Study in Norway from Nepal and India
Residence permit for studies (study permit)
Non-EU students need a study permit (fee NOK 5,400), must be admitted to full-time studies and show funds; Study in Norway puts the 2026–27 figure at NOK 170,368 a year. State universities must charge tuition to students from outside the EEA and Switzerland, students may work 20 hours a week, and qualifying graduates can get up to one year to look for skilled work.
Norway student visa at a glance
- Work in term
- 20 hrs/wk
- Term-time work
- Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Stay after study
- 1 yr
- Job-seeker permit for graduates
- Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
Short answer: To study in Norway you apply for the Residence permit for studies (study permit). The main visa fee is NOK 5,400. You must also show NOK 170,368 per year: money that stays yours. You can work up to 20 hours a week during term. Eligible bachelor's and master's graduates can get a post-study work stay of up to 12 months (rules and longer stays for some degrees below).
Check before you start
- This guide is for Nepali and Indian citizens applying from Nepal or India.
- You need an offer from a recognised institution. Check it on the official register in the sources below.
- Rules change often. Use the official links on this page to confirm before you pay or apply.
How much does it cost to study in Norway?
Two different kinds of money: fees you pay (gone once paid) and funds you show as evidence (they stay in your account). Never add them together.
You pay
Fees. Not refunded.
- Study permit application fee (students, Immigration Regulations § 17-10)NOK 5,400 one-offChildren under 18 pay half (from 1 Jan 2026).
- Semester fee to the student welfare organisation (samskipnad)NOK 1,000 per semesterApproximately NOK 1,000; paid by all students.
You show
Evidence. It stays yours.
- Funds to cover living costs (2026–2027)NOK 170,368 per yearNOK 15,488 per month (Study in Norway figure). Confirm UDI’s current amount on udi.no.
This money proves you can support yourself. It is not paid to anyone.
Tuition and living costs (guide figures)
- Estimated student living cost (2026–2027)NOK 15,488 per monthMatches Lånekassen's 2026–27 basic support rate of NOK 15,488 a month.
NPR and INR are estimates at Nepal Rastra Bank selling rates of 22 Oct 2026. Pay official fees only through the official channel.
What do I need for the Norway student visa?
- Who needs it
- Students from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland (including UK citizens) staying three months or longer. Source: studyinnorway.no (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Basic requirements
- Admission as a full-time student at a Norwegian institution, plus proof of funding and housing. Source: studyinnorway.no (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Legal basis
- Students admitted to a university, university college or vocational college can get a permit for full-time studies only. Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Permit length
- Up to three years if it matches the study plan and funds are secured for the whole period. Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Tuition
- State universities and university colleges must charge tuition to citizens of countries outside the EEA/Switzerland; amounts vary by institution. Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Tuition exemptions
- Doctoral candidates, exchange students, and NORPART, NORHED, Fulbright, StAR and Erasmus Mundus students are exempt. Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Biometrics
- Biometrics are mandatory when applying for a residence permit. Source: norway.no (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Processing time
- Not stated on pages opened; the embassy says appeals take more than 3 months and decisions are known when the passport returns to VFS. Source: norway.no (opens the official website in a new tab)
Can I work while studying in Norway?
- Term-time work
- A study permit automatically includes permission to work part-time 20 hours a week and full-time in ordinary holidays. Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Work in the programme
- Full-time work for a limited period is allowed when documented as part of the education. Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
Can I stay and work after graduating?
- Job-seeker permit for graduates
- Graduates holding a student permit who qualify as skilled workers can get a permit of up to one year in total to look for skilled work. Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Work during job search
- The job-seeker permit includes permission to work full-time. Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Permanent residence
- Student and job-seeker permits do not count towards permanent residence. Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
What is different for Nepali and Indian students?
From Nepal
- Nepal – where applications are decidedNepal
- Visa and residence-permit applications from Nepali citizens are handled by the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi. Source: norway.no (opens the official website in a new tab)
- Nepal – where to submitNepal
- You still apply at the VFS application centre in Kathmandu and your passport is returned there; no need to travel to Delhi. Source: norway.no (opens the official website in a new tab)
From India
- India – where to submitIndia
- Apply in person at a VFS application centre (appointment mandatory); files go to the Embassy in New Delhi, then to UDI. Source: norway.no (opens the official website in a new tab)
- EnquiriesIndia
- Visa and immigration questions go to VFS Global, not the embassy. Source: norway.no (opens the official website in a new tab)
What are the top universities in Norway?
The 5 highest-placed universities in Norway in THE World University Rankings 2027, in that order. Rankings measure research and reputation, not whether a course suits you. Check entry rules, fees and the course on each official site. Checked 22 Oct 2026.
