Refugees and immigrants

Norwegian courses at the University of Bergen are open for refugees and immigrants who meet the general admission requirements but do not have proficiency in the Norwegian language. 

The places for this category applicants are allocated at intermediate and higher level. 

Admission to our Norwegian courses is not a sufficient basis for a student residence permit in Norway and for financial support from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen). See regulations, chapter 4, §4-8

Please note that applicants who have met the Norwegian language requirements before, will not be considered for admission to the Norwegian courses at the University of Bergen. The same applies to Undergraduate students who have been accepted throught regular admision (NUCAS) and  guest students with temporary admission (hospitant or poststudent).

Applicants in other categories are not qualified for admission to Norwegian courses at the University of Bergen

• NOR-U2 Norwegian Language and Culture for Foreign Language Students, level 2
• NOR-U3 Norwegian Language and Culture for Foreign Language Students, level 3
• If you have passed NOR-U3 at UiB with a grade of C or better, you may apply for admission to NOR-U4.

Please note that lectures are offered during daytime only.

If the application is granted, admission will be valid for one semester only. It is not possible to delay or defer admission to a future semester.

Applicants who have not completed a Norwegian course at the university previously, must take a placement test. The test is for use in applicant placement only. 

Students who have qualified for a level after taking the placement test, may be moved up or down a level after the course has started. This is because language skills are better evaluated in class.

The placement test is not available for students accepted to the Norwegian Language Courses. A placement test is only for applicant placement and cannot replace an exam.

Applicants who have passed a Norwegian course at one of the other Norwegian universities may not have to take the placement test. Documentation will be required. Other exams will not qualify for exemption from the placement test.

Documentation requirements for refugees residing in Norway:

1. Documentation of educational background, such as secondary school certificate, high school diploma, and  transcript and diploma from higher education at university level. If your documentation is not in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish or English, it must be officially translated. Both translations and originals must be uploaded
2. Passport
3. Documentation of a residence permit (documetation of refugee status in Norway, residence card and UDI letter).
4. Official documentation of change of name (letter from the National Registry which confirms the name change).
5. If you have been granted NOKUT-recognition, please upload this document

Documentation requirements for immigrants residing in Norway:

1. Documentation of educational background, such as secondary school certificate, high school diploma, and a transcript or diploma from higher education at university level. If your documentation is not in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish or English, it must be officially translated. Both translations and originals must be uploaded
2. Passport
3. Documentation of a residence permit (Non EU-citizens: residence card and UDI letter. EU-citizens: Registration certificate issued by the police).
4. Official documentation of change of name (letter from the National Registry which confirms the name change).
5. If you have been granted NOKUT-recognition, please upload this document

An application receipt will be sent upon registration of the online application.

It is the applicant's responsibility to register a correct application and provide the necessary documentation within the deadline.

Applications submitted after the deadline and applications that are incomplete will not be processed.

The Norwegian government has introduced tuition fees for international students from outside the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland, starting autumn 2023. Some international applicants do not have to pay tuition fees.

Exemptions for paying tuition fees | Education | UiB