Yes, you can study in Norway with foreign qualifications. Check the requirements for your country in the GSU list, document your Norwegian and English, and apply in Coordinated Admissions by 15 April – the deadline for admissions 2026. Your answer comes on 20 July. Here is the entire path, step by step.
Can you study in Norway with foreign qualifications?
Yes, you can. Every year, many people with schooling from abroad receive study places at Norwegian universities and colleges. To apply for a bachelor's degree, you need general university entrance qualification – the formal requirement to begin higher education in Norway. What you must have from your country is shown in the GSU list.
Note the difference between two situations: This article is about getting into studies. If you already have a finished degree from abroad and want to use it in a job, you need instead recognition of foreign qualifications.
Coordinated Admissions is the national application portal for bachelor's degrees and other basic qualifications in Norway.
What does the GSU list say about your country?
The GSU list is the list of what gives general university entrance qualification for applicants with foreign qualifications. It is made by HK-dir (Directorate for Higher Education and Skills) and is binding for admission to bachelor's degrees. The requirement for each country has three parts: an education requirement, a Norwegian requirement, and an English requirement.
For some countries, completed upper secondary education alone is enough. This applies to, for example, Germany, Poland and Lithuania. For many other countries, you must additionally have at least one year of higher education from an accredited institution in your country. This "+1 year" pattern applies to, among others, Ukraine, Russia, USA, Pakistan, Philippines, Syria, Somalia and Eritrea.
Example: With a Ukrainian certificate, you additionally need one year of completed higher education (60 study points). A diploma such as "molodshyy spetsialist" or "fakovyy molodshyy bakalavr" also meets the requirement.
Good news: You do not need recognition from HK-dir (formerly NOKUT) before you apply. The case workers in admissions assess your education directly against the GSU list. Use the tool "Find your country" in Coordinated Admissions – there you see the requirements and document list for your country.
The Norwegian requirement: these exams count
Everyone with education from outside the Nordic region must document Norwegian skills. As of admissions 2026, you can use, among others:
- Norwegian test for adult immigrants – with at least B2 in all four sub-tests. A mix of B1 and B2 is not enough. Read more in our guide about the Norwegian test.
- The Bergen test (Test in Norwegian – higher level) – "passed" on both written and oral parts.
- Level 3 exam in Norwegian for foreign students at the universities.
- At least 60 study points in Norwegian language and social studies.
Since the academic year 2023–2024, there is also a combination option: one part of the Bergen test plus at least B2 on the corresponding parts of the Norwegian test. Many prepare for the Norwegian test and social studies exam at the same time – on SamfunnPrep you can practice social studies for free while you work on your Norwegian.
The English requirement: do you need to take a test?
It depends on your country. For many countries, your school certificate does not meet the English requirement, and then you must take an approved test. As of admissions 2026, IELTS Academic 5.0 or TOEFL iBT 60 points is enough – a lower level than many think. Some programmes, however, may require more. You avoid a test if you have, for example, a completed English-language master's degree. What applies to you is shown in the GSU list under your country.
What deadlines apply to you?
Many think that foreign qualifications give an early application deadline of 1 March in Coordinated Admissions. That is not true. As of admissions 2026, 1 March applies only to four groups: Police Academy, early admissions, special assessment and prior attainment. With foreign upper secondary education, you apply by 15 April, like most others.
| Date (admissions 2026) | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 February | Application portal opens |
| 1 March 23:59 | Deadline only for four groups, including prior attainment |
| 15 April 23:59 | Regular application deadline and deadline for uploading documentation |
| 1 July | Late submission deadline for language tests and certificates from this spring |
| 20 July | Answer to main admission |
| 24 July 23:59 | Response deadline – accept your place |
The late submission deadline of 1 July is the deadline for documents that were not ready when you applied. It is important for you: If you take the Norwegian test in May or June, you can upload the result all the way until this date.
Remember translation: Documents that are not in English or a Scandinavian language must be translated by an authorized (publicly approved) translator or a translation agency.
What does it cost to study?
If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you do not pay tuition fees. Since autumn 2023, students from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must pay. Many who already live in Norway with a residence permit are exempt – but it is up to the institution to decide, so always check before you apply. Also see the rules for EEA citizens who study in Norway.
Prices vary greatly. At the University of Oslo, bachelor's programmes cost 148,000–295,000 kroner per year in the academic year 2026/2027. At the same time, several institutions are cutting prices significantly: the University of Stavanger charges 60,000 or 85,000 kroner per year from autumn 2026. Choice of institution can thus save you over 100,000 kroner per year.
If you get a study place, you may have the right to support from Lånekassen for higher education.
No university entrance qualification? These are the alternatives
- The 23/5 rule: You turn at least 23 years old in the admissions year, have passed the six university entrance subjects (Norwegian, English, mathematics, science, history and social studies) and have at least 5 years of education or work experience. Foreign schooling can count. From admissions 2027/2028, the work experience requirement is removed, and the rule becomes in practice "23/6".
- Prior attainment: If you are at least 25 years old in the application year, the institution can assess your prior attainment individually. Note: The application deadline is then 1 March.
- Vocational college: Higher vocational education is also applied for through Coordinated Admissions. The deadline is 15 April in admissions 2026.
Do you want to take a master's degree with a foreign bachelor's degree?
Master's programmes are not applied for in Coordinated Admissions, but directly with each institution – often with much earlier deadlines. At NTNU, the deadline in admissions 2026 is: 1 December for applicants from countries outside the EU/EEA without a residence permit in Norway, and 1 March for you with foreign education living in Norway with a residence permit. Check the deadlines with the institution in good time.
Get started today
Studying in Norway with foreign qualifications starts with three steps: Check your country in the GSU list, plan your language tests early, and note the application deadline of 15 April. The language requirement takes the longest, so start there. On SamfunnPrep you find free tools for Norwegian and social studies, and a separate guide about student housing when your place is secure. Practice for free on SamfunnPrep today – Try for free.
