The University of Bergen (UiB), founded in 1946, is a research university in Bergen on Norway’s west coast, with its buildings spread across the city centre. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 283rd in the world and the third-highest-ranked university in Norway. It’s known for climate and marine research, earth science, global health and the humanities.
UiB’s bachelor’s programmes are mainly taught in Norwegian, but it offers a number of master’s programmes in English for applicants from outside the EU/EEA. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on the University of Bergen’s own guidance and official Norwegian government information.
1. Find a master’s programme open to you
UiB publishes a list each year of the master’s programmes taught in English that are open to applicants living outside Norway with citizenship from outside the EU/EEA. Not every programme is open to these applicants: for 2026-27, for example, Global Health wasn’t open to self-financing international students. UiB master’s programmes for non-EU applicants.
2. Know the bachelor’s language
Most of UiB’s bachelor’s programmes are taught in Norwegian and require Norwegian proficiency, so international students without Norwegian usually come to UiB for a master’s programme.
3. Apply in the November to December window
UiB admits international master’s students once a year. The application portal is open from 1 November to 1 December, and programmes such as Sustainability and Global Health have used 1 December as their deadline for applicants from outside the EU/EEA. Some programmes have different dates (German, for example, has used 4 January), and the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design has its own deadlines, so check your programme. UiB: how to apply for a master’s degree.
4. Meet the academic requirements
You need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent that meets your programme’s specific subject requirements and minimum grade, and your diploma must be ready before the semester registration deadline. Read the programme page carefully to check which courses your degree must include.
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. Prepare your documents carefully
Upload your transcripts, diploma and other required documents in the format UiB asks for, and make sure everything is in before the deadline. Applications are assessed only on the documents submitted.
7. Understand the fees
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don’t pay tuition fees. Students with citizenship from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must pay fees, which vary by programme and are set each year; the Fine Art and Design master’s programmes, for example, cost NOK 401,704 for 2026-27. Check the exact fee for your programme on UiB’s website.
8. Look for housing early
Bergen is a popular student city, and you’ll need a place to live before you can apply for your study permit. Apply for student housing as soon as you’re admitted.
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 the University of Bergen 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 the University of Bergen’s international office.
Applying for a PhD at UiB?
PhD positions at UiB 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
Apply to more than one university to give yourself options. Read our guides to the University of Oslo, NTNU, UiT The Arctic University of Norway 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 the University of Bergen’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 UiB’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Bergen.