Practical information for international students

EU/EEA citizens
EU/EEA citizens do not need to apply for visa/residence permit, but must register with the immigration authorities after arrival in Norway. The VUC International Office organizes a registration day during the first week of the semester. Information on this registration day is provided directly to the accepted international students. It is only necessary to register once regardles of how long you will stay in Norway.

Non-EU/EEA citizens
Citizens from countries outside the EU/EEA must apply for a student residence permit/study permit as soon as possible after admission and before entering Norway. Students admitted to VUC should contact the nearest Norwegian Embassy and start the residence permit application as soon as possible.

For more details about student residence permits, please visit the website of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).

Tuition fees and scholarship
Students who are citizens of non-EU/EEA-countries will have to pay tuition fees to VUC unless they fulfill one of the requirements to be exempt. Read more about tution fees for non-EU/EEA-students at Volda University College. Note that EU/EEA-citizens and incoming exchange students from partner universities are exempt from paying tuition fees. 

Scholarships and financial aid
Volda University College does not offer any scholarships, tuition waivers or financial aid to international students. Students on exchange may inquire at their home institution if it is possible to apply for an Erasmus+, Nordplus or EEA/Norway grant for their study period at VUC.

The Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen) may provide financial aid to foreign nationals living in Norway under certain conditions.

Semester registration fee
Students enrolled at VUC are required to pay a semester fee of approximately 800,- nok/semester. This semester fee applies to all degree-seeking students. Exchange students from partner universities are exempt from paying the semester fee to VUC because they pay a similar fee to their home institutions. 

Financial eligibility for residence permit 
Non-EU/EEA citizens must apply for student residence permit prior to coming to Norway. In order to be eligible for a student visa/residence permit, non-EU/EEA citizens need to guarantee they have enough money to cover the cost of living in Norway. This means transferring an amount of approximately 170 000 NOK to a Norwegian bank account. You can read more about this financial requirement on the website of the Norwegian Directorate for Immigration (UDI).

Citizens of EU/EEA countries are not required apply for a residence permit or to proove financial eligibility, but must also finance their stay in Norway with their own funds.

For health insurance, students from EU/EEA countries must obtain and bring a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or an equivalent health insurance. The EHIC is a requirement to be accepted as an incoming exchange student at VUC and strongly recommended also for international degree-seeking students. The EHIC-card will ensure that international student receive the same medical care and benefits as Norwegian citizens. Please note that this the EHIC card does not normally cover dental care, prescription drugs or travel home in case of illness. Therefore, in addition to the EHIC card, we strongly recommend all students to have valid travel insurance.

Non-EU/EEA citizens who study in Norway for more than 6 months will be registered in the Norwegian National Health Insurance Scheme (Folketrygden) once they have been registered with immigration police and awarded a Norwegian National ID-number (fødselsnummer). This process usually takes a few weeks/months, so it is strongly recommended for non-EU/EEA-students to have private health insurance which covers the first months of your stay in Norway. Non-EU/EEA-students who are only studying in Norway for 6 monhts or less may apply for voluntary membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme (Folketrygden)

For incoming exchange students, the proof of health insurance (EHIC or private insurance policy) must be uploaded in the Application Portal (Soknadsweb) at the time of the application and must be valid for the entire period of the exchange. 

For both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students, membership in the Norwegian National Health Scheme is voluntary, but highly recommended. More info on the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.

Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world and international students should therefore expect prices to be higher than what they are used to. However, the cost of living in Norway may appear less expensive in recent years due to the Norwegian kroner having weakened compared to currencies such as the Euro, US Dollar and GB Pounds.

VUC recommends all international students to have a budget of 800-900 Euro per month to cover living costs (including housing). Many international students work next to their studies, but note that it can be difficult to get a part-time job and that you should base your expenses on existing funds and not projected income from a possible job. 

Since Volda is a rather small town, the rental prices here are lower than in the large cities. Another factor to make life here less expensive is that everyhing is within walking distance, so there is no need for a public transport pass. So in spite of the high living costs in Norway, studying in Volda may not be that expensive. 

Incoming exchange students are also able to borrow kitchen equipment and bedding from Pangaia.

