Finances and Insurance

Semester Fee

Semester Fee to SiB

The only fee to be paid at the University of Bergen is the semester fee to the Student Welfare Organisation (SiB), currently NOK 480. SiB is a non-profit organisation and the semester fee finances SiB's welfare services for students. You automatically become a member of SiB when you pay the semester fee through the University of Bergen.

Students who are part of the Erasmus and Nordplus programmes, as well as bilateral exchange students, are exempted from paying the semester fee. However, these students are still entitled to the same services from SiB through their exchange programme as all other registered students.

No Tuition Fees

The University of Bergen is a public institution and therefore does not charge tuition fees. This applies both to Norwegian and international students.

Cost of Living

Foreigners find Norway in general quite expensive. Rent at student hostels is relatively reasonable compared to many private alternatives. Travel is also comparatively reasonably priced for students.

In spite of the general high cost of living, you can manage fairly well on a tight student budget. The average university student's budget is approximately NOK 9440 per month (2013). This amount should cover most monthly expenses such as housing, food, clothing, study materials, books, transport and social activities.

You will find more information about the cost of living in Norway in this year's Your Guide brochure for new international students under Chapter 10. Finances.

Banks

Bank opening hours are limited and most Norwegians prefer to use internet banking. Cash cards, debit and/or credit cards are accepted practically everywhere and most of the time preferred to cash.

Norway is well equipped with ATMs where international credit or debit cards such as VISA, MasterCard and others may be used to withdraw or advance money from your home bank account. Banking services, including exchange of foreign currency, are also offered by Norwegian post offices.

If you need to open a Norwegian bank account while in Norway, you will receive detailed information about the procedures during the Introductory Programme.

Insurance

Health Insurance

All international students must have valid health insurance while in Norway. To find out if you should become a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme or if you should have a social security coverage from your home country, please visit the website Study in Norway.

We advise all students travelling to Norway to consult health insurance authorities in their home country to ensure valid health insurance while in Norway.

Other

We recommend that you have travel insurance when travelling to Norway, as well as for travelling in or outside the country while studying in Norway.

You should also consider if there are other types of insurance you may need while in Norway.