Norway is a Scandinavian country known as the land of the midnight sun. One of the four Nordic countries in Europe, Norway is number one on the world peace index. Although the cost of living in this country is a little higher, there is immense potential for building a future in beautiful Norway. Because, in terms of science-technology-education, this country has a fair share in the world. The capital is Oslo, the language is Norwegian, and the currency is the Norwegian krone. If you want to go to Norway for higher education, then this whole article is for you.
Guidelines for Prospective Bangladeshi Students to Study in Norway
It is difficult to find a single person who wants to pursue higher education abroad but does not research about Norway. This European country has become a popular destination for higher education because most of the universities here do not require any tuition fees.
Norway’s education is very similar to ours. There are bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in higher education. The duration of the bachelor’s course or degree here is three to four years. Masters one to two years and PhD three years. In addition to these, there are some non-degree programs. Its duration is usually from 15 days to one year.
How to get admission for Undergraduate Degrees in Norway ?
Norway doesn’t offer direct admission for the bachelor for Bangladeshi students. Instead, a prospective Bangladeshi student will need to complete a 1+ year bachelor’s course in the country and then apply for a bachelor’s degree in Norway. So, A Bangladeshi student will need to show 13+ years of study to be eligible for a Bachelor’s degree in Norway.
However, if you complete more than 50% of the bachelor’s study in Bangladesh, you will not be eligible to apply to Norway. In that case, applying for a master’s will be appropriate after completing a bachelor’s in Bangladesh.
So, what documents will you need to apply? The type of paperwork varies from university to university. So, you have to find the website of that university and apply accordingly. However, the most common documents you will need are a Passport, IELTS score (5.5-6.5), GRE / GMAT score (required for some courses), Academic Certificate, Academic transcript, Two letters of recommendation, Motivation letter, Bank statement.
Since you will be transferring your bachelor’s credit, there are some rules you will need to follow. For example, the university you are studying in must be under Grade-B. If you have completed more than 50% of the courses at that university, then credit transfer is no longer possible. And, of course, you have to submit all the completed course papers as proof.
How to Study Masters Degrees in Norway?
The standard of education in Norway is very high, and the degree is universally recognized. The country has a number of good quality universities with excellent quality of study and research and is well ahead in the world rankings.
For applying for a master’s degree, you will need to complete a 3 years or 4 years bachelor’s degree in Bangladesh. Most prefer studying master’s in Norway rather than going for a bachelor’s. There is no tuition fee in Norway, but there is a semester fee, which is about 5-6 thousand Taka. There is no significant application fee, and you can apply for admission in multiple courses if you want.
Further, there is no fixed time limit for application, as the application time varies from university to university. However, applications are usually invited between September and December, and classes begin in the middle of the following year.
First, you have to fill the application form of the specified university – it can be both online or offline. It is totally dependent on the university. Then you will need to submit all academic certificates and mark sheets, IELTS certificate, Copy of Passport (Passport must be valid for at least 1 year), Motivation Letter, Recommendation Letter, and job experience letter.
Certificate of bank solvency is an important issue. Note that after receiving the offer letter, you need to send 1,03,950 Norwegian krone to the Norwegian bank. Of course, your university will tell you which bank and which accounts to send. After reaching Norway, you can send the whole money back to the country at once if you want. And if you do not get a visa, the university will refund you the full amount.
In this case, there may be some loss due to an increase or decrease in the value of the dollar. Whether you need to send a hard copy or a soft copy of documents depends on the university. So, get the correct information by contacting the university in advance. All documents must be attested. And if any is not in English, then it has to be notarized after translating into English.
How to Get PhD Admissions in Norway?
To pursue PhD in Norway, one has to complete a 2 years Master’s program in Bangladesh. However, other requirements remain more or less the same as the master’s degree. But the prospective candidate will need to choose his research topic before approaching the professors.
Scholarships in Norway for International Students
Norway previously had quota-based scholarship opportunities, where Bangladesh could also apply for this quota-based scholarship. But that is off now. However, there may be other scholarships.
Part Time Job and Other Information
In Norway, foreign students are allowed to work 20 hours a week. However, you can work full-time on summer vacation. The cost of living is a little higher. About 400-00 Euros. However, it is possible to bear this cost if you get a job. And to get a job, it is essential to know the Norwegian language.
After three consecutive years of legal staying, you can apply for PR. In that case, you need to have language skills, a full-time job, etc.
PhD is considered a job in Norway. So, after master’s, if you start PhD, you can apply for permanent residency.
Source: United News of Bangladesh