Programs designed for foreigners

Information and contacts:
The majority of students who come to Norway for studying participate in an exchange program between their university and one in Norway.

The international student office at each university is responsible for the foreign students for all that concerns them. This office will help you in the admissions, advise you in your orientation, supply information on the immigration procedures and grants. In addition, a counsellor is in charge of particular cases, and can equally help you in the search for accommodation.

The website of the Norwegian Council of Higher Education can help in the search: www.siu.no/vev.nsf/start/English (it is only in English).

Programs:
Norwegian universities actively participate in international exchange programs, notably in the framework of bilateral agreements with foreign universities. The majority of institutions offer international courses in most subjects. These courses are for the most part taught in English.
Norway participates in a number of international programs:

Nordplus: This program involves students registered at a Scandinavian university (Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Greenland and the Faero Islands). For more information, contact your international office.

Socrates/Erasmus programs: although Norway is not part of the European Union it still participates in this European exchange program.

This program allows all students registered at a university in the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA) and who have been selected by the authorities in their university, to come to Norway to study. In the framework of this program, it will benefit from the recognition of diplomas received in Norway on return to ones country. It also benefits from modest grants of the EU. The ERASMUS student pays their registration fees at their home university and remain officially registered in the latter. Finally, in the framework of this program, you are not obliged to take entrance exams and English and Norwegian language tests.

Leonardo program: this is another European program at the EU initiative which subsidizes exchanges in Europe.

Bilateral programs: These agreements are between two universities. To participate in this type of program, you will need to contact the competent authorities at your home establishments. Within the framework of these programs, you benefit from the same advantages as ERASMUS students: recognition of diplomas, registration at your home establishment, exemptions from entrance exams, etc...

Quota program: this enables students from Central and Eastern Europe and developing countries to come and take special classes taught in English or in Norwegian. Grants are offered for those participating in this program.