Norway

Basic Information about Norway

Norway is the northernmost country of Europe and part of Scandinavia. It is a constitutional monarchy famous for its natural beauty, the midnight sun and northern lights. Traditionally, Norway has been known for its maritime and offshore industries, but heavy investments in ICT and technology have resulted in a diverse and innovative economy. Norway can offer a vast range of experiences and activities for everyone. In the summer, students may enjoy sailing in the fjords and hiking in beautiful forests and mountains. It is also the peak season for music festivals which attract many world-class performers. In the winter, the snowy landscape provides heaps of opportunities for people with all sets of risk appetite. Future students may enjoy skiing and snowboarding at a number of resorts that are often located in close proximity to urban areas providing urban dwellers with an active lifestyle, both summer- and wintertime. Also, Norwegians enjoy an extensive café culture and an exciting nightlife. The official language is Norwegian, but nearly everyone speaks English. Thus, Singaporeans should not experience significant barriers to an active social life in a modern country rich on history, nature, culture and all sorts of interesting activities.

The Higher Education System

Norway hosts a large number of higher educational institutions. These institutions provide a vast range of options from which students may choose. In Norway, higher education requires students to have completed an internationally recognized upper secondary education equivalent to the upper secondary education in Norway. Please refer to NOKUT for more information, www.nokut.no/en/Foreign-education. The structure of Norwegian higher education consists of a three-year bachelor’s degree, two-year master’s degree and three-year doctorate degree, each with minimum requirements for entry. This conforms to the Bologna Process which effectively implements a common term and credit structure across Europe. As a result, studies in Norway may open an endless range of opportunities for students who are eager to pursue a further academic, or professional, career in Europe.

Tuition Fees, living costs and scholarships

Norwegian universities and state university colleges are mainly public institutions that do not charge tuition fees for international students. These institutions are complemented by a number of private institutions that do charge tuition. Please refer to the individual institutions’ websites for more details. Living costs in Norway are rather high compared to most countries in Europe. Thus, students must carefully assess whether they can cover these before pursuing an academic degree in Norway.

Where can I find more information?
• Study in Norway: comprehensive information on various aspects of study in the Norway: www.studyinnorway.no
• The Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service, NUCAS (Samordna opptak): www.samordnaopptak.no/info/english
• Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education, NOKUT): www.nokut.no/en/Foreign-education

Royal Norwegian Embassy in Singapore
16 Raffles Quay, #44-01
Hong Leong Building
Singapore 048581
Tel: +65 6818 2000
Email: emb.singapore@mfa.no
Website: http://www.norway.org.sg/