Free Education At Ntnu: International Students' Guide

is ntnu free for international students

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is a public university in Norway that offers tuition-free International Masters Programmes for international students. The university does not charge tuition fees for international students entering their 2-year International master's programmes taught entirely in English. However, there is a student union fee of 30-60 EUR per semester, and students are responsible for covering their living expenses, which can range from 800-1400 EUR per month. As of the autumn semester of 2023, international students from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland will be charged tuition fees, with some exemptions.

Characteristics Values
Tuition fees for international students Free for all international students for 2-year International master's programmes taught in English; not free for international students with citizenship from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland as of the autumn semester of 2023
Student union fees Between 30-60 EUR/semester
Living costs Between 800-1400 EUR/month; smaller cities average 800-1000 EUR/month
Student visa requirements International students who are not citizens of the EU/EEA/EFTA must have enough funding to live in Norway and must document this
Scholarships/stipends/loans NTNU does not offer any scholarships that cover tuition fees; some third-party scholarships are available
Exemptions Citizens of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland; exchange students from partner universities; students admitted before 2023
Application deadlines 1 December 2022 for August 2023 start; 1 December 2020 for August 2021 start

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International students from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland will be charged tuition fees

NTNU, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, offers tuition-free international master's programmes for international students from all countries. However, since the autumn semester of 2023, international students with citizenship outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland will be charged tuition fees. This change in policy means that NTNU is no longer entirely free for all international students.

Previously, NTNU did not charge tuition fees for its 2-year international master's programmes taught in English. This applied to students from all countries, regardless of their citizenship status. The university only required a student union fee to be paid in full, ranging from 30 to 60 EUR per semester.

Now, international students from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland are subject to tuition fees. These students must also demonstrate sufficient funds to cover their living expenses in Norway to obtain a student visa. The tuition fee amount varies depending on the specific programme and the number of credits taken per semester. Students are expected to pay the full tuition fee before each academic year, and there is no option to pay in instalments.

There are, however, certain exemptions from the tuition fee requirement. Students who were admitted before 2023 are exempt, including those enrolled in single courses that do not require separate admission. Additionally, exchange students from NTNU's partner universities are also exempt from paying tuition fees.

While NTNU does not offer scholarships that cover tuition fees, there are external funding opportunities that students can explore. These include the Erasmus+ grant for exchange students and scholarships offered by third parties, such as the Anglo-Norse Society and the Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership.

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Exemptions from tuition fees

As of 2010, the Norwegian government started charging tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students. This means that if you are an international student from a country outside the EU/EEA, you are generally required to pay tuition fees to study at Norwegian universities, including the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). However, there are certain exemptions from these tuition fees that you should be aware of, which could make your studies at NTNU more affordable.

Publicly Funded Exchange Students:

NTNU has exchange agreements with partner institutions worldwide, and students nominated through these agreements are typically exempt from paying tuition fees. This applies to students enrolled at one of NTNU's partner institutions and participating in an exchange program funded by the Norwegian government, such as the International Credit Mobility (ICM) program or the North2North program.

Quota Scholarship Scheme:

The Quota Scheme is a scholarship program offered by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is open to students from developing countries and certain countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. If you are admitted to NTNU through this scheme, your tuition fees will be waived, and you will also receive a scholarship to cover living expenses in Norway.

SIU Scholarships:

The Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education (SIU) offers several scholarship programs for international students, including the SIU Bilateral Scholarship Program and the SIU Global Development Scholarship. If you receive one of these scholarships to study at NTNU, your tuition fees may be covered, depending on the specific scholarship terms.

Nordic Citizens and Permanent Residents:

If you are a citizen of another Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden) or hold a permanent residence permit in one of these countries, you are generally exempt from paying tuition fees at NTNU. This also applies to citizens of certain other countries, such as Switzerland, provided they meet specific requirements.

Refugees and Asylum Seekers:

Refugees and asylum seekers who meet certain criteria may be exempt from paying tuition fees. This includes individuals with a residence permit as a quota refugee or with a temporary or permanent residence permit as a refugee or asylum seeker.

It's important to note that these exemptions may have specific requirements and conditions attached to them, so it's always a good idea to check the latest information on the NTNU website and consult with their admissions office for detailed guidance on tuition fees and available exemptions.

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Scholarships and grants

NTNU does not offer any scholarships or loans that cover tuition fees. However, international students may be eligible for third-party stipends, loans, and scholarships. Here are some scholarships and grants that international students at NTNU may be eligible for:

Anglo-Norse Society

The Anglo-Norse Society awards £3000 each year to the best-qualified British citizen receiving admission to a master's degree at NTNU. There is no application process for this scholarship.

