Admission requirements

Students usually apply for a degree course which is based on continuation of their studies in their home country, or a course which can be a joint part of a degree course in their home country ( joint degree or sandwich programmes). Most of the programmes are at the Master or Ph.D. level, but the Quota Scheme also offers certain professional studies.

Students must apply directly from their home country and must have stayed at least one year in their home country directly prior to the planned course of study at the Norwegian university/university college.

Basic general requirements
All candidates should typically have the following basic qualifications:

• Secondary school certificates
• Minimum two years of higher education from your home country

Some exceptions apply for certain professional educational courses.

A list (GSU-list) has been compiled by the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) with the general entrance requirements for applicants with higher education qualifications from abroad. NOKUT is the Norwegian governmental organisation for recognition of foreign higher education. If you cannot find your academic papers on the list you may contact NOKUT to get an evaluation of your certificates.

Basic English language requirements
English is the main teaching language of instruction in most of the educational programmes and degrees in the Quota Scheme. Applicants who are not native English speakers therefore must document their proficiency in English by passing one of the following tests:

• TOEFL ( Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum score of 500/ 550 (170 if computer-based)
• IELTS ( International English Language Testing System) with a minimum score of 5.0 (6.0 if computer-based)

Please note that the requirements may differ, and in some cases be higher than described above.

Basic Norwegian language requirements
A few courses in the Quota Scheme are offered in Norwegian and require good Norwegian language skills. Applicants who are not native Norwegian speakers therefore must document their proficiency in Norwegian by passing one of the following tests:

• Bergenstest (Norwegian language test) with a minimum score of 450
• Norwegian language course Level 3 with E as a minimum
• Norwegian in the secondary school (The Teaching Plan for Norwegian as a second Language) written and oral, with a minimum score of 2

Admission to the Quota Scheme is highly competitive and meeting the minimum requirements is no guarantee for enrolment. Please refer to the International Office at each university/university college for more detailed information about admission requirements.