🎓 Master's programmes in Norway in English: requirements and deadlines (UiB/NTNU/HVL)

🔎 Where to find programmes in English

The main resource is Study in Norway. There you can:

● filter programmes by level (MA/PhD),

● select a city (Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Tromsø, etc.),

● search specifically for English-language master's programmes.

👉 Many universities (UiB, NTNU, HVL, UiO, UiT) offer dozens of master's programmes entirely in English. IT, engineering, business, and marine sciences are particularly popular.

🗣️ English: IELTS/TOEFL/Duolingo — varying thresholds

Requirements vary from university to university and even from programme to programme.

● UiB: usually requires IELTS 6.5 (min 6.5 in each component) or TOEFL iBT 90+.

● NTNU: accepts IELTS 6.0 (min 5.5 in each component) or TOEFL iBT 80+.

● HVL: more flexible thresholds — IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 60–80, sometimes accepts Duolingo (around 105–110).

📌 Important: some programmes require a higher than average score (e.g. medicine/biology at UiB).

📅 Master's programme deadlines: December–February

Unlike bachelor's programmes, master's programmes set their own admission windows:

● Most often, deadlines for foreign students fall between December and February.

● An early deadline is necessary so that the university has time to check the documents and the applicant can obtain a study permit.

● Norwegian/European candidates often have later deadlines (March–April).

👉 Tip: check the page for each programme — deadlines can vary significantly even within the same university.

📝 Exceptions and additional requirements (portfolio, GMAT/GRE)

Some programmes require more than just language skills and a degree:

● 🎨 Creative majors (design, art) — portfolio.

● 📊 Business schools and economics — GMAT or GRE.

● 🔬 Technical fields — motivation letter + sometimes an online interview.

👉 Always check the requirements on the specific programme's page.

Norway is an amazing place to study for your Master's degree! It's open to international students and the universities are really welcoming. The only thing to watch out for is the English language requirements, which vary between universities, and the deadlines, which fall in the winter. UiB is more strict (IELTS 6.5), while NTNU and HVL are more lenient (6.0 and even Duolingo).

📌 Here's a great tip: start preparing for your application a year in advance so that you have plenty of time to take the language test and gather all the necessary documents. You'll definitely want to check out the website of the specific programme, where you'll find all the latest requirements!