Norway · Study and work abroad

Norway: free tuition
at state universities.

Until 2023, Norway offered free tuition at all public universities to all international students. From autumn 2023, this changed for non-EU/EEA students at some institutions, but several state universities still offer free or near-free tuition for international students. Strong maritime, energy, and engineering sectors.

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Free

at state
universities

1 yr

post-study
residence

3 yrs

to permanent
residence

Why Norway

Four reasons Kerala families pick Norway.

💰

Free or low-cost public uni

State institutions

Some state universities still charge no tuition or only nominal fees. Others (NTNU, UiO) introduced tuition for non-EU students from 2023.

🏭

Maritime, energy, engineering

Equinor, DNV, Aker

Norway is the world leader in offshore engineering, maritime tech, and increasingly renewable energy. Strong R&D hiring.

🛂

Skilled worker pathway

Clear path to PR

1 year post-study to find a job, then a skilled worker permit. 3 years of legal residence makes you eligible for permanent residence.

🏔️

Highest living standards

GDP per capita top 5 globally

Norway has among the highest living standards in the world. Strong public services, high salaries, generous social benefits.

The full journey

From Kerala to Norway, step by step.

Profile and program selection

2 weeks

Universities: UiO, NTNU, NHH, BI Norwegian Business School. Engineering, business, sciences.

Application via Soknadsweb

6 to 10 weeks

Each university uses its own application portal. SOP and transcripts.

Admission decision

8 to 14 weeks

Decisions on fixed cycles. Confirm seat.

Residence permit (visa)

6 to 10 weeks

Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) student residence permit. Financial proof of NOK 137,907 per year.

Pre-departure

2 to 4 weeks

Bank account setup challenging without local ID, accommodation arrangement, fjell-card registration.

Total cost

What it actually costs.

Honest 2026 numbers. Talk to a counsellor for your specific case.

Tuition, Masters (state uni)

Free at some state institutions; NOK 80-180K at others

Free or NOK 80-180K

Living costs, 1 year

Among the highest in Europe

NOK 150-180K

Residence permit

UDI student permit

NOK 5,300

Health insurance

Health insurance for first year

NOK 5,000-7,000

consultancy

End-to-end

INR 1,85,000

Total, 2-year Masters

INR 22-32L

Free tuition + living

Frequently asked

Norway questions Kerala families ask.

Is tuition really free in Norway? +

Free at some state universities. From autumn 2023, several public universities introduced tuition for non-EU/EEA students (typically NOK 80-180K/yr). The list of free-tuition institutions changes; we keep an updated map.

Why is living cost so high? +

Norway has the highest cost of living in Europe outside Switzerland. Food, transport, housing all expensive. Even with free tuition, students need NOK 150K+ per year for living expenses.

Is the post-study pathway easy? +

Norway allows international graduates 1 year to find a job. After finding qualifying work, you switch to a skilled worker residence permit. 3 years of legal residence = permanent residence eligibility, faster than Denmark or Sweden.

Do I need Norwegian? +

Not for English-taught Masters. Most major employers operate in English. Norwegian is useful for healthcare jobs, public sector roles, customer-facing positions.

Comparing Norway with other options?

See the full 25-country grid with cost, language, and PR timeline side by side.

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Free 30-minute call

Talk to our Norway desk.

A senior counsellor will walk through your specific case for Norway. Free, no obligation.

Norway: free tuitionat state universities.