How to live on a scholarship and not just survive: financial life hacks for students in Norway 2025

Norwegian universities are considered expensive not because of tuition fees (which are zero), but because of the high cost of living. But hey, it's not all about instant noodles and living in garages. The state's got your back when it comes to housing and healthcare, and you can even get ISIC discounts on domestic SAS flights. We totally get it, Norway can be expensive, but we're here to help make it more affordable for you. So, we've put together a list of the ten most frequently asked questions to help you get the most out of your trip.

How much money does Lånekassen give and how much of it does not have to be repaid?

Since August 2025, the single 'grundstipend + studielån' has increased to 131,690 kr/year (12 months × 10,974 kr). You'll be pleased to hear that 60% of the total is provided as a loan at a very low rate of 1.47% per year, with the remaining 40% being a conditional grant. If you're a student and you complete 30 ECTS per semester and you don't exceed the part-time work limit of 199,440 kr/year, then 40% of the debt is automatically converted into a scholarship. Moving to a commune north of 63° will give you an extra grant of 7,465 kr/year, and language courses will get you another 26,400 kr. You'll be pleased to know that repayment begins 20 months after graduation. And if you're worried about your income, don't be - if your income is below 350,000 kr, you can defer your repayment. So, if you're a thoughtful bachelor's degree holder, you'll only be responsible for 78,000 kr instead of the full amount. That works out to a monthly payment of just 649 kr for 20 years — which is actually less than the cost of a monthly travel pass!

How to avoid tax when working part-time?

I'm very pleased to tell you that Norway is introducing a 'frikort' of up to 70,750 kr of annual income. As long as your total salary from part-time work and tutoring doesn't go over the threshold, your employer will pay you gross = net, which is great! Hey, don't worry, this is super easy! You can do it electronically on Altinn in just two minutes and then upload it to the A-melding system. Don't worry if you accidentally earn 72,000 kr – the extra 1,250 kr won't be taxed, because it'll be taxed at a 50% 'corrective' rate. But don't worry about that, because the money will be returned in April's Skattemelding. It's always a good idea to switch to the regular Skattekort in time to avoid getting into debt. And for those of you who are self-employed, there's some great news! The NO amount is geo-extended, which means you can still deduct expenses like your laptop or software. Plus, you can even break even on your income tax.

How much does student accommodation cost and how can I get the lowest rate?

Hey, I totally get it, you're looking for the cheapest option. In that case, I'd say the Studentsamskipnaden (SiO, Sammen, Sit) dormitories are probably your best bet. Hey, I totally get it – finding a place to stay in Oslo can be tricky. But I'm happy to share that a bed in a six-room block in Oslo Sogn will set you back just 4,700 kr a month, including electricity and internet. I'm so excited to tell you about the amazing prices we've got for our studios in Bergen Sammen! They're just 6,300 kr, and in Tromsø, our fantastic Arctic dormitory is available for the very reasonable price of 5,850 kr. Hey there first-year students and international students! If you apply five months before the start of the semester, you'll be our top priority! I totally understand, the commercial rent for the same room is around 7,000-8,000 kr. Hey, I just wanted to let you know about this awesome life hack for those of you thinking of switching your programme and going on an Erasmus semester. If you do this, it'll freeze your contract and you'll get your place back without any extra fees. We know how important it is to have everything you need, so we have installed pay-per-use laundries in all of our houses. You'll be thrilled with the price - just 35 kr per wash!

And if they need to see a doctor, where can they go and how much will it cost?

Hey, just so you know, if you're a member of a student organisation (SiO 690 kr/semester), you'll have full access to the SiO-Helse clinic! For your GP appointment, you'll be charged 213 kr. Physiotherapy sessions are 395 kr for 45 minutes, and psychotherapy sessions are 640 kr. But don't worry, after you reach the HELFO deductible (which is 3,165 kr per year), you won't have to pay for any of these services! And the good news is that dental care up to the age of 20 is paid for by the region. For students aged 20-24 in Trondheim, Sit Tannlege will kindly reimburse 50% of the bill up to 2,000 kr. Hey, just a friendly reminder to please remember to pack your EHIC/NAV 'Europeisk helsetrygdkort'! When you're exploring the beautiful EEA countries, don't worry about any medical emergencies, as emergency care is totally free for you.

How can I reduce travel costs within and between cities?

