Norway may not be the most popular destination for higher education, but it has a lot more to offer than the famous ones. It hosts some of the best universities and colleges with world-class faculty and advanced teaching methods. Getting accepted into a Norwegian university can be quite challenging but comes with extraordinary benefits. Studying in Norway will help you gain academic excellence and hone your skills in different areas. One of the challenges that most international students face is estimating the cost of education in Norway. Since Norway is an expensive country, many students cannot afford to study in the country. However, you can make your stay in the Nordic country economical by preparing a budget with research. 

Tuition Fees 

One of the significant advantages of studying in Norway is that there are no tuition fees even for international students. These Norwegian colleges won’t charge you a single penny whether you are pursuing an undergraduate degree or a master’s program. However, students in Norway have to pay a student union fee each semester which only costs about 30 to 60 EUR. On the other hand, Norwegian private universities charge tuition fees, which vary between 7,000 – 10,000 EUR annually for undergraduate courses and 9,000 – 20,000 EUR for a master’s degree. 

Here are some of the best Norwegian universities you should apply to:

• University of Bergen

• Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

• University of Oslo

• Oslo Metropolitan University

• BI Norwegian Business School

• University of Stavanger

• NHH Norwegian School of Economics

• UIT The Arctic University of Norway

Accommodation 

Accommodation in Norway can be quite expensive, especially if you live alone. Student housing and renting an apartment are the two most common options among international students living in this Nordic country. Charges for living in these apartments may vary depending on which city you live in and the lifestyle you lead. The average accommodation cost in Norway ranges between 12,000 NOK to 20,000 NOK. Since rent in Norway is high, students prefer to live in corridors or share an apartment with their friends. Before selecting an option, you should prepare a budget and then decide which one fulfills your accommodation needs.    

Transportation 

When you study in another country, you will have to travel from your house to the university every day. You should consider different options for transportation as it makes a significant amount of total costs you bear. Generally, students in Norway prefer taking public transport for travelling across the city. Many Norwegian universities provide students cards that can help you avail discounts on public transport. In most cities, taking a cab will cost you around 15 NOK per kilometer. However, if you rent a bike, you have to pay around 125 NOK to 300 NOK.  

Extra Costs 

Apart from accommodation, tuition fees, and transportation, there are some other costs that you have to bear during your stay in Norway. For example, books, study material, food, etc. As for food, eating out in a restaurant is about 300 NOK to 800 NOK, depending on how expensive the outlet is. An economical option would be to buy groceries from supermarkets that offer huge discounts and learn how to cook food. 

During your course, you will need some books and other study material for learning. If you buy new books, it can cost about 500 NOK a month. However, international students in Norway usually buy second-hand books from libraries or shops to save a few bucks.     

I would highly suggest you to take into consideration all possible costs and make a budget for your monthly expenditures.