Norway keeps showing up on every “best countries to study abroad” list — and for good reason. It has some of the highest-ranked universities in Europe, an unmatched quality of life, and (unlike the UK, US, or Australia) genuinely generous funding options for the right applicants. But here’s what most scholarship round-up articles won’t tell you: not every “top 10 Norway scholarship” you see circulating online is still active, and Norway’s funding landscape changed significantly after 2023, when the government began charging tuition fees to non-EU/EEA students at public universities for the first time in decades.
This guide cuts through the noise. Below are 10 real, currently relevant funding routes into Norwegian higher education for the 2027-2028 academic year — what they actually cover, who’s eligible, and where to apply directly on the official website, so you’re not relying on a third-party aggregator that might be recycling outdated information.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer: What Are the Best Norway Scholarships for International Students in 2027-2028?
If you only remember three things from this article:
- BI Presidential Scholarship — full tuition + stipend at Norway’s largest business school, for master’s students.
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degrees (EMJMD) — the EU’s flagship fully funded master’s program, with several Norwegian institutions participating.
- Paid PhD positions — in Norway, a PhD is a salaried job, not a “scholarship” in the traditional sense, and it’s arguably the most reliable fully funded route into Norwegian academia.
Now let’s go through all 10 in detail.
Important Context Before You Apply: Norway’s Tuition Fee Change
Before 2023, Norway was one of the only countries in Europe offering free public university tuition to all students, regardless of nationality. That changed. Since the autumn 2023 intake, public universities in Norway charge tuition fees to students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, typically ranging from roughly NOK 100,000 to NOK 350,000 per year depending on the institution and program. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens still study tuition-free.
This is exactly why scholarships that cover tuition (not just living costs) have become far more valuable — and why you should always confirm current tuition status and scholarship terms directly on a university’s admissions page before applying, since policies continue to evolve year to year.
1. BI Presidential Scholarship — Master’s Degree, Fully Funded
Degree level: Master’s (MSc programmes at BI’s Oslo or Bergen campus) Coverage: Full tuition fees for up to two years, plus a living stipend of NOK 50,000 per semester for international applicants who maintain satisfactory academic progression Who it’s for: Norwegian and international applicants with an outstanding undergraduate academic record applying to a full-time Master of Science program
BI Norwegian Business School is the largest business school in Norway and one of the largest in Europe, and this is its flagship scholarship for high-achieving master’s applicants. You don’t submit a separate scholarship application — instead, you write a one-page scholarship letter as part of your program application explaining why you deserve consideration. Because the pool of applicants is large every year, admission strength and a genuinely compelling letter both matter.
Where to apply: BI Presidential Scholarship — Official Page
2. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degrees (EMJMD) — Master’s, Fully Funded by the EU
Degree level: Master’s (integrated programs across 2-3 countries) Coverage: Full tuition, a monthly stipend of roughly €1,400, travel and installation allowance, and health insurance Who it’s for: Students from anywhere in the world; Norway participates as an EEA/EFTA country associated with the Erasmus+ programme
This is the single most lucrative and internationally competitive scholarship on this list, and it’s not Norway-specific — it’s an EU-funded scheme that includes Norwegian universities among dozens of participating institutions worldwide. Norwegian institutions currently take part in more than a dozen Erasmus Mundus joint master’s programs, spanning fields from marine biology to human rights. Because the degree is delivered jointly across multiple countries, you’ll typically study in Norway for one semester or year and elsewhere for the rest.
Because this is one of the most searched and highest-value scholarship programs globally, competition is intense — apply early and tailor your motivation letter specifically to the joint program’s stated academic priorities.
Where to apply: Erasmus Mundus Catalogue — European Commission
3. Paid PhD Positions in Norway — The Most Reliable Fully Funded Route
Degree level: PhD Coverage: A full employment salary, currently starting around NOK 500,000-540,000 per year (before tax), plus employee benefits like pension contributions, paid holiday, and parental leave Who it’s for: Anyone holding a relevant master’s degree; positions are open internationally and hired competitively
Here’s something many scholarship-hunters don’t realize: in Norway, a PhD candidate is a university employee, not a scholarship recipient. You’re hired on a fixed-term contract (usually three years, sometimes four with teaching duties), paid a real salary under the Norwegian state pay scale, and given full access to Norway’s social security system. This is arguably the single best-value “scholarship” on this entire list because it’s a genuine paycheck rather than a stipend, and it’s the standard route into a research career in Norway.
Where to apply: Jobbnorge / PhD Positions — University of Oslo and NTNU PhD Vacancies
4. BI International Undergraduate Scholarship — Bachelor’s, Fully Funded
Degree level: Bachelor’s Coverage: 100% tuition waiver, for up to three years Who it’s for: International applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) or an equivalent internationally recognized qualification
This is one of the few undergraduate-level, fully funded scholarships open to international students in Norway, which makes it especially valuable given how few bachelor’s-level funding options exist for non-EU/EEA students post-2023. Because it targets IB graduates specifically, it’s a strong option if you’re finishing an international curriculum and want a tuition-free business degree in Europe.
Where to apply: BI Scholarships Overview — Official Page
5. BI Women in Finance & Technology Scholarship — Bachelor’s & Master’s
Degree level: Bachelor’s and Master’s Coverage: 100% tuition waiver Who it’s for: High-achieving female applicants pursuing degrees in finance or technology-related programs
Norway ranks consistently among the world’s most gender-equal countries, and BI’s scholarship program reflects that priority by specifically supporting women entering finance and tech — two fields that remain male-dominated globally. If you’re a woman applying to a quantitative or tech-adjacent program at BI, this is worth investigating alongside the Presidential Scholarship, since eligibility criteria can overlap.
