Tuition Fees for International Students

Regulations and exemptions

Students with EU/EEA/Swiss Citizenship

Students with these citizenships pay the same tuition fees as domestic students.

Students with Citizenship from Outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland

Students with international citizenship from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland are charged a 30% tuition fee differential.

Why are students from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland charged more?

The government of Norway passed legislation on 16 June 2023 regarding tuition fees for international students attending universities in Norway. All universities were required to charge tuition to all new international students with citizenship from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland.

BI Norwegian Business School, a non-profit foundation, has always charged tuition fees. In addition, BI receives funding from the Norwegian state budget to subsidise tuition fees. However, BI will no longer receive funding from the government for international students with citizenship from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland.

As a result, BI charges a tuition fee differential of 30% for students with citizenship from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland.

Exemptions

Some international students with citizenship from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland may fall into a category for an exemption of the tuition fee differential based on their current residency status in Norway or they may hold dual citizenship. Students who match the criteria may apply for an exemption. Please complete this form to apply for the exemption.

Some applicants will be exempt from paying the tuition fee differential of 30% based on residence in Norway or other close connections with Norway. Applications are processed based on the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Act, as well as national regulations on education support. To apply for exemption, fill out this form and provide the requested documentation.

Before you apply, please make sure to check in the list below what documentation you will need to provide.

Questions?

Please direct questions related to qualifying for an exemption and the process for applying to info@bi.no.

Who is eligible for an exemption?

You are citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland

You will not pay the tuition fee differential if you are a citizen of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland.

You have a permanent residence permit in Norway 

You will not pay the tuition fee differential if you have a permanent residence permit in Norway.

You have a residence permit due to protection (asylum)

You will not pay the tuition fee differential if you have residence (asylum) in Norway due to protection, strong humanitarian considerations or a special connection to Norway.

You have a residence permit as family member of an EU/EEA citizen

You will not pay the tuition fee differential if you have a residence permit as family member of an EU/EEA citizen. The EU/EEA citizen must have grounds for residence in Norway other than studying.

You have a residence permit due to family immigration

You will not pay the tuition fee differential if you have a residence permit due to family immigration. The person with whom you have been reunited must either be a Norwegian citizen or a foreign national with a reason for residence in Norway other than studying.

Furthermore, you will not pay the tuition fee differential if you have gained a continued residence permit on an independent basis due to the Norwegian immigration act § 53. 

You are cohabiting and have children with a Norwegian citizen

You will not pay the tuition fee differential if you are cohabiting with and have children with a Norwegian citizen. Both you and your cohabiting person must live in Norway.

You are married to a Norwegian citizen

You will not pay the tuition fee differential 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. 

With legal partner we mean a person with whom you are married or have an equivalent official relation.

You have worked in Norway for at least two years full-time

You will not pay the tuition fee differential if you during a qualifying period of at least 24 months have had continuous full-time work in Norway, have been resident in and paid tax to Norway.

You must have had a residence permit as an employee during the earning period. There must be no gap during the accrual period or between the accrual period and further studies. However, exceptions can be made for stays of up to 1 year in the event of illness or childbirth.

You have studied in Norway for at least three years full-time

You will not pay the tuition fee differential if you during an accrual period of at least 36 months have lived in and been in education in Norway and passed education equivalent to 3 years of full-time education.

There must be no gap during the accrual period or between the accrual period and further studies. However, exceptions can be made for stays of up to 1 year in the event of illness or childbirth.

You are a UK citizen and 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 are a citizen of the United Kingdom, who were entitled to reside in Norway in accordance with the EEA agreement before the end of the transition period (31.12.2020), you will not pay the tuition fee differential. You must also have stayed in Norway.

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