Norwegian Govt Extends Scholarship Scheme for Ukrainian Students

The Norwegian government announced that it has decided to extend the scholarship scheme for Ukrainian students who were in Norway before February 24 when the war began.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Education, the scheme will not be continued for students from Russia and Belarus, Erudera reports.

Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many students lost access to their income and as a result, in March, the government established the scheme to provide scholarships for students from these countries for the spring semester of 2022.

The authority provided up to NOK 11,500 per month from March to August to students who qualified for the support and an amount of NOK 21,000 a month to Ph.D. students.

State Secretary Oddmund Løkensgard Hoel said that Ukrainian students can’t leave Norway at the moment as there is still war in their homeland; therefore, it has decided to extend the scholarship scheme.

“Therefore, we are extending the scholarship scheme for the Ukrainian students who were in Norway before 24 February. This means that they can also receive a scholarship for the next academic year,” Hoel stressed.

As per Russian and Belarusian students, Hoel added that they are expected to return to their home countries.

About 50 Ukrainian students, 70 Russians, and one from Belarus applied for the scholarship scheme this spring, while for the autumn semester, the estimate for students from Ukraine is almost the same but not certain.

“This spring, their situation was acute, and therefore they were offered financial assistance until the summer. It has hopefully provided predictability and time to find solutions for further studies. From the autumn, there is no basis for treating these students differently than other foreign students,” he said.

The ministry noted that the scheme would also apply to exchange students who have been admitted to a full degree. Belarusian and Russian students who need more protection are also permitted to apply for asylum. If the latter qualify for the grant, they will be able to access the Loan Fund.

Furthermore, the ministry said that Ukrainian students who came to Norway after the war in Ukraine started should apply for temporary collective protection, thus becoming part of the program and receiving assistance through the Lånekassen’s schemes.

Erudera has earlier reported that the Norwegian government proposed to offer temporary protection to Ukrainians, including students who were staying in the country before the war, which scheme would include other groups as well.

As of spring semester 2022, about 150 Ukrainian students, 50 Belarusians, and 400 Russians were enrolled at a Norwegian higher education institution, according to figures by the Directorate for Higher Education and Competence.