Where to apply: BI Scholarships Overview — Official Page
6. NORAM Scholarships — Graduate & Research, Up to $20,000
Degree level: Graduate and research-level Coverage: Financial grants of up to $20,000, distributed through the American-Scandinavian Foundation’s NORAM program Who it’s for: American graduate students and researchers pursuing study or research in Norway (and other Nordic countries)
NORAM grants are administered by the American-Scandinavian Foundation specifically to support U.S. citizens conducting graduate study or research in Scandinavia. Unlike the university-specific scholarships above, this is a third-party foundation grant, so the application process, deadlines, and required documentation are separate from any Norwegian university’s admissions process — apply to your program first, then apply for the grant.
Where to apply: American-Scandinavian Foundation — Grants for Americans
7. High North Fellowship Programme — Exchange, Bachelor’s/Master’s
Degree level: Exchange (Bachelor’s and Master’s students) Coverage: A monthly living stipend plus travel support for a semester of study in Northern Norway Who it’s for: Students from Canada, the US, Japan, South Korea, and Russia studying at partner institutions
This program is run through Norway’s Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir, formerly Diku) and focuses on Arctic and High North studies at institutions like UiT The Arctic University of Norway and Nord University. It’s structured as an institutional exchange rather than a direct-application scholarship, so eligibility depends on your home university having a partnership agreement — check with your international office first.
Where to apply: HK-dir — Study in Norway Official Portal
8. EEA and Norway Grants — Master’s, PhD & Staff Mobility
Degree level: Master’s, PhD, and staff/researcher exchange Coverage: Tuition waivers plus living and travel allowances, funded through bilateral cooperation programs Who it’s for: Students and staff from EU beneficiary and candidate countries with active cooperation agreements with Norwegian institutions
The EEA and Norway Grants are Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein’s contribution to reducing social and economic disparities in Europe, funding cooperation projects between institutions in donor and beneficiary countries. Individual scholarships typically arise through specific inter-institutional projects rather than a single central application portal, so the practical first step is identifying which Norwegian university has an active EEA Grants partnership in your field.
Where to apply: EEA and Norway Grants — Official Site
9. Global Sustainable Energy Scholarships — Master’s, Up to $10,000/Year
Degree level: Master’s Coverage: Stipend support of up to $10,000 per year Who it’s for: Master’s applicants from developing countries pursuing energy-related programs, commonly cited at institutions like NTNU
Given Norway’s global leadership in hydropower, offshore wind, and energy transition research, sustainability- and energy-focused scholarships are one of the more consistently funded niches for international applicants, often supported jointly by universities and energy-sector partners. Since these awards are frequently tied to specific faculties, always check the individual master’s program page (for example, NTNU’s Energy, Environment and Society track) for current scholarship listings tied to your intended program.
Where to apply: NTNU International Scholarships
10. Institutional Bilateral Exchange Support (Formerly Marketed as “Quota Scheme”)
Degree level: Master’s and exchange Coverage: Partial living stipends and travel subsidies through bilateral agreements Who it’s for: Students at institutions with an active bilateral exchange or partnership agreement with a Norwegian university
A necessary correction here: Norway’s original Quota Scheme, which funded students from developing countries and Eastern Europe/Central Asia, was discontinued in 2016 and has not been reinstated. You’ll still see it listed as “active” on many outdated scholarship aggregator sites — it isn’t. What has replaced it in practice is a patchwork of narrower institutional partnership programs (such as NORPART-funded cooperation projects), where individual students generally cannot apply directly; funding is arranged through agreements between your home university and a Norwegian partner institution. If a listing anywhere promises a “Norway Quota Scheme 2027-2028” scholarship you can apply to directly, treat it with skepticism and verify through your university’s international office or HK-dir directly.
Where to verify current bilateral programs: HK-dir — International Partnerships
How to Choose the Right Norway Scholarship for You
- Undergraduate applicants: Your realistic fully funded options are narrow — the BI International Undergraduate Scholarship is one of the few reliable ones for non-EU/EEA students.
- Master’s applicants: You have the widest range of choices — BI Presidential Scholarship, Erasmus Mundus, BI Women in Finance/Tech, and Global Sustainable Energy funding all sit at this level.
- PhD applicants: Don’t think of it as a scholarship hunt — treat it as a job search. Paid PhD positions are advertised year-round on university job boards like Jobbnorge.no.
- EU/EEA citizens: Remember you already study tuition-free at Norwegian public universities, so prioritize scholarships that cover living costs rather than tuition.
- Non-EU/EEA citizens: Prioritize scholarships explicitly stated to cover full tuition, given the 2023 fee changes — a stipend-only award won’t be enough on its own at most public universities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Norway still tuition-free for international students in 2027-2028? Only for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens. Non-EU/EEA students have paid tuition at Norwegian public universities since autumn 2023, so tuition-covering scholarships are essential for this group.
Does the Norway Quota Scheme still exist? No. It was discontinued in 2016. Any website advertising it as an open, direct-application program for 2027-2028 is using outdated information.
Is a PhD in Norway considered a scholarship or a job? It’s a paid job — PhD candidates are university employees on the Norwegian state salary scale, not scholarship recipients in the traditional sense.
What’s the most competitive scholarship on this list? Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degrees, given its global applicant pool and generous funding (full tuition plus roughly €1,400/month).
Where should I go for the most accurate, up-to-date scholarship information? Always cross-check against the official Study in Norway portal run by Norway’s Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, and the individual university’s own admissions page, rather than third-party listicles.