From Oslo to Volda
The recommended, and most comfortable way to travel, is to fly to Ørsta/Volda Hovden airport via Oslo airport (Gardermoen) or Bergen airport (Flesland). The flight from Oslo to Ørsta/Volda airport takes approximately 1 hour. Look for youth/student tickets which are cheaper than regular adult tickets. Also, you should book in advance, as the cheapest tickets are sold out quickly. Ørsta/Volda airport is located only 10 minutes drive from Volda and we arrange pick-up service from the airport, provided you sign up for it. For tickets to Ørsta/Volda see: www.wideroe.no

Another way to get from Oslo to Volda is to take the night bus. The bus leaves from downtown Oslo and stops by Oslo airport Gardermoen on the way to Volda (Rutebilstasjon). The journey takes a little over 8 hours and the cheapest youth ticket will cost you about 65 EUR. You can book at www.vy.no

From Ålesund to Volda
An alternative is to fly to Ålesund airport Vigra. From the airport take the shuttle bus to Moa bus terminal. From Moa you can take a connecting bus to Volda once every hour. The travel time from the airport, via Moa, to Volda is about 2,5 hours. Note that the bus tickets will be app. 25 EUR and that you must check the bus schedule to make sure that you can catch the connecting bus. Visit http://www.frammr.no/ to find the connection.

Studentsamskipnaden i Volda (SiVolda), the Student Welfare Organization, houses over 400 students in Volda.

With SiVolda you can live safe and cheap while you are studying. Living in a student dorm is a pleasant and social way to get to know fellow students from all over the world. You can enjoy free internet, access cable TV, and free caretaker service. All exchange students are guaranteed housing in the student dorms, provided they apply within the deadlines.

Standard rooms in the student dorms are single and furnished. SiVolda also have some apartments for families/couples. 

Incoming exchange students can borrow basic kitchen equipment and bedding from Pangaia, upon arrival. 

Volda University College operates on a semester system, with an Autumn semester from mid-August to December and a Spring semester from early January to early June.

Important dates for the 2025/26 academic year

August

• 20th Start of academic year

November

• 15th Application deadline for incoming exchange students to the spring semester
• Exam period (November-December)

December

• 19th End of autumn semester

January

• 5th Start of spring semester

February

• 11th International Day 2026

May

• 15th Application deadline for incoming exchange students to the autumn semester/academic year
• Exam period (May and early June)

June

• 19th Official end of semester/academic year

The students’ academic performance is assessed both through final examinations and various assignments during the academic year. Grades are awarded according to a letter scale from A (highest) to F (fail), with E as the minimum passing grade.

A pass/fail mark is given for some examinations.

Qualitative description of grades:

A - Excellent -  An excellent performance, clearly outstanding. The candidate demonstrates excellent judgement and a high degree of independent thinking.

B - Very good - A very good performance. The candidate demonstrates sound judgement and a very good degree of independent thinking.

C - Good - A good performance in most areas. The candidate demonstrates a reasonable degree of judgement and independent thinking in the most important areas.

D - Satisfactory - A satisfactory performance, but with significant shortcomings. The candidate demonstrates a limited degree of judgement and independent thinking.

E - Sufficient - A performance that meets the minimum criteria, but no more. The candidate demonstrates a very limited degree of judgement and independent thinking.

F - Fail - A performance that does not meet the minimum academic criteria. The candidate demonstrates an absence of both judgement and independent thinking.

Volda University College uses the European ECTS credit system. The number of credits indicate the nominal length of study and the workload.

One year of full-time studies corresponds to 60 ECTS credits (in Norwegian "studiepoeng") and one semester of full-time studies correspond to 30 ECTS credits. Most courses offered at Volda University College are of 15 ECTS credit value. This means that most students only take two courses per semester.

Credits are awarded only when the course has been completed and the student has passed all required examinations.

Study programme vs. course:
At Volda University College the term study programme referes to a continous programme of studies leading to a qualification or degree, for example a Bachelor's programme.
The term course refers to an individual part (unit/module) of the study programme for which the student will receive a grade.

Study programmes offered and nominal lenght:
Bachelor's degree programmes: The typical Bachelor's programme offered at VUC is a three year programme consisting of 180 ECTS credits/studiepoeng. 
Master's degree programmes: The Master's programmes at VUC are 2-year programmes consisting of 120 ECTS credits.

Courses and course groups:
A course may be obligatory or elective in the study programme. Course groups are combination of courses going into a study programme. For example, it is common that a study programme includes a course group of 80 ECTS credits (major) and a course group of 40 ECTS credits (minor) as well as elective courses. All courses at VUC are taught in Norwegian language, apart from those especially mentioned as courses taught in English. 

Course level/code:
Each course is provided a course code which refers to the discipline and level of the course. In most cases, 100-level courses are introductory courses at the Bachelor's level, 200-level is advanced courses at the Bachelor's level and 300-level refers to courses at the Master's levels.
For example: MMP306 is a course code signaling that the course is at the Master's level and from the study programme Master in Media Practice.

Diploma Supplement and Grade Transcript:
Students completing a study programme at Volda University College will be issued a Diploma Supplement in English. 

Exchange students studying at VUC for one or two semesters will be issued a grade transcript in English.