Costs and financial aid

Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, may have to pay tuition fees for studying at Volda University College. Tuition fees is paid to the university and only covers costs related to studies. Incoming exchange students are exempt from paying tuition fees. Read more about tuition fees and exemptions.

Students must also pay a semester fee to Volda University College at the beginning of each semester. The semester fee is ca. 800 NOK and is paid as a part of the semester registration process. Incoming exchange students are exempt from paying the semester fee.

A few courses at VUC may also include materials fees that students pay to cover extra costs related to the purchase of materials or transportation costs related to mandatory field excursions. If a course include such fees, it will be mentioned in the course description.

Norway is a high cost country, so international students must make sure to have sufficient funding when planning to move here. The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) estimates that students should have a budget of 15 000 NOK per month (ca. 1300 Euro or 1500 US dollars). It is possible to get by in Volda with a slightly lower budget, but international students who must obtain a study permit (visa) will have to document having this amount.

Students have less expenses in Volda than in the larger cities. Housing is fairly cheap, starting at under 4000 NOK per month for a standard single room at the SiVolda dormitories. The rent at SiVolda includes all utilities, electricity and wifi. Morover, everything in Volda is within walking distance, so there is no need for a public transportation pass.

Food and social activities are probably more expensive in Norway than in most other countries. This especially is true for items that are heavily taxed, such as alcohol and tobacco. Services, such as taxi, hairdresser, restaurants are also more expensive due to high wage levels. But public services such as kindergarten and health care can be much cheaper than in other countries.

Note that the living costs for international students largely depend on the exchange rate between their own currency and the Norwegian krone.

Volda University College offers no scholarships or financial aid to international students. Nor does VUC provide any fee waivers to international students who are required to pay tuition fees.

However, international students may receive financial support from other sources, such as financial support mechanisms in their home country or international grant programmes such as Erasmus+, Nordplus, EEA/Norway Grants, Fulbright, Scholars at Risk, etc.

International students who meet certain requirements are also eligible for scholarship and loans through the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lanekassen). Note that Lanekassen does not normally award grants and loans for studying language courses such as NIS - Norwegian language and civilization for international students at VUC.

Students who are citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland may have to apply for a study permit (student visa) to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). The cost of a study permit includes the application fee of 5400 NOK (in 2025/26), possible service fees at a visa application centres, and costs of travelling to the nearest Norwegian embassy/consulate and providing necessary documents.

International students applying for a study permit will have to document to the UDI that they have enough funding to cover the cost of living in Norway. The UDI estimate the cost of living in Norway to be ca. 166 000 NOK per year, 15 150 NOK per month (figures for 2025/26). Students must show this amount in a Norwegian bank account, so international students normally have to deposit this amount to an account administered by SiVolda and Volda University College. The deposit will have to be made before the application for a study permit is considered complete, and the transferred funds will only be returned to the students once they have opened their own bank account in Norway. These funds will therefore in most cases be inaccessible for the student for several months.

International students who already reside in Norway may not have to apply for a visa/study permit in the same way as stated above, but the fee for a renewal of residence permit in Norway is the same as for first time applicants. It is also possible to document the ability to fund the studies in Norway also through a workign contract, documentation of financial aid and/or funds in the students' own Norwegian bank account.

Students who are citizens of EU/EEA countries and/or Switzerland do not have to apply for a study permit before entering Norway, but can merely register with the Police/Immigration Authorities after arrival. This registration procedure is free of charge, except for the costs of transport to the nearest Immigration Police (which in our region is in Alesund).

International students must cover the cost of travel to/from Volda on their own. Read more about how to travel to Volda.

Flights to the local airport, Hovden Orsta/Volda, is only operated by the airline Wideroe. Wideroe offers student and youth discounts on their tickets, as do the bus companies Vy and Fram with regards to bus tickets.

International students must purchase private health and travel insurance. Volda University College does not buy insurance for students. Travel insurance is important to have coverage for the trip and for the first weeks in Norway.

Health insurance may or may not be required depending on the students' country of citizenship. Citizens of EU/EEA-countries and Switzerland may find that they have sufficient coverage with the European Health Insurance Card. Citizens of non-EU/EEA-countries, and who will study for 12 monhts or more in Norway, will after a while become members of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme (Folketrygden). Read more about insurance for international students in Norway.

Volda University College does not require a particular kind of insurance coverage for international students. It is therefore important that the students decide what type of insurance is necessary according to their specific situation.

Many international students find part-time jobs while in Norway, and also in Volda. However, it is not as easy to get a job if you do not speak the local language, have no contacts in local businesses and does not have a car to get a round. As such, international students should not base their financial situation on getting a part-time job.

Citizens of non-EU/EEA-countries who are awarded a study permit, will normally be allowed to work up to 20 hours per week next to their studies, and full-time during school breaks.

International students who gets a job in Norway will have to apply for a tax deduction card from the Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten).