Norway Sees Increase in International Exchange Students, Decline From Russia & China

A record number of international students went to study in Norway through an exchange program in 2022, the Norwegian Ministry of Education has announced.

There were 10,211 international exchange students in Norway, an increasing number of them from the EU, in particular from Germany and France. On the other hand, the number of Russian and Chinese exchange students in Norway has significantly declined, Erudera.com reports.

Similarly, more students from Norway also participated in exchange programs attending a partner institution, usually for one semester, while a lower number chose to complete the whole degree in another country.

“…fewer and fewer Norwegians take an entire degree abroad. Since the peak year 2015, the proportion has fallen by 19 percent, from around 17,400 students to 14,000 students in the academic year 2021-22,” the ministry notes.

Data on higher education released by the ministry show that there were 297,775 students at Norwegian universities and colleges in 2022, the second time the country had a such a high number of students, as the record was registered in 2021.

The same highlights that a higher number of students applying to Norwegian education providers are qualified, more complete their studies within the regular timeframe, and that there are also more graduates each year in the country.

Nearly 54,000 students earned their degrees from Norwegian higher education institutions in 2022, up for about 2,700 students in 2021, also a historic increase.

Commenting on the 2022 figures, the Research and Higher Education Minister Ola Borten Moe described the situation in Norway as good, pointing out that educational offers in Norway attract more and more people, and many of them find decent jobs after graduation.

“In this way, we create opportunities for more people and ensure Norway’s access to important expertise. It is also very positive that Norway is an attractive study country for foreign students and that more Norwegians are traveling abroad,” Minister said.

As per the number of Norwegian students participating in exchange programs and studying abroad, data indicate it exceeded 7,000 last academic year, quickly reaching pre-pandemic levels. One of the most popular exchange programs for these students is the EU’s Erasmus+.

Students have shown an increased interest in flexible education, with one in four choosing flexible or part-time programs. Between 2019 and 2021, the number of students pursuing online and decentralized education rose by 33 percent, which according to the ministry’s statement, is more than the increase in the overall number of students.

According to data from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), 3,943 university and college students and 293 post-doctorate students were granted residence permits in 2022.

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