Student budget & cost of living

From the autumn semester of 2023 full degree students from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must be prepared to pay tuition fees.

Applicants from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland/EFTA applying for a degree in Norway starting autumn 2023, must be prepared to pay tuition fees.

You will not have to pay tuition fees if:

• You are an exchange student.
• You started your degree studies in Norway before 2023 - meaning if you are in your second year autumn 2023, you will not pay fees.
• You are a student from the EU/EEA or Switzerland.

You can find more information regarding level of fees on this website: Tuition fee for programmes of study

Scholarships

UiT The Arctic University of Norway has no scholarships to offer to cover your living expenses in Norway unless you already have one before your arrival or under certain exchange schemes in collaboration with UiT and your home university:

• Erasmus +

• Nordplus/Nordlys

• EEA/Norway grants

• Norwegian-Russian Scholarship Scheme

These grants or scholarships are usually awarded automatically to students admitted to the exchange programme through their home institution.

Other Scholarships (You should be aware that these funding opportunities are few and will in most cases not cover the total costs of you stay in Norway):

• Study In Norway

Would you like to live surrounded by nature and forest or a view over beautiful Norwegian mountains and valleys? Or do you prefer to live in the city centre with cafés, shops and theatres at your doorstep?

Our partner, the Housing Department at the Arctic Student Organisation of Norway (Samskipnaden) offers rental of student housing for students at UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø, Alta, Hammerfest, Harstad and Longyearbyen where you ou can quickly build your social network and make new friends by living exactly where so many other students choose to live.

For more information about rent prices, please go to Student housing.

Public transportation is quite expensive. A taxi fare from the airport to your student housing can vary from NOK 300 to 400 depending on distance. A single bus ticket costs NOK 50 on the bus if you pay cash. Monthly passes are NOK 300 - 400 if you are under 30 or NOK 500 - 600 if you are over 30.

Discounts apply only for buying period ticket cards. Practical information will be given during Debut WEEK International.

Food is quite expensive in Norway, but a well-thought shopping list and an eye on weekly special offers in supermarkets can save you a lot. You should estimate to spend at least NOK 3000-4000 per month on food. Cigarettes and alcohol are very expensive in Norway because of specific taxes. Restaurants should be carefully chosen. The prices vary a great deal.

How to save money on groceries

• Make a list – and stick to it.

• Save money by making your own packed lunches. Cheap plastic boxes can be purchased at any Clas Ohlson Store.

• Finding good deals on food items you buy often might come in unexpected grocery stores, so keep your eyes open.

• Be on the lookout for where the deals are by flipping through the local newspapers on campus or at the Library.

• Base your meals on the foods that are in season and in the weekly circular ads

• Know what you have in stock before you go to the store

• Reduce the consumption of expensive meat with dishes that are full of both fiber and plant based protein

• Save one or two portions of any dish you make in the freezer

For more information, please visit NUMBEO

Please allow for a minimum of NOK 800 to purchase necessary bedding and kitchen supplies. Please note that the International Students’ Union will run a second-hand market on Campus Tromsø after Debut WEEK International, where you may find some of the things you need. You may also find that former tenants have left behind useful utensils.

Several second-hand markets are usually organised at local schools in Alta and Tromsø in August-September. You may ask your classmates or local people about these upon arrival.

An estimation of a student's cost of living is made and revised yearly by the the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen) and Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Their recommendation is that you need approximately NOK 128 887 for the study year 2022-2023 (10 months) or NOK 58 585 for the autumn semester in 2022 (5 months) to cover your expenses as a student and to obtain a student visa (Study Permit) for students coming from outisde the EU/EFTA area.

All figures are stated in Norwegian kroner (NOK).

If you are an international student looking for work in Norway you might find this information useful.

This is an introduction to how you can find vacant temporary positions in Norway. You will also find links to websites that provide more information, please see the link below.

Find more information about the regulations for visa-seeking international students on the website of the Immigration authorities (Utlendingsdirektoratet UDI) UDI: Part-time work for students

Part-time work, Study Permit & Progress Report