Erasmus+ Grant

The Erasmus+ programme offers grants to exchange students to help cover travel and subsistence costs. Students should check with their home institution to see if they are eligible for this grant. If eligible, the grant is paid out by the home institution or a national agency in the student's home country.

EU Loans

Some EU countries offer their citizens favourable loans to help finance a master's degree in an Erasmus+ Programme country.

GSEP - Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership

The GSEP offers scholarships for outstanding Master's-level students from developing countries in fields related to sustainable energy development.

BiGTREE (South America)

The BiGTREE scholarship is for students who are exchanging to NTNU from South America.

MEXT Scholarship

The Japanese Government offers scholarships for research students, undergraduate students, specialized training college students, and teacher training students.

NextGen Women Leaders Fellowship

The NextGen Women Leaders Fellowship is open to women from any country.

In addition to these scholarships and grants, international students at NTNU may also need to consider other sources of funding to cover their living expenses. The cost of living in Norway is high, with students spending on average between 800 and 1400 EUR per month. Students are also responsible for paying a student union fee of between 30 and 60 EUR per semester.

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Living costs in Norway

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) does not charge tuition fees for international students entering their 2-year International master's programmes, which are taught entirely in English. However, students are responsible for covering their living expenses. As of August 2024, Norway's currency, the Norwegian Krone (NOK), has an exchange rate of approximately 1 NOK = 0.10 USD or 0.09 EUR. This makes Norway an expensive place to live compared to other Western European countries like Switzerland, Germany, and the UK. The cost of living in Norway is approximately 30% higher than in the United States, with housing and everyday expenses being particularly costly.

For example, in major cities like Oslo, Bergen, and Stavanger, rent for a furnished one-bedroom apartment in the city centre can range from 900 to 1,800 EUR per month. In comparison, Trondheim, where NTNU is located, offers slightly more affordable options, with rents ranging from 720 to 1,080 EUR per month for similar apartments. Basic utilities for an 85 sqm apartment, including electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage, average around 108 to 135 EUR per month. Mobile phone plans and internet services are also expensive, with monthly costs of about 36 EUR and 54 EUR, respectively.

Public transportation in Norwegian cities is efficient but costly. As of 2024, a single ticket costs between 4.50 to 6.30 EUR, while a monthly pass can range from 72 to 108 EUR. International students may be eligible for student discounts on public transport. Grocery prices in Norway are also relatively high. For instance, a 1.5-litre bottle of water can cost between 1.80 to 2.70 EUR.

The monthly budget for a family of four to live comfortably in Norway ranges from 2,700 to 3,600 EUR, excluding housing expenses. For a single person or a couple, monthly expenses, including rent, typically fall between 1,350 to 1,800 EUR, depending on lifestyle and location.

It is worth noting that Norwegian citizens studying at NTNU receive a government loan of 860 EUR, which is considered sufficient for a student to live comfortably. International students who are not citizens of the EU/EEA/EFTA countries must demonstrate sufficient funds to cover their living expenses when applying for a student visa.

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Student visas

International students who are not citizens of the EU/EEA or Switzerland and want to study at NTNU must be able to document that they have enough funding to live in Norway in order to be granted a student visa. This documentation must be uploaded before the application deadline. The money must then be transferred to NTNU's deposit account to be eligible for a student visa. The bank to transfer the funds to is DNB NOR, NO-0021 OSLO.

Students will need to document their financing for one year, and will be granted a residence permit for one year, which must be renewed for the second year. With the renewal application, students will need to show documentation of financing again.

The Norwegian Directorate for Immigration (UDI) has a comprehensive website that explains the different visa application processes that non-Norwegians have to follow depending on their country of origin. The UDI's Application Portal Norway may also be useful for prospective students.

Students who plan to study in Taiwan for longer than 90 days should obtain an extendable visa before arriving in the country. Students who have studied in Taiwan for four months consecutively and have not left the country during that time can apply for a resident visa if they wish to study for three terms or more. With a resident visa, students may apply for an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC).

Frequently asked questions

NTNU does not charge tuition fees for its 2-year International Master's programmes taught in English. However, since the autumn semester of 2023, international students with citizenship from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland will be charged tuition fees. There is a student union fee of 30-60 EUR per semester.

NTNU does not offer any scholarships or loans that cover tuition fees. However, there are third-party stipends, loans, and scholarships that are applicable to certain students at NTNU, such as the Anglo-Norse Society award for British citizens and the GSEP scholarship for students from developing countries.

Living costs in Norway can range from 800-1400 EUR per month, with students paying around 36% of this on accommodation. Food costs can be between 250-400 EUR per month.

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