Norway guide · How to apply · 3 min read
How to apply to universities in Norway from Nepal, and what it costs since 2023.
Nepali students apply directly to each Norwegian university, mostly through its Søknadsweb portal. Non-EU master's applicants usually apply by about 1 December for the following autumn, months before EU students. Since autumn 2023 public universities charge non-EU students tuition (NOK 140,000 to 260,000 a year on our shortlists), and UDI asks you to show NOK 170,368 for 2026/27, often paid into the university's deposit account.
The short version
- Apply to each university (mostly through Søknadsweb). Non-EU master's deadlines are usually around 1 December, sometimes November.
- Public universities have charged non-EU tuition since autumn 2023: NOK 140,000 to NOK 260,000 a year on our shortlists.
- Funds for the study permit: NOK 170,368 for 2026/27, often paid into the university's deposit account.
- Permit fee NOK 5,400; work 20 hours a week in term, full-time in holidays; up to 1 year to look for work after.
- Norway leads in a few fields (aquaculture, maritime, energy). Choose it for the course, not because a post said 'free'.
The timeline for autumn 2027
| When | What |
|---|---|
| September to November 2026 | Choose programmes; check requirements; book IELTS |
| November to about 1 December 2026 | Non-EU applications on each university’s portal (check each deadline) |
| December 2026 to February 2027 | Documents verified; some programmes ask for more |
| Spring 2027 | Admission results on Søknadsweb |
| After admission | Pay the tuition deposit and the NOK 170,368 funds (often to the university’s deposit account), after your NOC |
| Then | Apply for the study permit to UDI (NOK 5,400) |
| August 2027 | Studies start |
The documents
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s transcript and degree certificate | As each university specifies |
| English test result | IELTS, TOEFL or other accepted tests |
| Passport | Photo page |
| Motivation letter, CV, references | If the programme asks |
| Course descriptions | Some programmes check subject content |
Choose Norway for the course
Norway is excellent in a few fields: aquaculture and fisheries, maritime, petroleum and renewable energy, polar and climate science. In those, it can be the best choice in Europe. For general business or IT, Finland or Germany usually costs far less.
From our files. Laxmi Oli from Surkhet had a BSc in Fisheries and every counsellor she met suggested an MBA instead. We started from the job she wanted, then the course, then the country: Norway leads in aquaculture. She’s doing an MSc in Tromsø, with her funds shown through a fixed deposit and her father’s tax papers.
The cost, honestly
At about Rs 14.6 per NOK (18 Oct 2026; NOK worked out from the EUR rate):
| Item | NOK | Rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (our shortlists) | 140,000 to 260,000 | about Rs 20.4 to 38 lakh |
| Living funds, 2026/27 | 170,368 | about Rs 24.9 lakh |
| Study permit | 5,400 | about Rs 79,000 |
Year 1 costs about Rs 46.1 to Rs 63.6 lakh, the highest of the 10 countries we cover. Cost to study in Norway has the detail.
Money red flags for Norway
UDI reads where the money came from. A large deposit just before you apply is the most common money red flag we see.
Give the money at least 6 months in your account, with its source on paper: salary and tax, a loan with its collateral, or farm income shown through cooperative sale receipts and a ward office letter.
Work and after
- Term: 20 hours a week; full-time in holidays. Most part-time jobs need Norwegian.
- After graduating: a job-seeker permit for up to 1 year; a skilled job leads to a work permit.
