Norway International Student Statistics 2024
Norway is one of the few countries worldwide that do not charge tuition fees for international students in public universities. As such, it attracts a large number of international students every year. Furthermore, the high quality of education in Norway is a significant factor that international students look for when searching for the best study abroad options.
International students also choose Norway for studying abroad because of the multiple degree programs available and many job opportunities after graduation.
Quick Summary
The latest statistics available by the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education and the Institute of International Education for international student enrollment in Norway are from 2022 and earlier.
- The latest data show that there were approximately 23,000 international students enrolled in higher education institutions in Norway.
- Natural Sciences and Technology are the most popular fields of study among international students in Norway since 36% of them are enrolled in such programs.
- 53% of international students choose to study in Norway because of its excellent quality of education, which is the most popular motivating factor for international students in Norway.
- The majority of international students in Norway come from Germany, with a total of 2,230 international students in higher education institutions.
- The most popular funding source among international students in Norway is self-funding or personal and family resources.
- International students from Asia and Africa are more prone to use the opportunity to work during their studies than any other nationality in Norway.
- The majority of Norwegian students who study abroad choose the UK as the most popular study option, a total of 3,851 students.
Historical International Student Statistics in Norway
The international student enrollment statistics show the year 2022 as the latest data available, according to the Institute of International Education.
- According to the latest statistics, there are currently 24,154 international students enrolled in higher education institutions in Norway.
- In 2020, the number of international students in Norway was 21,074, a difference of 13.6% from 2022.
- From 2016, the number of international students in Norway decreased by 17.1% up to 2020.
- The highest number of international students in Norway was registered in 2015, with 25,660 international students in total.
- There was a significant increase of 71% in international student enrollment from around 15,000 students in 2010 to more than 25,660 international students in 2015.
| Year | International Students |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 24,154 |
| 2021 | 22,540 |
| 2020 | 21,074 |
| 2019 | 24,155 |
| 2018 | 23,183 |
| 2017 | 25,389 |
| 2016 | 25,427 |
| 2015 | 25,660 |
| 2014 | 23,732 |
| 2012 | ~20,000 |
| 2010 | ~15,000 |
| 2008 | ~13,000 |
| 2006 | ~12,000 |
| 2004 | ~9,000 |
| 2002 | ~7,000 |
| 2000 | ~5,000 |
Top Favourite Study Fields for International Students in Norway
According to the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education, the year 2019 is the latest data available that show the statistics of the most popular fields of study among international students who study abroad in Norway.
- 36% of international students in Norway have enrolled in the fields of Natural Sciences and Technology as the most popular degree programs in higher education.
- Arts and Humanities are also considered popular fields of study in Norway, with 19% of international students.
- 18% of international students are enrolled in Economics and Business Studies, followed by 15% of international students who chose Law and Social Sciences.
- 8% of international students in Norway are enrolled in Health and Care programs, whereas the remaining 4% study in the field of Pedagogy and Teaching.
Why Do International Students Study Abroad in Norway
During a study carried out in 2019 by the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education —on why international students choose to study abroad in Norway— students were asked to respond to a few reasons why Norway is the ideal study-abroad destination.
- 53% of international students who took part in this study said they chose Norway because of its great quality of education.
- The peaceful and safe society that Norway offers was a motivating factor for 47% of international students.
- 28% of international students choose Norway because of the high standard of living, and 27% love the beautiful nature of Norway.
- Another motivating factor for international students to study abroad in Norway is the work opportunities after studies, and 26% of international students gave this response.
- 19% of international students choose Norway because they have family/friends living in Norway, and 16% have responded that Norway is a technologically advanced country.
- Of the total international students in Norway, 12% were motivated by the country’s language, culture, and developed democracy.
- The other 17% of international students gave other responses for why they chose to study abroad in Norway.
International Students in Norway by Top Ten Countries of Origin
The origin of international student enrollment statistics shows the year 2022 as the latest data are available, according to the Institute of International Education.
- The majority of international students come from Germany, with a total of 2,230 students in Norway.
- 1,250 international students in Norway come from Sweden.
- A total of 1,115 students of international students in Norway are from France, and 1,020 students come from Denmark.
- 895 international students come from China, 750 students from Spain, 745 students come from Iran, and 700 students are from Pakistan.
- Other countries with less than 700 international students enrolled in higher education institutions in Norway include the Netherlands, with 695 students, and Russia, with 580 students.
Most Popular Funding Options for International Students by Origin
Depending on where international students in Norway come from, some countries depend more on Norwegian scholarships and grants than others.
The data below shows the latest statistics for 2019 according to the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education.
- More than 50% of African students in Norway use personal or family resources to pay for their studies, whereas 45% of them work full or part-time during their studies.
- Another 35% of African students received Norwegian scholarships, 10% received Erasmus or other EU scholarships/loans, and a small percentage of only 5% depended on scholarships from their home countries.
- The majority of Erasmus/EU scholarships are rewarded to students from European countries, 60% of whom use this funding option for studying abroad in Norway.
- One of the most popular funding options for all international students in Norway is self-financed studies.
- Over 40% of international students from Asia work part-time or full-time during their studies, which is the most popular source of funding for them after family resources.
- International students from Asia and Africa are more prone to use the opportunity of work during their studies than any other nationality in Norway.
- International students from Oceania receive the highest number of international or home-country scholarships than any other country in Norway, and 50% of students from Oceania use this funding source.
Where do Norwegian Students Go To Study Abroad?
Norwegian students studying abroad statistics show the year 2022 as the latest data available, according to the Institute of International Education.
- With 3,851 students, the UK is the most popular country for studying abroad among Norwegian students, followed by the US with 2,627 students.
- Denmark is another popular study-abroad destination for Norwegian students, with a total of 2,557 students and 1,574 Norwegian students studying abroad in Poland.
- There are 1,036 Norwegian students enrolled in higher education studies in the Netherlands and 1,010 in Australia.
- Other countries that have hosted a less significant number of Norwegian students include Spain, with 994 students, Hungary, with 783 students, France (780), Sweden (435), Australia (435), and Germany, with 670 students.