Universities in Norway

Studying in Norway gives international students the chance to experience breathtaking scenery such as the fjords and forests, high quality education, a high standard of living and also little to no tuition fees for their studies.

The types of university

There are 33 universities in Norway, which can be classified into the following groups:

• Universities – These are all public universities, some of which were established in the 19th century. There are a group of 4 universities, established postwar known as the ‘old universities’, including the University of Bergen and University of Tromsø.
• Universities of applied sciences / University colleges – Tending to be limited to awarding bachelor degrees, universities of applied sciences in Norway exist as both public and private universities, including Østfold University College, Kristiania University College and NLA University College.
• Specialized universities – With a focus on a narrow range of specific subjects such as business or music. Examples include BI Norwegian Business School and Norwegian Academy of Music.

Popular Norwegian cities for international students

• Bergen – Situated on the south west coast of Norway, Bergen is known as ‘the capital of the fjords’ due to its proximity to some of the most spectacular fjords of Norway. Bergen has six universities for international students, including Bergen School of Architecture and the University of Bergen.
• Trondheim – Located on the Trondheim Fjord in central Norway, Trondheim has a lot to offer international students including a rich cultural history and a choice of three universities.
• Oslo – The capital of Norway and the largest city in the country and the center of trade, finance and industry. Oslo has over 10 universities, including the University of Oslo, Oslo New University College and Oslo National Academy of the Arts.

The top universities in Norway

The standard of education in Norway is very high, and 5 of Norway’s universities feature in the Times Higher Education university rankings, including the University of Oslo, the University of Bergen and Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Table of the top ranked universities in Norway

See below for a list of universities and higher education providers in Norway. Click on universities you are interested in below to read more and to see which courses are available for international students.