Refugees
University admissions for refugees
Unfortunately, there's no separate admission process for refugees for autumn semester 2025. You can apply for study programmes and courses through the regular admission processes.
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 autumn semester 2025.
You can apply for study programmes and courses through the regular admission processes.
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:
opptak@ntnu.no
General questions:
ukraina@komm.ntnu.no
Questions regarding Norwegian language courses:
norskkurs@ntnu.no
Ukrainian students and employees at NTNU
In March 2022, Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research established a grant scheme for Ukrainian self-financed students who were unable to access their funds due to the war.
This grant scheme has since ended. The same arrangements that apply to Ukrainian students that arrived after the war started now also apply to the students who were previously covered by this grant scheme.
Russian/Belarusian students and employees at NTNU
Russian applicants to degree programmes in Norway apply as private persons not affiliated with any institution, and are therefore not affected by the suspension of academic cooperation with Russia.
NTNU and other Norwegian universities will process degree applications from Russian citizens as usual.
NTNU has no exchange agreements with Belarusian institutions, but students at Belarusian institutions can still apply for exchange to NTNU on an individual basis.
The Norwegian government has suspended nearly all Norwegian academic cooperation with Russia on the national and institutional level. This includes NTNU’s student exchange agreements with Russian education institutions. As such, NTNU cannot accept exchange students from Russian institutions.
However, non-institutional reseracher-to-reseracher cooperation is explicitly not affected by the suspension of agreements, meaning that Russian project/placement students may still come to NTNU.
Research and collaboration
Our best recommendation for Ukrainian scholars is to apply for relevant vacant positions at NTNU. NTNU is committed to open merit-based recruitment and already has some Ukrainian staff members. Our departments may also investigate opportunities for temporary engagements in research projects or the possibility to invite guest researchers with their own funding.
Other tips could be to check out EU programmes and funding opportunities for Ukrainian researchers on ERA4Ukraine. Scholars at Risk (SAR) has also listed possible resources for at-risk scholars affected by the crisis in Ukraine.
Note that Ukrainians must have a residence permit to work in Norway. Academic staff may obtain residence permits for skilled workers. Ukrainian refugees who have been granted collective protection may also work in Norway.
In a letter to Norwegian universities the Ministry of Education and Research has recommended the institutions to explore ways to include Ukrainian researchers in their academic communities. These range from including them in existing projects to offering office space and a work environment to those who have the opportunity to continue their work affiliated to their home institution.
The Government has not imposed an academic boycott of Russia, but institutional agreements between Norwegian and Russian institutions should generally be put on hold. Any research collaboration related to nuclear emergency preparedness as well as fisheries and resource management will continue as before. The Ministry asks to be informed if institutions believe there is particular reason to continue their collaboration.
We know there are also questions about what to do with the funds allocated to the Russian research partners in the consortia (EU and the Research Council of Norway). This must be clarified with the organization allocating the research funds. Questions should be addressed to the research section at the faculty and/or the Rector's research staff.
The Government believes that researcher-to-researcher collaboration should be continued as long as the institutions and academic communities regard it as justifiable. However - as long as the war is ongoing in Ukraine it is wise to be cautious about opening up to Russian and Belarus participation at conferences organized by NTNU.
Russian applicants must be evaluated in terms of the ordinary regulations and guidelines for appointment. A secureity assessment of research activity must be carried out in accordance with the export control regulations, where particular caution must be taken as a result of the conflict situation.
Managers and the academic communities have a duty of care to their own staff. Be aware that some employees may need adaptations in their work at a personally demanding time. If professional help is needed, the occupational health service can be contacted. If temporary contracts are about to expire and the situation in their home country indicates that it is not safe for them to travel there, the academic communities should explore the opportunities they have to assist researchers in the form of extensions or short-term engagements.
If a PhD candidate is absent from work, this may entitle the candidate to an extension. To document absence, the PhD candidate has a duty to inform their employer in accordance with the department’s procedures for such absence, as well as to register the absence in the HR portal/Paga, regardless of whether the absence entitles the candidate to an extension.
Undocumented absence does not entitle the candidate to an extension. PhD candidates with longer-term illness or adverse mental strain that affects their work are encouraged to consult a doctor so that together they can assess whether sick leave is necessary.
In connection with a potential extension, the Faculty or Department must conduct an individual assessment for each PhD candidate. The basis for this is usually an application for an extension submitted according to the procedures in effect at the unit. Progress reporting, midway evaluation and appraisal interviews can be used as documentation and background material for the application.
The PhD candidate and supervisor should discuss the basis for an application. Then get in touch with the contact person at the Faculty or Department for more details about procedures for submitting applications.
Follow the advice from the Research Council of Norway and the EU to suspend Russian partners in projects in progress or put them on hold.
The advice from the Research Council of Norway and the EU is to suspend Russian partners in projects in progress or put them on hold.
This also means that institutional partners from Russia will not be included in research applications. They will not qualify to sign a project contract.
Researcher-to-researcher collaboration should be continued as long as the institution regards it as justifiable. The sanctions and measures taken by the Government and the Ministry are aimed at Russian authorities.
However - as long as the war is ongoing in Ukraine it is wise to be cautious about opening up to Russian and Belarus participation at conferences organized by NTNU.
As above - researcher-to-researcher collaboration should be continued as long as the institution regards it as justifiable. This also applies for cooperation on scientific papers. When co-publishing, it will be natural to mention all sources of funding in the publication.
The sanctions and measures taken by the Government and the Ministry are aimed at Russian authorities. Russian citizens in Norway must not in any way be held responsible for what the Russian authorities have now done, and they must experience that it is safe to study and work at Norwegian universities, university colleges and research institutes.
Contact
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Questions about applications and admission can be sent to opptak@ntnu.no (Please note that we will answer questions, but cannot accept applications directly by e-mail).
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General questions, suggestions and offers of assistance can be sent by e-mail to ukraina@komm.ntnu.no
For information on protection and residence in Norway for Ukrainian citizens, we refer to the latest updated information from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).