The University of Oslo (UiO), founded in 1811, is Norway’s oldest and highest-ranked university, with its main campus at Blindern in the capital. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was ranked =131st in the world and was the highest-ranked university in Norway. It’s known for medicine, law, the natural sciences, the humanities and the social sciences.
UiO teaches almost all its bachelor’s programmes in Norwegian, so most international students come for a master’s programme taught in English. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on the University of Oslo’s own guidance and official Norwegian government information.
1. Know your bachelor’s options
UiO currently has one bachelor’s programme taught in English, Technology Systems: Science and Engineering. All its other bachelor’s programmes are taught in Norwegian, and to apply for them you must already be proficient in Norwegian, as UiO doesn’t offer preparatory Norwegian courses before admission. Admission to the University of Oslo.
2. Choose an English-taught master’s programme
UiO offers many two-year master’s programmes in English, in subjects such as economics, the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities. Each one has its own academic requirements, so check that your bachelor’s degree covers the subjects your programme asks for.
3. Apply between 15 October and 1 December
For programmes starting in August 2027, UiO’s application portal for applicants from outside the EU/EEA opens on 15 October 2026 at 09:00 Central European Time, and 1 December 2026 is the final deadline for your application and all supporting documents. Applications without supporting documents uploaded by the deadline are invalid and won’t be processed.
4. Meet the requirements for Technology Systems
For the English-taught Technology Systems bachelor’s, you need the Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification (or an equivalent), mathematics at the level of the Norwegian course Mathematics R1 (roughly British AS level), and an extra science subject such as physics, chemistry or biology at A-level standard. Applicants to this programme don’t need to know Norwegian. UiO Technology Systems: admission.
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. Fund your studies yourself
UiO doesn’t offer any scholarships for students on full bachelor’s or master’s programmes, 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 at UiO. Others do, and the full year’s fee must be paid in one go before each academic year starts. For 2027-28, the yearly fee is NOK 186,000 for many humanities and social science master’s programmes, such as Economics, and NOK 218,000 for science programmes such as Physics, and for the Technology Systems bachelor’s. UiO tuition fees.
8. Budget for life in Oslo
Oslo is one of Europe’s most expensive cities, so your living costs will be high on top of your tuition. Apply for student housing as soon as you’re admitted, and budget carefully for rent, food and transport.
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 Oslo 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 Oslo’s international office.
Applying for a PhD at UiO?
PhD positions in Norway 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 NTNU, the University of Bergen, 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 Oslo’s official admissions and fee 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 UiO’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the University of Oslo.