If you're a full-time student, you'll get a 40% discount on a 30-day Ruter ticket (Oslo 985 kr → 591 kr), Skyss ticket (Bergen 950 kr → 570 kr) or AtB ticket (Trondheim 926 kr → 556 kr). You can activate your ticket in the app after adding your Student ID. If you're travelling long-distance, Vy trains have special offers for students and young people. SAS Youth offers tickets from Oslo to Bergen for a fixed price of 649 kr. Here's a handy tip: buy a Ruter weekend group ticket for one adult and up to three children, which costs 114 kr per day. This saves money when friends come to visit.

What's the best way to save money on textbooks without breaking the law?

The new Routledge Anthropology textbook costs 985 kr, but BruktBok on Finn.no sells it for 80–120 kr. The UB OsloMet library has a service called Pensum Share. You can borrow a scanned book for seven days for free. For articles, there is the Oria.no digital database and mirrors SAGE Campus and Springerlink, which are legal through the university VPN. Also, Lånekassen lets you write off up to 1,950 kr on your tax return for 'fagt litteratur' — 22% of this will be returned to you as a tax deduction. You can save up to 1,200 kr for one semester – that's enough for dinner at Gaasa for six classmates.

Food: is it really possible to spend 2,000 kr/month on food?

With the Kiwi 'Join Student' card, a basic basket (milk, bread, chicken, oats, vegetables) costs 1,540 kr. Add two Too Good To Go meal boxes to your weekly shopping. At 49 kr each, these boxes cost 392 kr in total. The Fredrikke-SiO student canteen sells 'Dagens rett' (the daily special) every ten days. This costs 49 kr and is available until 4 p.m. This means that the total cost of two meals at the campus canteen and home cooking is 1,950 kr a month. This is without cutting calories. The best part is that they take part in Food Sharing Oslo, which gives out free fruit and bread three times a week at Domus Academica.

Which banking products are the most student-friendly?

DNB 'Ung' for those under 28: You won't be charged a service fee, and you won't be charged to withdraw money from any NOBANK ATMs. You will also get 0.5% cashback on Trumf when you use your Visa card. SpareBank1 Akademikerne — get a free Mastercard and gadget insurance for NOK 15,000. With Revolut Standard, you don't have to pay a 2% FX fee when you use your card to buy things while on an Erasmus trip. Tip: Open an international card before you move — you'll need a personnummer to register for Norwegian BankID, and you'll receive this after two months. Then connect Vipps — it's free to send money to friends, and it makes group accounts simple.

Can I get ‘student’ medical insurance for travel abroad?

Yes. Gjensidige 'Student Reise' covers 90 days in a row for 874 kr/year. If you are travelling on Erasmus, the policy extends the medical limit to 10 million kr and includes evacuation and lost luggage. If you're going on a short trip, the European Youth Card ISIC + Insurance costs 499 kr a year. It covers snowboard injuries up to 100,000 kr and gives discounts from 45,000 partners worldwide. Your EHIC will not cover you for treatment at a private clinic in Spain, but these packages will. Lånekassen takes the insurance premium into account in its expenses, reducing the amount of tax it has to pay.

What can you do about 'mandatory' campus fees and make the most of your budget?

Each semester there is a student fee (690 kr in Oslo, 640 kr in Bergen, 600 kr in Trondheim), but this gives you access to SiO-Gym: a fitness centre with a full range of group programmes for 125 kr/month. A regular EVO gym membership costs 429 kr. If you take part in the student council, you will get an extra grant of 1,500 kr for each semester. You can also get a free day ticket for the Øya festival by doing two hours of volunteering there (saving you 1,350 kr). Each university has a 'Fond for Professionelle Reiser' (Fund for Professional Travel). You can apply for a grant to cover the cost of your ticket if you are going to a conference. The grant will cover up to 3,000 kr. This means that you can get back hundreds of percent of what you spend in the form of experiences.

Student life in Norway is not just about getting by in the most expensive country in the world. It's about knowing how to use the system. For example, there are grants from Lånekassen, tax refunds, cheap dormitories, 40% travel passes and supermarket bonus programmes. These make even 'luxuries' affordable and easy to manage. Add to that free libraries, digital magazines and hundreds of ISIC discounts, and you have student capital that saves up to 60,000 kr per year. The money you save can be spent on a weekend in Lofoten, Norwegian language courses or your first investment in a BSU account. Studying in Norway can be both high-quality and affordable — you just need to know where to find the 'invisible' kroner and how to claim them.