Norway

Norway is a Scandinavian country encompassing mountains, glaciers and deep coastal fjords. Oslo, the capital, is a city of green spaces and museums. Preserved 9th-century Viking ships are displayed at Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum. Bergen, with colorful wooden houses, is the starting point for cruises to the dramatic Sognefjord. Norway is also known for fishing, hiking and skiing, notably at Lillehammer’s Olympic resort.

  • Capital:Oslo
  • Dialing code:+47
  • Currency: Norwegian krone
  • Points of interest: Lofoten, Preikestolen, Geirangerfjord
  • Official languages: Norwegian, Bokmål, Nynorsk, Saami, North

EDUCATION SYSTEM IN NORWAY

Norway offers you a unique student experience and Norwegian institutions of higher education welcome applications sent by qualified students from all over the world.

Around 14 000 foreign nationals are currently enrolled at Norwegian institutions of higher education. International students may apply for admission to a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Quality education

With a wide range of high quality courses and great flexibility, Norwegian institutions prove to be an ideal study destination. From vocational subjects to postgraduate and doctorate level, there are plenty of opportunities for students to ful fil their ambitions.

Tuition/Scholarships

Completing a university degree is often considered to be an expensive Endeavour and tuition fees are usually making up the bulk part of the cost. Norwegian universities and state university colleges as a rule do not charge tuition fees for international students. However, you should take into consideration that living expenses in Norway are higher than in many other countries.

"Nothing is for free" is a saying that is true in many cases. But in Norway it is possible to get quality education without having to pay tuition fees. If certain prerequisites are met you could also be eligible for financial support that can pay for your living expenses. Through various fellowship programs, scholarship schemes or student loans, international students can receive funding for a full degree or a limited number of semesters.

ADMISSION

General application documents

The list of general application documents is pretty straightforward. A student has to present:

  •  An undergraduate/Bachelor's degree or equivalent of at least 3 years' duration (it must include courses equal to at least 1.5 years of full-time studies in a subject relevant to that of the program applied for)
  •  An English proficiency test.

Specific entry requirements

  •  Indian students require an English test and two other certificates that prove university education

Intake:

Generally Norwegian Universities start their Autumn Sesssion in August. The applications will open from 1st December to 15th March every year.

COST

No tuition fees

However, students will have to pay a semester fee of NOK 300-600 ( 40 EUR – 80 EUR) each semester. In order to take an exam this fee will have to be paid in full. But the fee also grants you membership in the local student welfare organization, which in turn entitles you to several benefits. These benefits may include on campus health services, counseling, access to sports facilities and cultural activities. Payment of the semester fee is also necessary to get an official student card that, among other things, gives you reduced fares on most forms of public transport and lower ticket prices to various cultural events.

Living Expenses

Generally 1200 Euros to 1500 Euros per month is needed and the amount varies with place.

STUDENT VISA & PERMITS

Most students who plan to stay in Norway for more than three months will need a student residence permit. Visas are only issued for up to 90 days and will not cover stays beyond this period.

When you are granted a Norwegian student residence permit, you are also granted a permit to work part-time in addition to your studies (up to 20 hours per week) and full-time during university holidays, at no extra charge. You can renew your study permit through the online Application Portal Norway at least three months before it expires, providing evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself, as well as satisfactory progress studying in Norway (your Study Progression Report, issued from your faculty, confirms this). The UDI will also use your Study Progression Report to confirm that you can continue to be issued a work permit. You must be making satisfactory progress in your studies to continue to be able to work part-time.

You can also apply for a permit to work full-time for a limited period if you can prove that the work is relevant to your studies.

WORKING AFTER STUDIES

International students studying in Norway on a student residence are normally expected to return to their home country after completing their studies. However, students eligible to work in Norway will find opportunities in the major industries, including petroleum, copper, natural gas, fishing, timber and hydro-power.

Having completed your studies, you are eligible to apply for a residence permit for up to six months in which to seek employment as a skilled worker. You must be able to prove you have become qualified as a skilled worker during your time studying in Norway, or that you had specialist training before your stay in Norway and then undertook further education in Norway. You must also meet the requirements to be able to provide financial support for yourself (and your family), and have a solid job offer.

JOBS IN NORWAY

The unemployment rate in Norway is very low, at just 4.8% in March, 2016. Although the global downturn in oil and gas prices has hit the Norwegian energy industry, resulting in fewer vacancies, it has not had a great effect on other fields. In fact, there are many employment opportunities for qualified professionals in a range of industries.

