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Norway

Study Law in Norway 2024

Study in Norway

Law Degrees in Norway

A five-year, Faculty of Law program leading to a master i rettsvitenskap (Master of Jurisprudence) is the most important degree lawyers can earn in Norway. Similar to a Master of Laws, the master i rettsvitenskap recently replaced the old Candidate of Law degree originally created in 1736.

The LLM is the only degree needed to qualify students to work as lawyers in Norway. However, graduates of an LLM program are not relegated to lawyer positions. They can also accept high-ranking employment in the Norwegian Police Service, serve as a barrister judge or accept various positions in the civil servant sector. The legal profession in Norway is a "united" one because all people employed in legal occupations have received the same type of education.

During their fifth year of the LLM program, students must complete a thesis and enroll in advanced, elective courses. In addition, anyone studying for the Faculty of Law degree also have the opportunity to earn a master's degree in criminology or the sociology of law.

Ph.D., doctoral and licentiate degree are also available for students who wish to engage in legal research or teach at a Norwegian university.

Norwegian Universities Offering Faculty of Law Degrees

The University of Oslo offers Det juridiske fakultet programs as well as the University of Tromso and the University of Bergen. The University of Tromso participates in the European Credit Transfer System that allows students to transfer any credits they earn at UT to home-based universities.

Tuition Fees

International and Norwegian students pay no tuition fees. The Norwegian government considers higher education to be a vital to the continuing success of Norway and publicly fund 98 percent of all higher learning institutions. Only privately run colleges charge tuition fees in Norway. However, a charge of 400 to 600 NOK per semester is required before students can take final exams. This fee also grants them membership in student unions that provide benefits such as health services, use of sports facilities, counseling and housing assistance.

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Basic monthly living cost

  • Rent in a shared flat

    546
  • Share of utilities

    64
  • Internet subscription

    48
  • Local transportation

    68

Sample lifestyle cost

  • Fast food combo

    11
  • Cinema ticket

    13
  • Pint of local beer

    9

About Norway

Steeped in Viking history and home to the most beautiful fjords in the world, the Kingdom of Norway continues to rank high on lists of the most prosperous and happiest countries in the world. Norway is a constitutional monarchy bordered land-wise by Sweden, Finland, Russia and Denmark. It also shares maritime borders with Greenland, Iceland, Russia, the United Kingdom and Sweden via the Barents Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea. Norway is fourth in the world regarding per capita income and recently held top ranking on the Human Development Index. Additionally, Norway has been designated by the Democracy Index to be the most democratic country globally.

Useful Facts About Norway

• Established in 1000 AD, Oslo is the capital of Norway and the economic/government capital as well.

• Norway is rich in natural gas, petroleum, seafood, minerals and fresh water reserves, all contributing factors to its ability to offer subsidized higher education, universal health care, an excellent social security system and consistently low unemployment rates.

• Although Norway is not a member of the European Union, it maintains close ties with the EU. Norway is also a founding member of NATO, the WTO, the Council of Europe and the EEA (European Economic Area).

• Norway has two official languages: Bokmal Norwegian and Nynorsk Norwegian. Bokmal is spoken by the majority of Norwegians while Nynorsk is spoken by Finnish and Sami-speaking minorities.

• The Norwegian Krone (plural Kroner) is the country's currency unit. Six Kroner equals $1 USD and one euro equals eight Kroner.

What is the Law system in the Country?

Norway's court system is similar to the U.S. court system. District courts have the least power, followed by the Appeals Court and t he Supreme Court. Judges presiding over appeal and district courts can be one of three types of judges: professional judges, lay judges or co-judges. Professional judges are qualified lawyers who have gained legal experience through years of defending or prosecuting individuals in Norway courts. Lay and co-judges are non-lawyers who have been appointed to a position as judge in a district or appeals court.

Visa Requirements

What type of Visa do you need?

Visa name

Student Visa (Student Residence Permit)

Price and currency

USD 650

The Norwegian student visa processing fee is around US$650. The fee may be subject to change.

Who can apply for the visa?

If you come from one of the Nordic countries (Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland) you will not have to apply for a residence permit. However, if you plan to study in Norway for more than six months, you must report to a tax office in Norway for an ID check and to report your move to Norway.

If you come from countries within the EU/EEA/EFTA area you can study in Norway for up to 90 days without applying for a student residence permit. However, you will need to apply for a student residence permit for stays of over 90 days, already in Norway.

If you come from outside the EU/EEA/EFTA area you have to apply for a student residence permit before coming to Norway.

Where can you make the application?

Norwegian Embassy or Consulate

After you’ve received your letter of admission you should contact your nearest Norwegian Embassy or Consulate for information on the study permit application procedure, and apply from your country of origin.

While some candidates can apply online from within Norway or through a Norwegian embassy, most students will need to hand in a paper application form to their closest Norwegian embassy or consulate.

Website:

How to make the application?

When you hand in your student residence permit application form, you must also provide your passport, along with other necessary documentation. You’ll need to submit:

  • Evidence of admittance to an approved full-time education program
  • A completed application form
  • Receipt of having paid the application fee
  • Two recent passport-sized photos with a white background
  • Evidence of sufficient financial funds for the entire period of study, including funds to support any accompanying family, which should be in a Norwegian bank account (it can be difficult to open an account in a Norwegian bank without a Norwegian personal number, so you can usually deposit the required amount into an account established by your educational institution). You need to prove you have access to NOK 116,369 for each academic year (10 months), which is approximately US$14,350. If the stay is financed through scholarships, student loans, or other public funding from the home country, valid documentation must accompany the application.
  • Evidence that you have somewhere to live (such as a house, apartment, bedsit, or room in a hall of residence)
  • Evidence that you will leave Norway when your residence permit expires (usually in the form of a return ticket)
  • Completed and signed UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) document checklist, which you should print off and hand in along with your other documents

When should you apply?

Processing times for student residence permits will vary and may take two months or so, therefore it is advisable to apply as soon as you are able.

The length of your student visa depends on the length of your study program. Your student residence permit can be renewed through the online Norway Application Portal at least one month before the expiry date. To renew your work permit, you must contact the UDI separately, and show proof that you have made satisfactory progress studying in Norway.

Processing time

2 Months

Work opportunities

When you receive a student residence permit for Norway, you are also granted permission to work part-time for up to 20 hours each week while studying and full-time during university holidays.

You can also apply for a full-time work permit for a limited period if you can prove that the work is relevant to your education, or that it’s necessary for admission to further your education within the same program option – You should have a concrete offer of employment in this regard.

Hours per week

20

Why do you need this type of visa?

Your visa application may be rejected if you are not able to show proof of the required funds, or if you provide incorrect or incomplete documents.