HSC + 1 year university study.
Bangladesh Higher Secondary Certificate normally needs at least one completed year of recognised university education for general Norwegian higher-education entrance eligibility.
Norway Guide · Bangladesh Applicants
Study in Norway
Study in Norway
from Bangladesh.
A complete 2026 guide to Norwegian study: Bangladesh GSU entry, universities, tuition, NOK 170,368 maintenance funds, UDI study permit, family, 20-hour work rights, healthcare, the 1-year graduate job-search permit and skilled employment.
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Bangladesh HSC normally needs one extra year of university study
Under Norway’s GSU framework, Bangladesh Higher Secondary Certificate plus at least one year of recognised university education is the normal general-entry requirement for first-cycle higher education. English and Norwegian language requirements can also apply depending on the programme and admission route.
Official GSU framework ↗Norway Navigator
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Searches admission, universities, tuition, UDI permit, family, work and post-study topics.
BANGLADESH ELIGIBILITY
Norway’s GSU list gives Bangladesh a clear national baseline.
The Higher Education Entrance Qualification is binding for first-cycle admission. Individual universities can still add programme-specific subject and grade requirements.
The extra study must be recognised higher education.
The additional year should be successfully completed at a state-recognised institution. NHH currently describes this as at least 60 ECTS-equivalent full-time study for Bangladesh applicants.
Bangladesh secondary education does not automatically cover the English requirement.
The GSU list marks Bangladesh English as not covered, so accepted test/course evidence is normally needed unless another exemption applies.
Norwegian is required for ordinary Norwegian-taught Bachelor admission.
Applicants from outside the Nordic region must document Norwegian under GSU rules unless applying to an English-taught programme with a different institutional route.
Master admission is university-specific.
A recognised Bachelor degree, sufficient academic depth in the relevant subject, grades and English requirements are assessed by the university.
HK-dir recognition is separate from admission.
You normally apply directly to the university for admission. General recognition of foreign higher education can be useful for work or documentation but is not usually required just to submit a Master’s application.
NORWEGIAN HIGHER EDUCATION
Universities, specialised institutions and university colleges all matter.
Universities
Research institutions offering Bachelor, Master and PhD study, including Oslo, Bergen, NTNU, Tromsø, Stavanger and NMBU.
Specialised universities
Institutions such as NHH focus on particular areas like economics and business.
University colleges
Applied/professional institutions offer programmes in technology, health, business, education and other fields.
Accreditation matters
For a university study permit, the place of study must be an approved/accredited institution recognised under Norwegian quality-assurance rules.
UNIVERSITY EXPLORER
Compare programme language, tuition and city before ranking universities.
University of Oslo
Oslo · comprehensive research university across sciences, humanities, law, medicine and social sciences.
Official ↗NTNU
Trondheim · Norway’s largest technology and engineering university with broad science and research strength.
Official ↗University of Bergen
Bergen · research university with marine science, climate, medicine, humanities and social sciences.
Official ↗UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Tromsø and northern campuses · Arctic research, health, fisheries, technology and sustainability.
Official ↗University of Stavanger
Stavanger · energy, engineering, business, social science and professional study.
Official ↗NMBU
Ås · environment, biosciences, sustainability, food, economics and veterinary-related fields.
Official ↗Norwegian School of Economics
Bergen · specialised economics and business school with competitive international programmes.
Official ↗BI Norwegian Business School
Oslo · private business school offering Bachelor, Master and executive study.
Official ↗INTAKES
August is the main intake. International deadlines can be many months earlier.
Main startAugustPrimary academic-year intake across Norwegian higher education.
SpringJanuaryLimited to selected programmes and institutions.
Non-EU deadlinesOften Dec–JanMany English-taught Master’s programmes close early for applicants needing permits.
Best ruleProgramme-specificAdmission routes differ between Samordna opptak and direct university applications.
IELTS · PTE · ENGLISH
Norway has a national GSU English baseline, but programmes can demand more.
GSU examples
HK-dir lists IELTS Academic 5.0, TOEFL iBT 60 and PTE Academic 51 among ways to document the general GSU English requirement.
University programmes
English-taught Bachelor and Master programmes often set higher admission scores than the GSU baseline. Always follow the programme page.
MONEY & MAINTENANCE
The 2026/27 UDI maintenance requirement is NOK 170,368 for the academic year.
University / university college · 2026/27
Monthly benchmarkNOK 15,488
Academic-year totalNOK 170,368
Autumn semester onlyNOK 77,440
Spring semester onlyNOK 92,928
Tuition is separate.
If tuition applies, you must also document that it is paid or that you have enough money to cover it. Funds can come from loans, grants, own funds in a Norwegian account or the institution’s deposit account, and qualifying part-time-job income can sometimes be included.
TUITION
Most degree-seeking non-EU/EEA students now pay tuition.
Public institutions
Degree-seeking students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must normally pay tuition fees. The amount varies by institution and programme.
Common exemptions
Doctoral candidates, institutional exchange students and students under certain schemes such as NORPART/NORHED can be exempt.
Semester fee
Study in Norway currently estimates an additional student welfare semester fee of about NOK 1,000 per semester.
LIVING COST & HOUSING
Norway is expensive, and Oslo should not be budgeted like a smaller city.
Student housing
Student welfare organisations manage many student residences and can be cheaper than private-market housing.
Private rent
Oslo and central Bergen/Trondheim can be substantially more expensive than smaller cities. Deposit requirements also matter.
Real budget
The UDI maintenance figure is an immigration minimum, not a promise that every student can live comfortably on exactly that amount.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Norway has fewer broad full-degree scholarships than many students expect.
Institutional scholarships
Scholarships and tuition waivers are institution/programme-specific and are much less standardised than in some other destinations.