Learn Norwegian

Learning Norwegian will dramatically improve your chances of getting your dream job. Of course, it will also help you smoothly integrate into Norwegian culture. You may be pleasantly surprised to hear that Norwegian is considered one of the easiest languages to learn if you can already speak English, German or Dutch.

Average salary in Norway

Salaries in Norway are among the highest in the world. Although there is no minimum wage, a strong trade union presence means that even non-skilled workers can expect high wages. For instance, McDonald’s staff over the age of 18 receive a starting pay of US $15 per hour, rising to US $18 per hour within four months.

In addition, Norway’s strong cultural belief in modesty and egalitarianism (“Jante Law”) has fostered a society in which the gap between rich and poor is mild. The average salary of full-time workers in Norway is roughly US $68,000 ($5,135 a month). Part-time workers earn an average of US $4,000 a month. Company directors and executives make US $103,000 on average, in comparison with drivers and hauliers, who typically earn US $43,500.

Job benefits in Norway

In addition to the excellent salaries on offer, there are a number of perks to working in Norway. Most jobs include 25 days paid vacation in addition to the 8-12 public holidays. You will be paid overtime if you have to work more than 40 hours in a week.

Norway is a family-friendly culture, and this is reflected in the working environment. New mothers can take a whole year off on 80% pay (covered by the state) or 10 months off on 100% pay. If your child is sick, you can take the day off to look after them, and if you need to leave the workplace for a family reason, this will be accepted and understood.

Cost of Living in Norway

Wherever there are high wages, you can expect to find a high cost of living, and Norway is no exception. Rent, bills, transport and entertainment are all very expensive.

For instance, a one-bedroom apartment in central Oslo will cost you about US $1,420 a month, with monthly utilities of about US $250. A month’s daily travel to and from the city centre will set you back roughly US $275. A night out won’t come cheap, either, with a three-course meal costing roughly US $45-50 per head. If you want to wash it down with a beer, it will be an extra US $8-14.

Though these prices may seem exorbitant, remember that wages are high enough to cover these costs – and put enough money aside to build a great future, in Norway or abroad.

JOBS IN DEMAND IN NORWAY

Having a command of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language will open many doors and help put you first in line for the following in-demand jobs in Norway:

  • Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists
  • HVAC engineers, railway engineers, and engineering academics
  • Maths and science teachers
  • Hotel receptionists
  • Telesales professionals
  • Telesales professionals

However, high-level Norwegian is not required for every career path in Norway. Indeed, English may be all that is required, at least at first, for the following workers:

  • IT professionals
  • Qualified chefs
  • Waiting staff
  • Plumbers
  • Electricians
  • Metal workers
  • Mechanics
  • Bus drivers
  • Hauliers
  • Factory workers

PERMANENT RESIDENCE

Becoming a permanent resident of Norway is a goal for many new arrivals. It offers more protection than a regular work permit, which is usually linked to a specific job, but stops short of having to become a Norwegian citizen.

The rules for permanent residence are complex and depend on many things, but the most relevant are your country of citizenship and the length of time you have lived in Norway.

How to become a permanent resident of Norway

Whichever category you fall into, the application must be started on the UDI website, and an appointment made with your local police station or immigration office, where your application and documentation will be received. During the application process, you will receive a checklist of documentation that you will be expected to hand over.

Non-European citizens

The process for permanent residence is similar for non-European citizens. Although the length of time you need to have been living in Norway is less, the other requirements are greater. You must have lived in Norway for the past three years holding valid residence permits. It's important to note that not all residence permits count towards permanent residence.

You must have completed the mandatory tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies, and pass the relevant tests (the specific tests you have to pass depend on your circumstances), although there are some exceptions.

New requirements from 2017

All applicants must personally fulfil the stated income requirements for the previous year. This means the applicant must have earned a pre-tax income of at least NOK 238,784 over the previous 12 months, and cannot have received any social security payments from NAV during the same period.

Once the paperwork is completed and accepted by the police or immigration office, you will receive a phone call or email if you need to supply any additional information. The processing time for permanent residence varies, but is typically 3-6 months.

It's important to know that any existing work or residence permits do not get automatically extended while you are waiting for a decision on permanent residence, so it's vital to follow the usual process for extending your regular permit.