The Norwegian government provides students from developing
countries in the South and countries in the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and
in Central Asia with financial support to study for a degree in Norway under
the Quota Scheme.
The main
objective of the Quota Scheme is to contribute to capacity building through
education that will benefit the home country of the students when they return.
The Quota Scheme is also intended to strengthen relations between Norway and
the selected countries and thus contribute to internationalisation at Norwegian
institutions of higher education.
The Quota Scheme
currently provides funding for a total of 1,100 students, 800 of them from
developing countries in the South and 300 from countries in the Western
Balkans, Eastern Europe and in Central Asia.
Each student
receives the same amount of money as a Norwegian student would do in an
equivalent educational programme. 40 per cent of the amount is given as a grant
and 60 per cent as a loan. However, the loan portion may be waived when the
student returns to his/her home country after completing the course of study.
Students who stay in Norway after finishing their studies or take up residence
in another country than their home country must repay the loan.
Travelling
expenses for entry into Norway may be reimbursed (fixed price). Students can
apply for one annual home visit if the educational programme lasts longer than
one year and for financial support for travelling expenses for field work
during the course of study. When the student returns home within 3 months after
finishing his/her studies, the cost of travelling home is covered by the
Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund.
Normally, the
financial support given will not exceed a time span of four years for one
definite study plan or a combination of two programmes. Part-time studies are
not supported.
Most universities
and university colleges in Norway participate in the Quota scheme. The
institutions involved are allocated a certain number of students under the
programme each year. The scheme normally includes courses at Master’s and Ph.D.
level in addition to certain professional/Bachelor’s degrees. Most of the
Norwegian institutions offer courses and educational programmes in English.
The
institutions of higher education that are part of the Quota Scheme handle all
applications from prospective students. Information about the application
procedure for the Quota Scheme should be available at the participating universities’
and university colleges’ websites.
Here you will
find further information about recruitment regulations, generaladmission requirements and links to the participating universities/ universitycolleges.
