For refugees
To give refugees access to higher education, the Norwegian government has granted additional funding to universities and university colleges with campuses all over Norway.
On this page
To apply for admission, you must
- Be a refugee who has registered for collective protection or received individual asylum in Norway
- Be present in Norway when applying for admission to higher education in Norway
How to apply
Who can apply?
Refugees of all nationalities who have registered for collective protection or received individual asylum in Norway may apply for admission.
Please note that you must be present in Norway when applying.
How do I apply?
Application and admission to courses and study programmes for refugees is handled by the universities and university colleges, also called higher education institutions. For guidance on how to apply and requirements for admission, you should contact the institutions offering the study options you are interested in, as the different institutions may have different requirements and deadlines.
Please find more information about the study options at the different institutions here.
Admission requirements
The universities/colleges will make this decision based on an individual assessment of your application. Please find more information about admission requirments for refugees here.
Study advice
Please be aware that there are limitations to the studies available for you as a refugee.
There is no guarantee that the institutions can offer study options in every discipline. This depends on the individual university or university college.
Most studies offered will be individual courses taught in English. There may also be some Bachelor programmes available, as well as a range of two-year Master degree programmes taught in English. Language courses in Norwegian and English will also be available at a number of institutions.
You will find more information at the institutions' websites for refugees (see list). More information about admission can be found here.
Benefits, Grants and Loans
Introduction benefits
If you participate in the introduction programme, you will receive introduction benefits from the municipality where you have been settled.
If you are a refugee from Ukraine who have been granted collective protection in Norway, preparatory courses for higher education, short, complementary higher education or higher vocational education with a duration of one year or less may be part of your introduction programme.
If you have been granted individual asylum in Norway, preparatory courses for higher education may be part of your introduction programme.
The municipality where you are settled will also be aware of which rights you have concerning higher vocational education and higher education.
When applying for admission to higher education, please keep in mind that your introduction benefits are paid by the municipality where you have been settled. If you choose to move to a different municipality, you may lose your benefits. You should contact your municipality to clarify this issue. You should factor in travel time and travel costs to the university/ university college campus when applying for courses or programmes. Please note that some institutions may offer online courses.
Grants and loans
After completing the introduction programme, you will be eligible for grants and loans through the Norwegian State Education Loan Fund (Lånekassen) on the same terms as Norwegian citizens. This applies whether you have been granted individual asylum or collective protection.
If you are a refugee from Ukraine with collective protection in Norway who have been enrolled into studies in university or university college, but who do not participate in the introduction programme, you will also be eligible for grants and loans through Lånekassen on the same terms as Norwegian citizens. Read more about grants and loans with the Education Loan Fund at lanekassen.no.
Please note that when you have completed your education, you will need to repay your student loan. You must repay the loan regardless of whether you live in Norway or another country. Read more about loan repayments at lanekassen.no.
Study options
Information about study options, admission procedures and deadlines is available on each institutions website. Please refer to the list of the institutions' websites for refugees.
Career guidance
- is free, public and available in every county
- supports you in making good choices about education and work in Norway
- allow you to talk to a neutral and professional career counsellor about your wishes and opportunities for future work and education
As a refugee granted collective protection in Norway, you have the right to career guidance. Please contact the municipality where you do your introduction programme.
For institutions
More background information are available to Norwegian universities and university colleges. The information is in Norwegian.