Refugees and immigrants
A fixed number of places per semester are reserved for refugees and immigrants (with a residence permit) residing in Norway, who fulfill the basic general entrance requirements for post-secondary studies in Norway (except the language requirements). Students with citizenship from countries outside the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland, must pay tuition fees.
Main content
All applicants for the courses for refugees and immigrants must apply electronically in Søknadsweb using their Norwegian ID number and creating a 4 digit pin code.
You will find important information and deadlines in the sidebar to the right on this page.
Remember that all relevant documentation must be uploaded with your application within the application deadline. Applications submitted after the deadline and applications that are incomplete will not be processed.
Click on the categories below to read more.
Admission requirements
The Norwegian courses at the University of Bergen are open for refugees and immigrants who meet the entrance requirements for admission to higher education in Norway except the language requirements and have obtained a valid residence permit in Norway, but do not have proficiency in the Norwegian language.
https://hkdir.no/en/foreign-education/lists-and-databases/higher-education-entrance-qualification-gsu
Applicants who have already completed the course they are applying for will not be considered for admission.
The same applies to applicants for level 2 and 3 who have been admitted to studies through The Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service and to guest students with temporary admission (hospitant or poststudent).
Only applicants who have passed NOR‑U3 at UiB with a grade of C or better may apply for admission to NOR‑U4.
Courses
The places for refugees and immigrants are allocated at intermediate and higher level.
- 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.
Admission will be valid for one semester only. It is not possible to delay or defer admission to a future semester.
Please note that lectures are offered during daytime only.
Placement test
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
Documentation requirements for refugees residing in Norway:
If you have refugee status in Norway, please upload the following documentation to Søknadsweb:
- Documentation of your educational background, such as upper secondary school certificates, high school diplomas, and transcripts and diplomas from higher education. If your documentation is not in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, or English, it must be officially translated. Both the translations and the original documents must be uploaded.
- Passport
- NOKUT recognition, if you have one.
- Documentation of any name change (a letter from the National Registry confirming the change). If this documentation is not in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, or English, it must be officially translated. Upload both translations and originals.
- Documentation of refugee status (residence card and UDI letter) must be submitted using a secure webform.
https://digiforms.uib.no/documentation-admission
Documentation requirements for immigrants residing in Norway:
If you have immigrant status and reside in Norway, please upload the following documentation to Søknadsweb:
- Documentation of your educational background, such as secondary school certificates, high school diplomas, and transcripts and diplomas from higher education. If your documentation is not in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, or English, it must be officially translated. Both the translations and the original documents must be uploaded.
- Passport
- Documentation of your residence permit
- Non‑EU citizens: residence card and UDI letter
- EU citizens: registration certificate issued by the police
- NOKUT recognition, if you have one.
- Documentation of any name change (a letter from the National Registry confirming the change). If this documentation is not in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, or English, it must be officially translated. Upload both translations and originals.
An application receipt will be sent upon registration of the online application.
Tuition fees
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