Quota Scheme
The Quota Scheme is a funding scheme offered by the Norwegian Government to students from developing countries, countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia for studies of higher education in Norway.
The scheme provides funding for 1,100 students in Norwegian universities and university colleges each year. 21 quota places have been allocated to Oslo University College and of these a maximum of 8 study places may become available each year for admission of new students. As admission is limited, it is also very competitive.
The majority of the courses offered to students through the Quota Scheme are on graduate level, mainly those leading to a Master’s Degree or Ph.D. Some students may be admitted to certain professional undergraduate programmes.
Students who are admitted to programmes taught in Norwegian are entitled to financial support for two additional semesters of preparatory Norwegian language studies before they start their degree-studies. The duration of the studies in Norway is one year minimum, and should not exceed four years in total.
Objectives of the Quota Scheme
The Quota Scheme was established in 1994 with the objective of providing relevant education to students, which will benefit their home countries when they return home. The objective is also to promote international cooperation between institutions of higher education in Norway and in the countries covered by the Quota Scheme.
The quota students shall be offered a Degree Study of at least one year’s duration, preferably on the graduate level, that is, Master’s Degree or Ph.D. programmes. Education offered at undergraduate level should be professional.
Funding
The financial support through Quota Scheme is a combination of loans and grants. The amount is today NOK 80,000 per academic year, or approximately USD 12,900, and is paid in 10 monthly instalments to the student. The support is meant to cover all basic expenses throughout the academic year.
The Quota Scheme includes a partial allowance for travel to Norway at the beginning of the study period and home again on completion. If the student’s programme is of more than one year’s duration, a partial allowance is also granted for one trip home for the summer holiday. The travel allowance is given according to fixed rates and does not always cover the real travel costs 100 per cent.
On completion of the programme, and when the student has provided documentary evidence that they have returned and taken up residence in their home country, the loan portion is converted into a scholarship. If the students do not return to their home country, and instead take up residence in another country or in Norway, the loan portion must be repaid according to the ordinary procedures applicable to Norwegian students.
Who may apply?
Applicants for admission under the Quota Scheme must fulfil certain criteria in order to be considered for admission.
Age
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
Nationality
Only applicants from countries included in the list of countries eligible for the Quota Scheme funding (see list below) will be considered. The applicants must apply from their home country and must have resided in their home country for at least one year prior to the intended study period in Norway.
Applicants from an eligible country, who are residing in another eligible country on the list, may in some cases be considered. Students from an eligible country residing in Norway can apply if they have a temporary student residence permit, have been financed by a Norwegian state scholarship or research grant, and if they have not been in Norway for more than two years when the programme starts.
Institutional cooperation
Only applicants from institutions which Oslo University College has a cooperation agreement with will be considered for admission. Exceptions from this rule may be accepted when there are special circumstances in the applicant’s home country or home institution that justify admission on individual grounds.
You should check with your home institution whether it has an agreement with Oslo University College.
Basic academic requirements
Master’s Degree programmes: The minimum requirement is 3 years of study at university level, i.e. minimum a Bachelor’s Degree level (or equivalent).
Bachelor’s Degree programmes: The minimum requirement is that the student has a competence equivalent to two years of higher education at university level from their home country or neighbouring country. Exceptions can be made for certain shorter professional studies if the student otherwise meets the requirements for being accepted to that specific programme.
Please note that admission to some study programmes may require knowledge of specific subjects or work experience from a specific field, in addition to the general requirements.
Language requirements: A documented knowledge of English is required for admission to the programmes taught in English.
What may I apply for?
Candidates admitted to the Master’s Degree Programmes taught in English will be given priority with respect to financial support by the Quota Scheme, when they otherwise fulfil the criteria of eligibility.
The degree programmes offered have been approved by the Ministry of Education and Research and are part of the ordinary programmes of OUC.
How do I apply?
If you apply for undergraduate studies under the Quota Scheme, your application must go through your home institution to Oslo University College.
Master’s Degree Programmes: You will find the application forms for the Master’s Degree Programmes at the homepages for the faculties. Fill in the forms according to the instructions and send the application forms and the supporting documents directly to the respective faculty.
Officially certified copies (with stamp and signature) of examination certificates and testimonies must be enclosed to the application if you want them to be considered for admission. Please note that it is the full responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary documentation. Education and Work experience lacking documentation will not be considered for admission.
Submitted certificates and documents will not be returned to sender. The application is not valid without a signature.
Closing date for application
OUC admits students for grade studies once a year and the semester starts in August. The official application deadline is 1 February each year.
Countries eligible for the Quota Scheme
Developing Countries
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi
Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba
Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic
East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia
Fiji
Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana
Haiti, Honduras
India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Ivory Coast
Jamaica, Jordan
Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Lebanon Lesotho, Liberia
Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Morocco,
Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar
Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Korea
Pakistan, Philippines, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru
Rwanda
São Tomé and Princípe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Island, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, South Africa
Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu
Uganda
Vanuatu, Vietnam
West-Samoa
Yemen
Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Palestine students from the Palestine area are also eligible for the Quota Scheme.
Eastern and Central Europe and Central Asia
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan
Belorussia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria
Croatia
Georgia
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
Macedonia, Moldavia
Romania, Russian Federation
Serbia and Montenegro
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
Ukraine, Uzbekistan