The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) is based in Ås, about 30 kilometres south of Oslo, and has roots going back to an agricultural college founded in 1859. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was in the 761-770 band and was the fifth-highest-ranked university in Norway. It’s known for environmental science, agriculture, veterinary medicine, development studies and economics.
NMBU offers one bachelor’s programme and several master’s programmes in English, with some of the lowest tuition fees among Norway’s top universities. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on NMBU’s own guidance and official Norwegian government information.
1. Choose an English-taught programme
NMBU’s only bachelor’s programme taught in English is International Environment and Development Studies. It also offers a range of master’s programmes in English, in areas such as applied economics, environmental science, agriculture and development studies. NMBU: how international applicants apply for the bachelor’s programme.
2. Apply between 15 October and 1 December
International applicants apply between 15 October and 1 December for programmes starting in August the following year. Applicants who meet the Norwegian entry requirements, including Norwegian language, apply through the national system, Samordna opptak, instead.
3. Finish your qualifications before applying
NMBU doesn’t offer conditional admission to bachelor’s applicants who complete their education after the deadline: your academic requirements must be completed and documented by 1 December. In practice, that usually means applying after you’ve finished school.
4. Meet the entry requirements
For the bachelor’s programme, you must meet the minimum requirements for higher education in Norway set by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir). For master’s programmes, you need a relevant bachelor’s degree with the subject background your programme requires.
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. NMBU sets a higher English requirement than the national minimum.
6. Fund your studies yourself
NMBU doesn’t offer any scholarships that cover tuition fees, so you’ll need to pay your tuition and living costs yourself or find a scholarship in your home country.
7. Understand the fees
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don’t pay tuition fees. For others, NMBU’s fees for 2026-27 are NOK 80,000 a year for category 1 programmes, which include the International Environment and Development Studies bachelor’s and master’s programmes such as Applied Economics and Sustainability, NOK 150,000 for category 2 and NOK 275,000 for veterinary medicine. The first year must be paid in one instalment shortly after you receive an offer. NMBU tuition fees.
8. Transfer your living-cost funds by 15 May
NMBU asks admitted students to transfer the funds for living costs required by UDI, NOK 170,368 for 2026-27, by 15 May. If you miss the deadline, your offer of admission is withdrawn, so plan your finances early.
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 NMBU 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 NMBU’s international office.
Applying for a PhD at NMBU?
PhD positions at NMBU are usually paid jobs, advertised by each faculty, and you need a relevant master’s degree. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Apply to more than one university to give yourself options. Read our guides to the University of Oslo, NTNU, the University of Bergen and UiT The Arctic University of Norway. 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 NMBU’s official admissions, fee and financing 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 NMBU’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with NMBU.