current tuition and IELTS-exemption policy.
2. Identify realistic funding sources - Erasmus Mundus, nationality-specific bilateral or foundation scholarships, your home country's funding schemes, or a paid PhD position - since Norway's government scholarships have been discontinued and most public universities don't offer their own.
3. Check the specific scholarship and admission deadlines for your chosen program (see below).
4. Prepare your documents - transcripts, degree certificates, English proficiency proof (or exemption letter), CV, statement of purpose, and reference letters.
5. Apply through Samordna Opptak (for most bachelor's programs) or directly through the university's online portal (for most master's and PhD programs). Norway's official application portal for undergraduate admissions is Samordna Opptak.
6. Apply for scholarships or funding where genuinely available — BI's scholarships are applied for alongside admission, Erasmus Mundus and bilateral programs like Fulbright have their own separate applications and deadlines, and most public universities will not have a scholarship to apply for at all.
7. Apply for your student residence permit through UDI once you receive your offer letter, if you are a non-EU/EEA citizen.
8. Arrange proof of funds and accommodation before your visa interview or permit decision.

Benefits of Studying in Norway

1. Access to internationally ranked universities with strong research output, particularly in engineering, marine science, energy, and social sciences.
2. A wide range of English-taught degree programs at undergraduate, master's, and PhD level.
3. Tuition-free study for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, and tuition-free PhD study for all nationalities.
4. EU-level and bilateral funded pathways, such as Erasmus Mundus, that can offset non-EU/EEA tuition for eligible applicants.
5. A high standard of living, safety, and work-life balance, consistently ranked among the world's best.
6. Post-study work opportunities through Norway's job-seeker permit for graduates.
7. Multicultural student communities in cities like Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger.
8. The right for most residence-permit holders to work part-time alongside their studies, subject to permit conditions.

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Application Deadlines

Deadlines follow a consistent pattern each year, even though the exact dates shift annually, so plan around the pattern rather than a fixed calendar date:

1. Bachelor's programs applied for through Samordna Opptak run on a single annual admission cycle, with non-EU/EEA applicants generally required to apply earlier than EU/EEA applicants.
2. Master's programs typically open applications several months before the autumn intake, with non-EU/EEA deadlines falling earlier than EU/EEA deadlines.
3. PhD positions are posted year-round as individual vacancies rather than on a fixed cycle - apply as soon as a relevant position is advertised.
4. Scholarship-specific deadlines - for BI's entrance scholarships, Erasmus Mundus, and bilateral programs like Fulbright - are set independently by each provider and are listed on the individual pages linked above; several close well before the general university deadline, so check early.

Always confirm the exact current deadline on the official university or Study in Norway page for your intake, rather than relying on dates published elsewhere.