Saturday, August 8, 2009

STUDY IN NORWAY

With a wide range of high quality courses and great flexibility, Norwegian institutions prove to be an ideal study destination for international students. Internationalisation is a high priority within all sectors of the Norwegian education system. Currently more than 170 Masters programmes taught in English are available to international students, covering many different subject areas.

Norway is one of the leading countries conforming to the guidelines from the Bologna Process in European higher education. By adapting to the European standard in higher education, it is easy for students at Norwegian institutions to obtain recognition of their qualifications in other countries.

Norwegian universities and state university colleges as a rule do not charge tuition fees for international students. However, you should take into consideration that living expenses in Norway are higher than in many other countries. However, you could be eligible for financial support to contribute towards your living expenses. Through various fellowship programmes, scholarship schemes or student loans, international students can receive funding for a full degree or a limited number of semesters. For more information on financial support visit the Study in Norway website: http://www.studyinnorway.no/tuition_scholarships

Higher Education System

Norway's academic year normally runs from mid-August to mid-June. Courses are measured in "studiepoeng" (Norwegian units for measuring the academic workload in higher education which indicate the nominal length of a course of study). The full-time workload for one academic year is 60 "studiepoeng"/ECTS credits.

The University Sector

Norway has six universities, six specialised university colleges, 25 state university colleges, two state university colleges of art, and 29 private university colleges.

Universities:

University of Oslo (Norway's oldest and largest university)
University of Bergen
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim,
University of Tromsø,
University of Stavanger
The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) at Ås.

Specialised University Colleges

These are independent research institutions offering specialised professional degree programmes at university level. Five of the specialist university colleges are located in Norway's capital city, Oslo: the Norwegian Academy of Music, the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, the Norwegian School of Theology (MF), and the Oslo School of Architecture and Design. The Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration is located on the west coast in Bergen. The two university colleges of art are situated in Oslo and Bergen.

University Colleges:

The 25 university colleges offer many vocational education programmes not provided by the universities. These programmes normally last from two to four years. Many university colleges also offer courses at Master and PhD level. It is not unusual for students to combine courses from both universities and university colleges.

Life in Norway

Society
For the last four years the United Nations (UN) has ranked Norway as having the highest standard of living in the world. This annual ranking is based largely on average levels of education and income, combined with expected length of lifetime, but also factors like human rights and cultural freedom. Public services like education and health services are free, and Norwegians enjoy a highly developed welfare state.

Activities
In Norway, you can combine your studies with exciting outdoor activities in both the summer and the winter. In the winter you can go skiing, ice fishing, snowmobile riding, reindeer sleighing, or even whale watching! In the summer, Norwegians enjoy hiking, climbing, white water rafting or simply experiencing the beautiful landscapes Norway has to offer.

Environment
Norway is home to some spectacular natural wonders. Traveller and National Geographic have rated the Norwegian Fjords as the world's leaders in geotourism. The beautiful steep mountains, rivers and waterfalls of the Fjords provide plenty of opportunities for unique natural experiences. The dancing Northern Lights or 'Aurora Borealis' are a regular sight in Norway. They are usually green or blue in colour and can be seen mostly in the north in a clear, dark sky.

Climate
In the summer, Norway enjoys periods of warm weather and due to the Gulf Stream, the coastal areas are relatively mild in the winter time. Inland regions tend to have cold winters and warm summers. Some parts of Norway will see highs of over 25°C in the summer whereas the more mountainous areas can experience temperatures well below freezing.

Apply Now!

Students who complete all, or part of their education in Norway can obtain recognition for their qualifications in other countries. This has been made easier with the introduction of the new degree system, which is based on the Bachelor's, Masters and PhD structure, and the implementation of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). If you are transferring degrees and credits from a foreign institution, the institution you apply to will normally operate the recognition process. However, if you would like a general assessment of your academic qualifications, you can contact the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) www.nokut.no/

No comments:

Post a Comment