1. University of Oslo
Oslo · Public university · Language of teaching: check with the university
Known for: Mathematics & Natural Sciences · Medicine · Law · Social Sciences · Humanities · Educational Sciences
Official website (opens the official website in a new tab)Faculties and schools (opens the official website in a new tab)
=118THE WUR 2027
2. University of Bergen
Bergen · Public university · Language of teaching: check with the university
Strongest subjects in rankings: Life Sciences · Social Sciences · Law · Arts & Humanities · Medicine & Health · Psychology
Official website (opens the official website in a new tab)Subject rankings (opens the official website in a new tab)
=273THE WUR 2027
3. Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Trondheim · Public university · Some degrees in English
Known for: Engineering · IT & Electrical Engineering · Natural Sciences · Medicine & Health Sciences · Architecture & Design · Economics & Management
Official website (opens the official website in a new tab)Faculties and schools (opens the official website in a new tab)
=299THE WUR 2027
4. UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Tromsø · Public university · Some degrees in English
Known for: Biosciences, Fisheries & Economics · Health Sciences · Science & Technology · Engineering Science · Law · Humanities & Education
Official website (opens the official website in a new tab)Faculties and schools (opens the official website in a new tab)
651–700THE WUR 2027
5. Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
Ås · Public university · Some degrees in English
Known for: Veterinary Medicine · Biosciences · Environmental Sciences · Chemistry & Food Science · Landscape & Society · Economics & Business
Official website (opens the official website in a new tab)Faculties and schools (opens the official website in a new tab)
801–1000THE WUR 2027
What has changed recently?
Application fees introduced for children under 18, at half the adult fee. Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
Private universities and colleges that receive state funding must also charge tuition to students from outside the EEA/Switzerland. Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
Living-cost benchmark for 2026–27 set at NOK 15,488 a month (NOK 170,368 a year). Source: studyinnorway.no (opens the official website in a new tab)
Student-permit rule (§ 6-19) re-issued; UDI may now set special guidelines for applicants from regions named by the ministries. Source: Lovdata (Norwegian law) (opens the official website in a new tab)
Check these yourself
We could not confirm these on an official page when we last checked, so we do not state them as facts.
- The exact funds amount UDI requires, any housing documents and current processing times — confirm on udi.no.
- Which regions are covered by the new special-guidelines clause in § 6-19 (from 1 Sep 2026) and whether Nepal or India are affected.
- Tuition amounts — set by each institution; no national figure.
- The fee for the graduate job-seeker permit — confirm on udi.no.
- VFS Global service fees and centre addresses in Kathmandu and India — check the VFS Norway pages.
Official sources for Norway
Government and official pages we use for this guide, checked .
- 1Immigration Regulations § 6-19 (student permits) – Lovdatalaw · Student permit, job-seeker permit § 6-29
- 2Immigration Regulations § 6-33 (work rights) – Lovdatawork · 20 h/week + full-time in holidays
- 3Immigration Regulations § 17-10 (fees) – Lovdatafee · Student fee NOK 5,400
- 4Immigration Regulations chapter 10 (permit duration) – Lovdatalaw · Student permits up to 3 years
- 5FOR-2025-12-19-2802 (fees for children)changes · Half fee for children from 1 Jan 2026
- 6FOR-2026-09-01-1715 (student permits)changes · § 6-19 re-issued 1 Sep 2026
- 7Universities and University Colleges Act § 2-6 – Lovdatatuition · Mandatory tuition for non-EEA/Swiss at state institutions
- 8LOV-2026-06-19-60 (tuition at private institutions)changes · Private state-funded institutions must charge tuition from 1 Aug 2026
- 9Regulation 2024-06-28-1392 § 4-4 (tuition exemptions) – Lovdatatuition · Exempt groups
- 10Study in Norway – cost and requirements (HK-dir)study_portal · Funds NOK 170,368/yr (2026–27), 20 h work, semester fee
- 11Study in Norway – working while studyingwork · 20 h/week
- 12Study in Norway – tuition fees for studentstuition · Who pays / exemptions
- 13Lånekassen – stipend og lån 2026–2027funds · Basic support NOK 15,488/month (benchmark)
- 14Royal Norwegian Embassy New Delhi – visa and residence permitembassy_india · Apply via VFS; embassy covers Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives
- 15Royal Norwegian Embassy Kathmandu – visa and residence permitembassy_nepal · Nepali applications decided in New Delhi; apply at VFS Kathmandu
Planning to study in Norway?
Tell us your results, budget and intake. We reply with options and the official steps, free.
General information from official government sources — not legal or immigration advice, and not a guarantee of admission, scholarship, employment or visa approval. Rules change: always confirm on the official site before you apply.