Hello folks! I highly recommend Norway as a place to study, work and live! The oil-rich country has been consistently ranked as one of best places in the world to live in! The standard-of-living is high and there are opportunities!
- Let me start out by saying, Norway has adopted a three-cycle degree system established by the Bologna process where a Bachelor’s program general takes 3 years, a Master’s takes 1-2 years and a PhD around 3-4 years.
- Public universities in Norway charge no tuition fees, even for international students. This is a huge plus for students looking for a quality education abroad without breaking the bank! If you are looking to study in Norway, I would recommend choosing a public university (private universities charge tuition fees).
- Just a heads up: You still might have to cover your living expenses from your own pocket. Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world! Although there are a few scholarships such as the Erasmus Mundus scholarship (for designated Erasmus Mundus-programmes), they are very competitive, so keep that in mind. PhD programs on the other hand pay you a very attractive stipend, which is more than enough to cover your living expenses!
- Learning Norwegian is not a requirement for international graduate students. Although undergraduate courses are taught in Norwegian, there are plenty of graduate programs in many universities that are taught in English. So, they require you to demonstrate proficiency in English! However, if you’re looking to stay on in Norway after your graduation, learning Norwegian can vastly improve your employment prospects. Also, it would enable you to socialize and make connections with Norwegians!
- Employment prospects for international students in Norway are not as good as they were before. When the oil industry was booming there were plenty of opportunities and everyone who could walk and talk could get a job, including foreigners. But there are still some opportunities. If you do well in university, you still might be able to find suitable employment .
- Lastly, I want to point out, beware of the COLD! Weather in Norway is not the best. It is cold, dark and snowy during the winter and winter lasts for a long time. Seasonal depression is common. So, plan accordingly!
