Tuition Fees for International Students
Important information about tuition fees for applicants from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland
The Norwegian government has decided that Norwegian universities and higher education institutions will be required to introduce tuition fees for certain groups of students, starting from the autumn semester 2023. This includes students from countries outside the EEA (EU and EFTA countries) and Switzerland.
Some uncertainties remain, namely that changes in the relevant legislation/statutes have yet to be adopted.
Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) must nevertheless prepare for the implementation of tuition fees for our international applicants and students that are admitted for a master program starting in the autumn semester 2023.
You will not have to pay tuition fees if:
- You are an exchange student
- You started your study programme in Norway before 2023
- You have a citizenship from EU/EEA or Switzerland
- If you have a permanent residence permit i Norway or other special connections to Norway according to the list of exceptions below
How much will the tuition fees be?
The tuition fees for the international study programs at HVL will be:
- Maritime Operations – For the first semester in Haugesund the price will be 130 000 NOK. If the student chooses the Haugesund profile for the second year, the price will be 260 000 NOK for the second year.
- Climate Change Management – 260 000 NOK per year
- Fire Safety– 260 000 NOK per year
- Healthy Aging and Rehabilitation – 180 000 NOK per year
- Community Arts – 160 000 NOK per year
HVL does not offer any scholarships, nor do we control any sources of student funding and cannot assist students financially.
Exemptions
If you fulfill the requirements for one of the following criteria (subject to change), you may be exempt from paying tuition fees.
You are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizens
Citizens from the following countries are exempt from paying tuition fees:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
You have a permanent residence permit
Anyone with a permanent residence permit in Norway is exempt from paying tuition fees.
You have a residence permit due to protection (asylum)
Anyone who is granted protection (asylum) in Norway is exempt from paying tuition fees.
You are married to a Norwegian citizen
Anyone who is married to, or cohabiting with, and have joint children with a Norwegian citizen is exempt from paying tuition fees. Both you and your spouse/cohabiting partner must live in Norway.
You are cohabiting and have children with a Norwegian citizen
You do not have to pay tuition fees if you are cohabiting and have children with a Norwegian citizen. Both you and your cohabiting person must live in Norway.
You have a residence permit as family member of an EU/EEA citizen
You do not have to pay tuition fees if you have a residence permit as family member of an EU/EEA citizen. The EU/EEA citizen must have grounds for residence in Norway other than studying.
You have a residence permit due to family immigration
Anyone with a residence permit because of family immigration may be exempt from paying tuition fees. The person the student has been reunited with must either be a Norwegian citizen or a foreign national with a reason for residence in Norway other than studying.
You are a UK citizen and came to Norway before 1 January 2021
During a transitional period that lasted until 2020, the United Kingdom was to be treated as if it were still a member of the EU and the EEA. If you are a citizen of the United Kingdom, who were entitled to reside in Norway in accordance with the EEA agreement before the end of the transition period (31.12.2020), you are exempt to pay tuition fees. You must also have stayed in Norway.
If you came to Norway on 1 January 2021 or later, you are not exempt from the tuition fees.
You have worked in Norway for at least two years full-time
Anyone who has lived in and has had continuous full-time employment in Norway for at least 24 months immediately prior to commencing studies, may be exempt from paying tuition fees. The person must have had a residence permit as an employee and paid tax to Norway during this period.
There must be no breaks during the accrual period or between the accrual period and the period in which you start your studies. Nevertheless, exceptions may be made for breaks of up to one year in connection with illness or childbirth.
Stays due to ordinary five-week holidays per year will be accepted as part of the accrual period of 24 months.
Maternity leave and leave for occasional care of children whilst employed may be included as part of the accrual period of 24 months.
Au-pair work is not considered full-time employment and does therefore not give exemptions from paying tuition fees.
You have studied in Norway for minimum three years full-time
Anyone who has been undertaking continuous study in Norway during an accrual period of at least three years, and has completed studies corresponding to at least three years of full-time studies (equivalent to 180 credits), is exempt from paying tuition fees.
There should be no break between the studies you have completed in Norway and the new study programme you are planning to attend. Nevertheless, exceptions may be made for breaks of up to one year in connection with illness or childbirth.
During that period, you cannot have received loans or grants for education from Lånekassen, public support schemes in other countries (e.g. Centrala studiestödsnämnden and Uddannelsesstyrelsen), or from Norwegian public support schemes for development, e.g. Norad, the Norwegian Programme for Development, Research and Education (NUFU), the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED).
Applying for a student residence permit
When applying for a student residence permit, applicants who have received an offer of admission must document their financial ability to cover living expenses in Norway. This comes in addition to the tuition fees.
The amount required by The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) from May 2023 is NOK 137 907 per year. The amount is adjusted yearly, and you will always find the latest update on the website of UDI concerning study permits