Tuition fees

• Students with citizenship from a country outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must pay tuition fees, unless they qualify for an exemption.
• NMBU does not offer any scholarships that cover tuition fees. Those associated with selected partner universities and the Norstip program, please see here.

• The tuition fee is in addition to and separate from the funds for living costs (NOK 166 859 for the academic year 2025/2026) which must be documented to secure the study permit.

• Students belonging to one of the following categories do not need to pay tuition fees - and do not have to apply for an exemption:

• Citizens of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
• Exchange students from NMBU's partner universities.
• Students who were admitted to their study program before 2023. This applies to study programmes where admission has been granted prior to 2023.
• Students studying in Norway through one of the following:

• - Students at Risk (StAR)
• - NORPART
• - NORHED
• - The Fulbright programme
• - Any full-degree scholarship awarded by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) 

Rates for the academic year 2025/2026.

Table showing the yearly price for 60ECTS per study programme. Fees are subject to change on a yearly basis.

For students accepted from 2025 onwards: if you choose to take additional courses over the total of 180ECTS for bachelor degrees/120ECTS for master degrees, additional fees will apply.

Tuition fees apply also to those taking single courses (enkeltemner). Rates will be calculated by credits taken.

When you apply, financing must be documented with both of the following:

1. A document that confirms that you are aware of tuition fees and prepared to pay if granted admission. This document may for example be a sponsorship letter, bank statement, or a self-declaration.
2. Documentation of financial ability for living costs 

• How to pay the tuition fee?

  Applicants from countries outside the EEA and Switzerland who have accepted their offer of admission will receive an invoice by e-mail. The invoice will provide instructions for paying the tuition fee. 

  When the university has registered the payment, we will send a confirmation by e-mail. This can be used as documentation when applying for a student residence permit, cf. below.

  The tuition fee must be paid in full before each academic year. It is not possible to pay the tuition fee in installments.

  If you have paid the tuition fee, but later have to withdraw from the study place, you can apply to have the tuition fee refunded within 15 September. We will provide information on how to apply for a refund in due course. 

• Current students

  Instructions regarding this will be sent by e-mail. Students who become eligible for an exemption during the academic year must inform SiT before this deadline.

Exemptions

Students offered admission may apply for exemption from paying the fees based on one of the reasons given below. Please note that it is not possible to combine the various grounds for exemption.
If you are granted an exemption, you will receive a confirmation which can be used as documentation when applying for a student residence permit.
If you are offered admission, you will be informed on how to apply for an exemption from the tuition fees. Most students must reapply for exemptions each academic year. If you first fulfill the conditions for an exemption during the autumn semester, you can apply for an exemption for the spring semester by 15 February.

• Permanent residence permit

  Applicants with a permanent residence permit in Norway may be exempt from paying tuition fees.

  Documentation: 

  • Copy of your passport or national ID card 
  • Copy of your residence card
  • Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)
• Protection (asylum)

  Applicants who have been granted protection (asylum) in Norway may be exempt from paying tuition fees.

  Documentation: 

  • Copy of your passport or national ID card 
  • Copy of your residence card 
  • Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) 
• Married to a Norwegian citizen

  You do not have to pay tuition fees if you are married to a Norwegian citizen or are the legal partner of a Norwegian citizen. Both you and your spouse or legal partner must live in Norway.  

  Documentation: 

  • Copy of your passport or national ID card 
  • Copy of your residence card 
  • Copy of your marriage certificate from the Norwegian Tax Administration or from the foreign authority who officiated the wedding
  • Copy of the residence certificate for you and your spouse/legal partner
  • Copy of your spouse passport or national ID card
  • Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)
• Family member of an EU/EEA citizen living in Norway

  You have been granted residency in Norway as a family member of an EU/EEA resident. The EU/EEA resident must have other grounds for residency then studies. Family here includes father, mother, spouse, or cohabitant the student has a child with. 

  Documentation: 

  • Copy of your passport or national ID card 
  • Copy of your residence card
  • Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)
  • Copy of the registration certificate for your family member
• UK citizen or a family member of a UK citizen who moved to Norway before 31 December 2020

  During a transitional period that lasted until 2020, the United Kingdom was to be treated as if it were still a member of the EU and the EEA. If you or your family member are a citizen of the United Kingdom, and were entitled to reside in Norway in accordance with the EEA agreement before the end of the transition period (31.12.2020), you are exempt from paying tuition fees. You must also have stayed in Norway.

  If you came to Norway on 1 January 2021 or later, you are not exempt from paying tuition fees.