Exchange and cooperation schemes
NORPART, NORHED, Erasmus Mundus and other cooperation routes can include tuition exemptions or funding for eligible participants.
PhD positions
Many Norwegian PhD positions are salaried employment and doctoral candidates are normally exempt from public-university tuition.
UDI STUDY PERMIT
Admission, finance, tuition and housing all matter in the permit decision.
Admission
Obtain full-time admission to an accredited university or university college.
Tuition
Pay required tuition or document an exemption / enough money to cover any outstanding tuition.
Transfer maintenance funds
Document NOK 170,368 for the 2026/27 academic year through acceptable UDI channels.
Housing
You must have somewhere to live in Norway.
Apply online
Register the study-permit application with UDI and pay the current application fee.
Submit documents / biometrics
Follow the Norway/VFS instructions applicable to Bangladesh for passport, document submission and biometrics.
UDI decision
UDI assesses admission, finances, housing, tuition and whether the circumstances indicate that you are likely to return after study.
Travel & residence card
After approval, follow entry and police/residence-card instructions and complete university registration after arrival.
PERMIT COSTS
UDI study and work permits have separate fees.
Study permit · adult
NOK 5,400 for applicants over 18, including renewals under the current fee table.
Study permit · under 18
NOK 2,700 under the current UDI fee table.
Skilled-worker permit
NOK 6,300 for adult work-residence applications under the current fee table.
DOCUMENTS · BANGLADESH
Separate admission evidence from UDI permit evidence.
Bachelor admission
HSC plus evidence of the required additional recognised university study, official transcripts, English/Norwegian evidence where applicable and programme-specific subject documents.
Master’s admission
Bachelor degree certificate, transcripts, English evidence and programme-specific academic prerequisites, CV, motivation, references or portfolio/research documents where required.
Study permit
Passport, university admission, proof of full-time study, maintenance funds, tuition payment/funding, housing documentation and UDI application documents.
Funds
UDI accepts specified combinations of loans, grants and own funds. Students without a Norwegian bank account can often use the educational institution’s deposit account according to the university’s process.
Return / study intention
UDI requires the circumstances in the home country to indicate that return after studies is likely. Keep your programme choice, career plan and Bangladesh ties coherent.
SPOUSE & FAMILY
University students can qualify for family immigration, but there are additional conditions.
Eligible student status
The reference person must have or have applied for a student residence permit at a university/university college and generally have at least one year of studies left.
Income requirement
UDI applies a separate family-immigration income requirement. The amount can be met through qualifying employment, study loans/grants and funds held by the student or applicant.
Spouse / cohabitant
Relationship, age, identity and cohabitation/marriage requirements apply. The family application is separate from the student permit.
WORK WHILE STUDYING
Eligible students can work up to 20 hours per week during study.
20 hours / week
A university/university-college study permit normally includes permission for up to 20 hours of part-time work per week, including remote work.
Full-time holidays
You can work full-time during recognised holidays.
No self-employment
A student permit does not allow you to be self-employed or run your own business.
Renewal can reassess work rights
When renewing, UDI can consider whether the institution believes you can continue combining study and part-time work.
HEALTHCARE & IDENTIFICATION
Your length of stay affects registration and healthcare access.
Norwegian ID / D-number
Students may receive a national identity number or D-number depending on residence length and registration circumstances.
Healthcare
Longer-term residents can become members of Norway’s National Insurance Scheme under applicable rules. Universities also provide student welfare and health-service information.
AFTER STUDY
Graduates can stay for up to one year to look for skilled work.
Graduate job-seeker permit
Maximum length1 year
PurposeFind skilled employment
Work while searchingFull-time / part-time allowed
Self-employmentNot allowed
2026 support requirement
Per monthNOK 28,448
12 monthsNOK 341,373
FundsNormally own money
ApplyBefore student permit expires
This graduate job-seeker period does not count toward permanent residence. If your family is already living with you on family immigration, they can normally apply to renew together with you.
SKILLED WORKER & PERMANENT STAY
The real long-term route begins when you move onto a qualifying work permit.
Skilled-worker residence
You normally need a qualifying job offer matching skilled-worker requirements and employment conditions that meet Norwegian standards.
Student time does not count
Time on a study permit does not form the basis for permanent residence. The graduate job-seeker permit also does not count.
Work permits can count
Qualifying skilled-worker residence can form part of the pathway toward permanent residence if all relevant residence and integration conditions are met.
CITIES
Cost, climate and job market vary sharply across Norway.
Oslo
Largest employer market and broad university choice, with the highest housing pressure.
Trondheim
Technology and engineering hub centred around NTNU.
Bergen
Major university city with marine, energy, business and climate-research strengths.
Stavanger
Energy, engineering and business ecosystem.
Tromsø
Arctic university city with health, fisheries, climate and northern-region research.
Ås
Smaller university environment around NMBU, close to the wider Oslo region.
ARRIVAL
UDI approval is only the beginning of your Norwegian setup.
Before departure
Passport, permit decision/entry visa where required, admission, financial and tuition evidence, housing and university arrival instructions.
After arrival
Follow police/residence-card instructions and complete university enrolment.
Practical setup
Arrange identification number/D-number where applicable, bank account, tax card if working, phone, transport and student welfare membership.
Work
Stay within the 20-hour weekly limit during study periods and check that your permit continues to include part-time work permission.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Use UDI + HK-dir + Study in Norway together.
YOUR PROFILE, NOT A GENERIC ANSWER
Find My Starting Point →Understand Norway. Then test your GSU eligibility, budget and programme.
For Norway, HSC plus university-study requirements, language, tuition, NOK 170,368 funds and the difference between student time and skilled-work residence can completely change the right plan.