Being a new student at NTNU

Courses and study programmes for refugees

Courses and study programmes for refugees

We are allocating temporary student places in Trondheim, Gjøvik, and Ålesund for refugees who have received collective protection/individual asylum in Norway. Please note that you must be present in Norway when applying.

 

Admission for spring semester 2025

You can apply for Norwegian language courses through the regular admission process. The application deadline for spring semester is 1 November.

Being a new student from Ukraine

Unfortunately, there won't be a separate admission procedure for single courses and master's programmes for refugees for spring 2025. 

If you cover the Norwegian language requirement you can apply for single courses as a privatist or apply for undergraduate study programmes through the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (NUCAS)/Samordna opptak. 

We also have a web page with information about the admission process for international master's programmes at NTNU. 

Course information

  • Level 1-4: 15 ECTS. 78 hours in total, 2 times 3 hours per week over 13 weeks

Online beginner's Norwegian course

NTNU also offers internet-based Norwegian language learning resource for beginners for anyone wanting to learn Norwegian. 

English for Academic Purposes is a language course at B1-B2 level,  according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The course aims to improve students’ English language proficiency and academic English language skills relevant for studying in the Norwegian higher education system or fulfill the English language requirement for international master studies. The transcript of records of this course cannot be used as official documentation of English skills at level B2, but an IELTS test will be offered to students at the end of the course, provided there are at least 10 candidates for it. 

Unfortunately, there will be no separate admission process for refugees for spring semester 2025. 

Please note that you must be present in Norway when applying.

Minimum requirements for admission

From autumn semester 2023, higher education institutions can't make exceptions from the general admission requirements for individuals with collective protection/individual asylum in Norway. On the web page of the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills you will find the general minimum requirements for admission to higher education in Norway for applicants with foreign education.  

English language requirement

As we cannot make exceptions from the general admission requirements from autumn semester 2023, you need to document that you cover the English language requirement to be considered for admission. 

  • For single courses at bachelor's level and the Norwegian for Foreigners course you have to cover the "General English language requirement" as stated on the above mentioned web page
  • For single courses at master's level and master's programmes you have to cover the English language requirement for international master's programmes

Please note that the English language test by Folkeuniversitetet we could offer to refugees last year, does not cover the regular English language requirements, and can therefore not be accepted for the admission process for autumn semester 2023.

Documentation

After registering your application, please upload the following documents on Søknadsweb: 

  • Documentation of completed high school or higher secondary school
  • Documentation of your higher education
  • Authorised translations of your educational documents to English or a Scandinavian language
  • Documentation showing that you have refugee status in Norway
    • In most cases this should be documented with a letter from UDI stating that you have received collective protection 
    • Your residence permit is not sufficient documentation unless it explicitly states your refugee status
  • Documentation showing that you cover the English language requirement

Ranking

Admissions will operate on a first come, first served basis as long as there are available places.

For more information about the education system, credits, and the grading system in Norway, as well as general information about being a student in Norway, you can have a look at the following web page: www.studyinnorway.no

PhD opportunities, staff and academics working at NTNU

At the moment, our best recommendation for refugees that would like to take a PhD is to apply for relevant vacant PhD positions at NTNU. NTNU is committed to open merit-based recruitment.  

You may also contact potential supervisors within your field and discuss the possibility to apply for funding of a PhD within your interest field. Such an application process may take some time (a year or more) depending on the financing institution. 

Note that you must have a residence permit to work in Norway also as a PhD candidate. Academic staff may obtain residence permits for skilled workers. Refugees who have been granted collective protection may also work in Norway. 

If you have residence (asylum) in Norway due to protection, you are exempted from tuition fees. Information about the exemptions is available on NTNU's web page about the tuition fees. Please note you will not have to send a separate application for this exemption. 

Please note that we cannot accept applications sent via email.

Questions regarding application and admission:
[email protected]

General questions:
[email protected]

Questions regarding Norwegian language courses:
[email protected]

For new students

For new students

The Orientation Week is the perfect opportunity for you to get to know NTNU