Norway Scholarships and Funded PhD Opportunities for Indian Students: The 2026-27 Guide

Norway sits in an unusual position in 2026. Its public universities are midway through a significant fee change that may bring tuition back to near zero from August 2026. Its PhD programs are already fully funded and treat doctoral students as salaried employees. Several institutions accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate in place of IELTS.

And yet, most Indian students have never put Norway on their shortlist.

Here are some major funded opportunities and scholarship routes available to Indian students in Norway in 2026, the IELTS waiver situation as it stands, and the financial picture you need before you apply.

Currency note: 1 NOK = Rs. 9.96 as of June 16, 2026 (BookMyForex live rate). Always verify current rates before financial planning.

The Norway Tuition Situation in 2026

Norway introduced tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students in autumn 2023, ending decades of free education. Non-European enrolments fell by 80% in 2026.

In June 2025, the Norwegian government proposed allowing public universities to set their own fees from August 2026, which could return some institutions to near-zero or zero tuition for non-EU students. However, such a move is not a guaranteed reversal. Universities "can" set fees to zero; they are under no legal obligation to do so. Each institution decides independently, and decisions vary. A university that charges full tuition for autumn 2025 might announce a fee reduction for autumn 2026 or might not. Do not accept an admission offer until you have written confirmation of the tuition fee amount from the institution. 

What this decision means for Indian students:

• Confirm tuition fees directly with your specific institution before applying for autumn 2026.
• Nord University is planning to reduce fees for 2026-27, subject to parliamentary approval of the amendment. Current rates apply until the bill is passed. 
• NTNU has also indicated it may reduce fees, pending the same legislative approval. 
• PhD programs are completely unaffected. They remain fully funded at all Norwegian public universities.
• The mandatory semester fee of approximately NOK 1,000 (Rs. 9,960) per semester applies to everyone and is not a tuition fee.

The IELTS Waiver: What Is True and What Is Not

Several Norwegian universities accept an MOI certificate as proof of English proficiency instead of IELTS. It comes with conditions most blogs skip.

The MOI certificate works if:

• Your entire previous degree was taught in English.
• The program you are applying to is English-taught. Most master's programs qualify; most bachelor's programs do not.
• The specific program accepts the MOI route. The acceptance rate varies by institution.

Universities confirmed to accept MOI certificates:

• University of Oslo (UiO): for eligible English-taught master's and PhD programs.
• NTNU: for select international master's programs.
• University of Bergen (UiB): for English-medium master's programs.
• BI Norwegian Business School: for master's and MBA programs.
• Nord University: for international programs.

The IELTS waiver is program-specific, not university-wide. Always confirm with your target program before assuming it applies.

Alternatives accepted at most Norwegian universities: TOEFL iBT 90+, Cambridge C1 Advanced, PTE Academic 62+, Duolingo 110+.

The Funded Opportunities Available to Indian Students

1. PhD Positions: The Strongest Route and the Most Overlooked

PhD positions at Norwegian public universities are employment contracts, not scholarships. This distinction matters enormously.

What PhD positions include the following:

• Full salary: NOK 490,000 to NOK 530,000 per year (Rs. 48,80,400 to Rs. 52,78,800 per year).
• Full social benefits: pension contributions, healthcare, parental leave.
• No tuition fees. PhD candidates are employees, not students.
• Funding for 3 to 4 years. Open to all nationalities.

PhD positions are advertised on Jobbnorge (jobbnorge.no) and individual university websites. You apply to a specific funded project with a named supervisor, not to a general program. Positions open year-round.

What makes a strong application:

• A master's degree with first-class equivalent grades.
• A research proposal aligned with the advertised project specifically.
• Please include details of your prior research experience, publications, and conference presentations.

2. University of Oslo International Scholarship

The University of Oslo (QS #171 globally) offers limited scholarships for outstanding master's and PhD applicants.

What it covers:

• Partial tuition support where applicable post-August 2026.
• Priority access to student housing through SiO.
• Monthly stipend for specific research programs.

Deadline: Rolling for autumn 2026. Check uio.no/english/studies/admission/ for current openings.

IELTS: MOI certificate accepted for English-medium programs.

3. NTNU International Master's Scholarships

NTNU (QS #397, Norway's largest university) offers fee waivers and partial scholarships for international master's students in select programs.

What it covers:

• Fee waiver equivalent to the announced tuition for eligible programs.
• Some programs include partial living cost support.