  Documentation: 

  • Copy of your passport or national ID card 
  • Copy of your residence card or registration certificate
  • Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)
  • Documentation that you have been residing in Norway since before 31 December 2020
• Family immigration

  You have a residence permit due to family immigration. The person you have been reunited with must be a Norwegian citizen or have a reason other than studies for residency in Norway.

  Documentation: 

  • Copy of your passport or national ID card 
  • Copy of your residence card 
  • Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)
  • Copy of the residence card or registration certificate for your family member
• Full-time work

  Applicants who have lived in and have had continuous full-time employment in Norway for at least 24 months immediately prior to commencing studies, may be exempt from paying tuition fees. The person must have had a residence permit as an employee and paid tax to Norway during this period. There must be no breaks during this period and the period in which you start your studies. Nevertheless, exceptions may be made for breaks of up to one year in connection with illness or childbirth.

  
  Documentation: 

  • Copy of your passport 
  • Copy of your residence card (both sides)
  • Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) 
  • Documentation from the employer confirming continuous full-time work in Norway for at least 24 months prior to the start of the studies. The letter of confirmation must include the starting date, end date and the percentage of full time equivalent. The letter must be signed by the employer and written on an official letter head or contain the employer’s stamp. A contract of employment is not valid documentation 
  • Documentation showing that you have been paying taxes in Norway for at least the last 24 months ahead of the start of the education. Examples of valid documentation are inland revenue certificate, wage slips or certificate of pay and tax deducted from the employer
• Cohabitating and have children with a Norwegian citizen

  You do not have to pay tuition fees if you are cohabiting with and have children with a Norwegian citizen. Both you and your cohabiting person must live in Norway.

  Documentation: 

  • Copy of your passport or national ID card
  • Copy of your residence card
  • Copy of the residence certificate for you, your cohabitating person and your child
  • Copy of your spouse passport or national ID card
  • Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)
• 3 years of continuous studies in Norway

  Applicants who have been undertaking continuous study in Norway over a period of at least three years, and have completed studies corresponding to at least three years of full-time studies (equivalent to 180 credits), may be exempt from paying tuition fees. There should be no break between the studies you have completed in Norway and the new study programme you are planning to attend. Nevertheless, exceptions may be made for breaks of up to one year in connection with illness or childbirth. Restrictions may apply.

  During the qualifying period, you cannot have received support for the education from public education support schemes or Norwegian public support schemes for development. We will ask you to confirm this in the online application form. The qualification period must be minimum 3 years and correspond to full-time studies. What is considered to be your qualification period varies case by case, but generally it will be the first 3 years of the period that you have studied full-time in Norway continuously (without gaps).

  Documentation:

  • Copy of your passport or national ID card 
  • Copy of your residence card 
  • Copy of transcripts or diplomas for education completed in Norway
  • Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)

• Frequently asked questions

  • I have permanent residency in Norway, do I still need to apply for an exemption?

    We don't have access to information about residence permits, and need documentation from you to confirm your eligibility for an exemption. Therefore you must apply and attach documentation validating your entitlement for an exemption.

  • I am employed at NMBU, do I need to apply for an exemption?

    Due to privacy concerns, we do not have access to NMBU's registry of employees. You need to document that you have been employed and paying taxes for 24 months.

  • I have been approved leave from my studies, do I still need to pay tuition fees?

    Tuition fee paying students are not required to pay tuition fees during the period of approved leave of absence. During the period in which you are having an approved leave from studies, you are considered a non-active student, and cannot take courses if you are not paying fees. Please be aware that leave of absence can affect your study permit.

    For students with approved exemptions from paying tuition fees, a leave of absence can potentially results in you loosing the exemption. For example, if you have an exemption based on studies or work, you will lose this due to a gap between your studies caused by the leave of absence.

  • Do I have to pay additional fees if I'm delayed in my studies?

    Tuition fees are not based on the length of time you take to complete your studies. You are only required to pay for a course once, and you have the right to complete the studies you have started, for which tuition fees have been paid. Orient yourself with NMBUs and UDIs regulations regarding delays in studies, and the consequences for both your study permit and your study right at NMBU.

  • Do I need to reapply for an exemption every year?

    Yes, unless your decision letter explicitly states that you do not need to reapply the following year, you must submit a new application for each academic year.

  • Does my tuition fee change if I transfer from one study program to another one?

    If the student transfers from one programme to another, the student is liable for the tuition fee related to the new program. Where the student has already paid the tuition fee for the first program, and the new programme has a higher tuition fee, the student must pay the additional tuition fee. Where the new programme has a lower tuition fee, any tuition fees in credit will be credited towards the remaining tuition fees.