Norwegian Government Quota Scholarships for Undergraduate, Masters and PhD Students from Developing Countries

The Norwegian government, via the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund, provides scholarships for students from developing countries and countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia through the Quota Scheme.

The main objective of the Norwegian Government Quota Scholarship Scheme is to contribute to capacity building through education that will benefit the home country of the students when they return. The Scheme is also intended to strengthen relations between Norway and the selected countries and thus contribute to internationalization at Norwegian institutions of higher education.

Most universities and university colleges in Norway participate in the Quota scheme. The institutions involved are allocated a certain number of students under the programme each year. The scheme normally includes courses at Master’s and Ph.D. level in addition to certain professional/Bachelor’s degrees. Most of the Norwegian institutions offer courses and educational programmes in English.

Norwegian Government Quota Scheme

Provides funding for a total of 1,100 students, 800 of them from developing countries in the South and 300 from countries in the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and in Central Asia.

Normally, the financial support given will not exceed a time span of four (4) years for one definite study plan or a combination of two programmes.


Each student receives the same amount of money as a Norwegian student would do in an equivalent educational programme. 40 per cent of the amount is given as a grant and 60 per cent as a loan. However, the loan portion may be waived when the student returns to his/her home country after completing the course of study.

Students who stay in Norway after finishing their studies or take up residence in another country other than their home country must repay the loan. Travelling expenses for entry into Norway may be reimbursed (fixed price).

Students can apply for one annual home visit if the educational programme lasts more than one year, as well as financial support for travelling expenses for field work during the course of study. When the student returns home within 3 months after finishing the course, the cost of travelling home is covered by the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund.


CRITERIA

If you wish to participate in the Norwegian Government Quota Scholarship Scheme:

   
you must apply directly from your home country.
   
You must have stayed at least one year in your home country directly prior to the planned course of study at the Norwegian university /University College.
   
To be eligible to apply for the Quota Scheme, you must be able to find your home country on the list below.

All candidates should typically have the following basic qualifications:

   
Secondary school certificates
   
Minimum two years of higher education from their home country
   
Some exceptions apply for certain professional educational courses at Bachelor’s level.

You may want to see the complete eligibility requirements.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications forms are available from the websites of the universities and university colleges. All applications should be sent directly to the International Office at the university/college to which the student is applying.

See the List of Institutions Offering Scholarships (PDF). Contact them for more details on available courses, admission requirements and application procedures.

It is important to visit the official website (link to it is below) for detailed information.

DEADLINE

The deadline for applications for the Quota scheme varies depending on the course and institution of interest. Typically, however, it is usually 1st December every year.

Some courses and educational programmes may have other deadlines. Please contact the International Office at the university/college to which you want to apply for detailed information.

PLEASE NOTE:
The Letter of Admission is normally sent to the successful candidate by 15 April every year.

The Quota Scheme as a rule only enrolls students from institutions which have collaboration agreements with Norwegian universities or university colleges. Norwegian institutions usually do not admit free movers (individual applicants) to this scheme. Only in very special cases can free movers be considered. To find out which institutions collaborate with Norwegian institutions, please refer to the websites of the Norwegian institutions.


CONTACT

Please note that SIU cannot offer individual guidance to prospective students regarding choice of institution or course, or information about course contents. All inquiries should be directed to the International Office at the institution in question. Applications should be sent directly to the institutions and SIU is not responsible for received applications.

WEBSITE HERE