UiT The Arctic University of Norway, founded in 1968 in Tromsø, is the world’s northernmost university, with campuses across northern Norway. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it climbed 19 places to =629th in the world and was the fourth-highest-ranked university in Norway. It’s known for Arctic and climate research, marine biology, Indigenous studies, health sciences and linguistics.
UiT doesn’t offer bachelor’s programmes in English, but it has a range of English-taught master’s programmes and an early deadline for non-EU applicants. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on UiT’s own guidance and official Norwegian government information.
1. Choose a master’s or one-year programme in English
UiT currently doesn’t offer any bachelor’s programmes taught in English. It offers English-taught master’s programmes in areas such as geosciences, public health, computational chemistry, linguistics and Indigenous studies, and two one-year programmes in English, including Arctic Nature Guide. UiT international admissions.
2. Apply by 15 November 2026
For international degree students starting in autumn 2027, UiT’s application portal opens on 15 October 2026 and the deadline for applicants from outside the EU/EEA is 15 November 2026, earlier than at many Norwegian universities. EU/EEA and Swiss applicants can apply from 1 February to 1 March 2027.
3. Expect competition for places
Admission is competitive, and only a limited number of international applicants are offered places. Apply to more than one programme if you can, and make sure your application is complete.
4. Meet the academic requirements
For a master’s programme, you need a bachelor’s degree of at least three years, with the subject background and minimum grades your programme requires. Conditional admission is only possible if you don’t need a visa and the programme isn’t competitive, so most non-EU applicants must have completed their degree by the deadline.
5. Prove your English
Programmes taught in English require you to document your English, usually with a recognised test such as TOEFL or IELTS unless you’ve studied in certain countries, and some universities set higher scores than the national minimum. Test dates fill up quickly, so book early. Practise with our free IELTS and TOEFL practice tests.
6. Upload everything before the deadline
Upload your diploma, transcripts, English test results and a valid passport before 15 November. Your passport must be valid beyond the application deadline, and applications missing required documents can be rejected.
7. Understand the fees
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don’t pay tuition fees. Since 2023-24, students from outside the EU/EEA pay tuition fees, which vary by programme category, and the semester fee is included. Some joint degree programmes are exempt from UiT’s fees. Check your programme’s current fee on UiT’s website, and expect to receive payment instructions in early May.
8. Prepare for life in the Arctic
Tromsø has long, dark winters and the midnight sun in summer, and living costs in Norway are high. Apply for student housing as soon as you’re admitted, because you’ll need a place to live for your study permit.
9. Pay your fees and apply for a study permit
EU/EEA citizens don’t need a study permit, but they must register if they stay in Norway for more than three months. If you’re from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, you apply to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) for a study permit after UiT has admitted you. Non-EU students must pay their first year’s tuition shortly after receiving an offer, and you must also show that you can cover your living costs: NOK 170,368 for the 2026-27 academic year, usually transferred to a Norwegian bank account or a university deposit account. You’ll also need a place to live in Norway. Living-cost requirement for 2026-27.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
A study permit normally lets you work part time, up to 20 hours a week during the semester and full time in the holidays, though Norwegian is often needed for part-time jobs. After you graduate, you can apply for a residence permit for up to one year to look for skilled work, and once you find a relevant job you can apply for a work permit. Rules change, so check the latest guidance with UDI or UiT’s international office.
Applying for a PhD at UiT?
PhD positions at UiT are paid jobs, advertised by each faculty, and you usually need a relevant master’s degree. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Places for international students are limited, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to the University of Oslo, NTNU, the University of Bergen and NMBU. Our guide to studying in Norway explains how the Norwegian system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from UiT The Arctic University of Norway’s official admissions pages, Norwegian government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on UiT’s international admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with UiT The Arctic University of Norway.