💰 Student finances in Norway: Lånekassen, semester fees and budget

🏦 Lånekassen: who is eligible, basic amounts, "loan → grant"

Lånekassen is a state fund that provides loans and grants to students.

● 🇳🇴 Norwegian students receive support automatically upon admission.

● 🌍 Foreign students from the EU/EEA are eligible if they meet the residence/work requirements.

● 🎓 Students from non-EU countries most often finance their studies themselves, but sometimes they are eligible for Lånekassen through a long-term residence permit or marriage to a Norwegian citizen.

📌 Loan → grant scheme: part of the loan (usually 25%) is converted into a grant if the student successfully completes the semester.

Average package in 2025/26:

● ~15,169 NOK/month (including possible grant component).

● Payments are made monthly to a bank account.

🧾 Semesteravgift: why and what it gives

Semesteravgift is a mandatory semester fee (~600–800 NOK).
It gives access to:

● taking exams (students are not allowed to take exams without paying the fee),

● samskipnad services (housing, healthcare, sports),

● student discounts (e.g. transport).

❌ You cannot opt out of this; it is a basic condition of study.

🏠 Samskipnad: housing/health/sports – how to activate services

Every university has a samskipnad — a student support organisation.
Examples:

● SiO (Oslo),

● Sammen (Bergen),

● Sit (Trondheim),

● Samskipnaden (Tromsø).

What they offer:

● student accommodation and housing queues,

● student health centre and psychological support,

● sports centres and membership cards,

● cultural and social events.

👉 To use these services, you need to pay the semesteravgift and activate access in your personal account on Samskipnaða.

💡 Budget: rent, transport, food, tuition

Average student budget in Norway (2025/26):

● 🏠 Accommodation: NOK 4,500–7,000/month (dormitories are cheaper, hybel is more expensive).

● 🚌 Transport: 450–600 NOK/month (with Studentbevis discount).

● 🍞 Food: 3000–4000 NOK/month.

● 📚 Study materials: NOK 500–1,000/month.

● 🎉 Leisure and sports: 1000–1500 NOK/month.

Total: minimum 11,000–13,000 NOK/month.

Financial planning in Norway is the key to unlocking your potential and achieving success in your studies! Lånekassen is here to help local and European students, while Semesteravgift provides access to exams and services. And with Samskipnad, life is that much more comfortable!

📌 Here's a great tip: keep track of your budget in an app or spreadsheet and review it once a month. This will help you keep your expenses under control and avoid any unpleasant surprises.