English
Most applications to undergraduate studies at public institutions of higher education in Norway are processed by a centralised application processing centre.
Coordination of admission
Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (NUCAS - Samordna opptak) coordinates the admission to undergraduate level studies at all universities, university colleges, state colleges, and some private colleges in Norway, annually around 80 000 applicants to 48 institutions or 1 100 different courses.
The Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service also provides advice and information on higher education for the college and university sector.
The admission process
Applicants send only one application form to NUCAS, containing the names of a maximum of 10 different courses, in order of priority. The forms are registered digitally via an optical registration system. NUCAS then appoints institutions to evaluate each applicant. In a letter, applicants are asked to forward all relevant documents to these institutions. If the applicant has applied for courses at different institutions, with similar admission requirements, one institution will do the evaluation on behalf of the others.
The institutions evaluate all applicants and send the results to NUCAS, via the Internet. We then run the incoming data on our computers, and send letters to the applicants, offering a maximum of one study entry. This will normally be the highest ranked study on the application form, where entry requirements are met by the applicant.
The applicant is obliged to return the letter to NUCAS, indicating whether or not he/she accepts the offer. If based on these answers, an institution decides that the number of entry offers for a course has not filled the number of places available, students may be recruited from waiting lists.
The Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service is professionally administered by a board appointed by the Ministry of Education and Research and organised as a unit at the University of Oslo.
Admission information
Admission information on the Internet or in Søkerhandboka 2007 does not apply to foreign applicants without a permanent or renewable residence permit in Norway.
Some universities and colleges offer specifically designed programmes for foreign students. These programmes are taught in English and admission does not require permanent residence. It is not possible to apply to these programmes on the regular Norwegian application form. For information about these programmes and application procedures, you have to contact the university or college offering the programme one wishes to apply to.
Application deadline
Applicants with foreign secondary education, holding a permanent or renewable residence permit, must apply for admission on the regular Norwegian application form. The application deadline is 1. March.
Application requirements
Applicants must meet the minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse). Applicants must also fulfil the language requirements in Norwegian and English. For admission to some study programmes you need specific subjects or work experience in addition to the general requirements.
Applicants from European countries are eligible for admission upon completion of the secondary school leaving certificate that provides the basis for admission to university studies in the home country. Entrance requirements for applicants from non-European countries may include one or two years of university studies in addition to secondary school.
Applicants who do not fulfil the entrance requirements can take supplementary examinations in Norwegian upper secondary school.
Documentation
Applicants must document all their relevant education with officially certified copies of certificates, diplomas, transcripts etc. in the original language and authorised translations if the original documents are not in English or a Scandinavian language. Both upper secondary and higher education must be documented. Applicants must fulfil all requirements before 1. July. Please note that admission to some programmes is highly competitive.
Contact NUCAS
To find out if you are qualified for admission to higher education in Norway, you may contact: Samordna opptak (Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service) or one of the universities or colleges.
Telephone
+47 22 84 18 00
Telefax
+47 22 84 18 01
Address
NUCAS
Postboks 1133 Blindern
N-0317 Oslo
Norway
postmottak@so.uio.no