Norway

Country in Europe

Capital: Oslo
Dialing code: +47
Currency: Norwegian krone
Population: 5.084 million (2013) World Bank
Official languages: Norwegian, Bokmål, Nynorsk, Saami, North

Norway offers a unique experience for students. Norwegian institutions of higher education welcome applications from qualified students from all over the world.

Internationalization is a priority for all sectors of the Norwegian education system, and universities and university colleges are working to make their routines and facilities suit international students. Nearly 11 000 such students are currently enrolled at Norwegian institutions of higher education.

Higher Education System

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Universities of Norway

Higher education in Norway is comprised of a mixture of both public and private universities. Some are specialized, some comprehensive, and some – known as ‘university colleges’ – concentrate mainly on providing undergraduate-level education in a range of more vocationally focused subjects.

Four universities in Norway feature in the QS World University Rankings® 2016/17, all large public universities. These are the University of Oslo (ranked joint 113th in the world), University of Bergen (joint 177th), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (259th) and University of Tromsø The Arctic University of Norway (joint 377th).
Norway is signed up to the Bologna Process, which aims to make European higher education systems more compatible. The Bologna Process includes the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) which means students who complete degrees or courses at universities in Norway will hold certifications that are recognized by other countries worldwide. Bachelor’s degrees at universities in Norway take three years to complete, master’s degrees take two years and PhD degrees a further three years. You can also opt for a one-tier master’s degree which allows you to combine your bachelor’s and master’s in a single continuous program lasting five years – this is often offered for architecture, business management, engineering, dentistry and law programs.