Deadline: Autumn 2026 entry has passed. For autumn 2027 entry: December 1, 2026. Begin preparing now.

IELTS: MOI accepted for English-taught programs. IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90 is required, otherwise.

Apply at: https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/financing-and-scholarships

4. BI Norwegian Business School: Merit Scholarships

BI is Norway's largest business school, ranked among the top 5% globally with AACSB and EQUIS accreditation.

What it covers:

• BI Presidential Scholarship: up to 50% tuition reduction for top-ranked master's applicants.
• BI Merit Scholarship: 20% to 30% reduction based on academic performance.

Deadline: 2026 intake has passed. For 2027 entry: apply from October 2026 onwards.

An IELTS, GMAT, TOEFL, or MOI certificate is accepted.

Apply at: bi.edu/programs-and-individual-courses/master/international-student-application/

5. Erasmus Mundus Programs: Norway-Linked

Several Erasmus Mundus programs include Norwegian universities as partners. These are fully funded for eligible countries, including India.

What it covers:

• Full tuition waiver.
• Monthly living allowance of up to EUR 1,400 (approximately Rs. 1,54,280).
• Travel allowance, installation costs, and health insurance.

Programs with Norwegian partners: EUROAQUAE+ (water management, NTNU), GEO-CRADLE (geospatial sciences), MARIAL (marine and maritime science). Full catalog at eacea.ec.europa.eu.

Deadlines: The 2026-27 window has passed for most programs. Prepare for the 2027-28 cycle, which opens in October 2026.

What It Costs to Study and Live in Norway

Annual tuition from August 2026 (confirm with the institution):

• Norwegian public universities: near-zero or zero at institutions that choose to reduce fees; confirm in writing with your specific university before accepting any offer.
• Nord University: programs from NOK 60,000/year (Rs. 5,97,600) where fees apply planning reductions for 2026-27 pending parliamentary approval. 
• BI Norwegian Business School: NOK 195,000 to NOK 285,000/year (Rs. 19,42,200 to Rs. 28,38,600). Fees apply regardless.

Living costs: The Study in Norway official portal confirms NOK 15,488/month (₹1,54,260), or NOK 170,368/year (₹16,97,465) as the official minimum visa proof-of-funds requirement. Oslo is the most expensive. Bergen and Trondheim are meaningfully cheaper and home to UiB and NTNU, respectively. 

Part-time work: Indian students can work up to 20 hours/week during the semester and full-time during holidays. No separate permit needed. Average student wage: NOK 190 to NOK 300/hour (Rs. 1,892 to Rs. 2,988), covering roughly 20 to 30% of monthly living costs.

After Graduation

Norway has no dedicated post-study work visa equivalent to Australia's 485 or the UK's Graduate Route. What it offers:

• A job-seeker permit to stay while searching for employment after graduation.
• Skilled worker permit once employed above NOK 300,000/year (Rs. 29,88,000), a threshold most engineering and data science roles exceed.
• Permanent residency eligibility after 3 years of skilled employment.
• Strong graduate salaries: Data Engineer NOK 719,672/year (Rs. 71,69,933), Data Scientist NOK 654,063/year (Rs. 65,16,467).

Is Norway the Right Choice for You?

Norway makes strong practical sense for Indian students who

• Are targeting a funded PhD position with a strong research profile and a first-class master's.
• Are in engineering, computer science, marine science, environmental science, or energy.
• Have completed their bachelor's in English and can use an MOI certificate.
• Can demonstrate NOK 170,368 (Rs. 16,97,465) in proof of funds for the visa. This amount is non-negotiable, regardless of any changes to tuition.
• Are planning for a European career in energy, maritime, or technology.

Norway is the wrong choice if you need tuition confirmed as free before applying, want an English-medium bachelor's degree, or cannot demonstrate the minimum living cost funds.

Book a free session with a Leap Scholar counselor to understand which Norway scholarship or PhD position matches your academic profile, how to prepare a strong application, and what the full financial picture looks like for an Indian student in Norway in 2026-27.

Sources: Study in Norway Official, Cost and Requirements 2026-27 | VisaToCampus, Study in Norway 2026 Tuition Update | Collegedunia, Masters in Norway 2026 | IMFS, Norway 2026 Tuition Fee Guide | Standyou, Study in Norway 2026 | BookMyForex, NOK to INR June 15, 2026 | ScholarshipUnion, Norway Tuition Fees 2025-26 (March 2026) | Nord University, Tuition Fees Official Page | Mastersportal, Study in Norway Tuition and Living Costs 2026