The Norway Ministry of Education proposed to the government to introduce university fees for international students. So, third-country citizens who wish to pursue higher education studies in the European nation may have to pay university fees from the autumn semester of 2023.

According to the information by SchengenVisaInfo.com, all students at Norwegian universities can learn and study tuition-free, including international students.

But, Ola Borten Moe, Minister of Education, expressed that varsities should introduce fees for students from nations outside the European Union and Schengen Area so the educational institutes can at least cover the costs per international student.

Schengenvisainfo quoted Minister of Education Ola Borten Moe as saying that in the majority of cases, Norwegian students have to pay tuition fees to study abroad, and there is no reason why it should be any different here. Norway will still be available to students from all countries, but we think it is good and reasonable that they also pay for themselves.

Ola Borten Moe explained that education should remain free for Norwegian students and those coming from EEA countries and Switzerland and for exchange students.

She said that the fewer international students, the more free study place there will be for Norwegian students, both at universities and in housing. Moe added at a time when multiple people want to pursue higher education, it is correct to prioritize Norwegian students.

The government has offered a budget of NOK 42.8 billion for funding universities and colleges in 2023. Moe insists universities and colleges discover additional ways of getting income as inflation has hit globally, and one such concept is imposing fees for international students.

The Norwegian government raised the framework for how much a dormitory can cost to construct by around 50%, from NOK955,700 to NOK1,450,000 per dormitory across the country in the 2023 education budget. It also proposes to spend an additional NOK 85 million on adjusting student aid.

At the same time, the government will assign NOK141.5 million for a subsidy scheme for energy measures in student housing and an additional NOK 41.1 million to cancel student debt in Finnmark and Troms.

News Source: Mint