BI Norwegian Business School (Handelshøyskolen BI) is a private business school run by an independent not-for-profit foundation, with its main campus in Oslo and further campuses in Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim. It reports 20,092 students and holds all three major business school accreditations (AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA).[1]
BI charges tuition to all students, domestic ones included. For the 2027–28 academic year its English fee pages list NOK 110,700 for bachelor’s students who are domestic or from the EU/EEA/Switzerland and NOK 144,000 for others; master’s fees range from NOK 133,400 to NOK 186,700.[2][3] We could not confirm a QS World University Rankings 2027 position for BI.
Key facts
| Official name | Handelshøyskolen BI (BI Norwegian Business School)[4] |
| Location | Oslo, Norway (visiting address Nydalsveien 37, 0484 Oslo)[5] |
| Campuses | Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim[1] |
| Type | Private specialised university, owned by an independent not-for-profit foundation; accredited by NOKUT as a specialised university institution[6] |
| Founded | 1943, as an evening school founded by Finn Øien[1] |
| Students | 20,092 (14,835 full-time and 5,257 part-time); the page is undated[1] |
| Accreditations | AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA; Wikipedia dates them to 2014[6] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Not confirmed |
| Language of teaching | English throughout the bachelor’s programmes; in the master’s, Law, Law and Business and Accounting and Auditing are taught in Norwegian (language of the others not stated on the overview page)[7] |
| Tuition 2027–28, bachelor’s, domestic and EU/EEA/Switzerland | NOK 110,700 per academic year[2] |
| Tuition 2027–28, bachelor’s, other nationalities | NOK 144,000 per academic year[2] |
| Tuition 2027–28, master’s (full-time, external applicants) | NOK 133,400 to NOK 186,700 per academic year, depending on programme and citizenship[3] |
| Semester fee | Paid separately to the student welfare organisation; amount not stated on BI’s pages[2] |
| Official website | bi.no |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About BI Norwegian Business School
BI describes itself as an independent, not-for-profit foundation and the main provider of research-based knowledge on business and management in Norway. It was founded in 1943 as a night school by Finn Øien.[1] Wikipedia adds that BI is a self-owning foundation whose sole purpose is teaching and research, accredited by NOKUT as a specialised university institution.[6]
The main campus is in Nydalen in Oslo; regional campuses are in Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim.[1][6] BI’s own page counts 20,092 students (14,835 full-time and 5,257 part-time) and carries no date. Wikipedia gives 21,620 for 2024, so the numbers differ by source and year.[1][6]
How is BI Norwegian Business School ranked?
We could not confirm a position for BI in the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published 18 June 2026), because no source we could read gives one. We therefore show none.
BI describes itself as the first Norwegian business school with all three leading international accreditations: AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA.[1] Wikipedia says BI has been ranked Norway’s top business school for several years in the Financial Times European Business School Ranking; the article names no edition, so we give no position.[6] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat any single position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at BI?
BI offers bachelor’s, master’s, executive and PhD programmes.[8]
- Bachelor’s: Business Administration (BBA, three years, with specialisations in International Business, Finance or Shipping Management), Data Science for Business and Digital Business. All are taught entirely in English.[7]
- Master’s (full-time): 11 programmes, among them Business, Business Analytics, Finance, Data Science for Business, Quantitative Finance, Strategic Marketing Management and the BI–Luiss Joint Master in Marketing. Accounting and Auditing, Law, and Law and Business are taught in Norwegian.[9]
- Executive: Executive MBA, Executive Master of Management, Executive Master of Management in Energy and the BI–Fudan MBA.[9]
BI says it offers a full range of programmes in English from bachelor’s to PhD level, and also runs Norwegian courses for beginners to intermediate level.[8]
How much does BI cost?
BI’s English fee pages (read on 7 November 2026) state fees per academic year for 2027–28, invoiced each semester. We did not find fee tables for the current 2026–27 year on those pages, so we do not state them.[2][3]
| Programme (2027–28) | Domestic and EU/EEA/Switzerland | Other nationalities |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s (BBA, Data Science for Business, Digital Business) | NOK 110,700 | NOK 144,000 |
| Standard full-time master’s | NOK 133,400 | NOK 173,500 |
| Master in Business Analytics and Master in Data Science for Business | NOK 141,400 | NOK 183,500 |
| BI–Luiss Joint Master in Marketing, first year (paid to BI) | NOK 143,600 | NOK 186,700 |
Master’s applicants who already passed at least 120 ECTS at BI pay an internal rate (for example NOK 115,200 for the standard master’s).[3] The second year of the BI–Luiss master’s is paid to Luiss University, with estimated tuition of EUR 16,000.[3]
Why do other nationalities pay more?
Since Norwegian law passed on 16 June 2023, BI charges a 30% tuition differential to new international students from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland. Exemptions apply, for example with a permanent residence permit, residence due to protection, or 24 months of continuous full-time work in Norway.[10]
Other costs
Tuition does not cover course literature, study materials, re-sit examinations or study trips. Full-time students pay a separate semester fee to the student welfare organisation; the amount is not stated on BI’s pages. BI estimates living expenses at NOK 170,368 for 2026–27.[2] BI adjusts fees every year and reserves the right to change them.[3] For living costs in Oslo see the Norway guide.
How do you apply to BI?
Applications are made in BI’s online application portal (“My applications”). International bachelor’s applicants upload academic transcripts, an English test, a one-page letter of motivation in English, an English CV, a passport copy and a financial plan.[11]
- Bachelor’s: you need a higher education entrance qualification and documented English. Requirements for school-leaving certificates vary by country; BI follows the Norwegian NOKUT/HKDIR country list, and some countries also require one year of university study (60 ECTS). The Bachelor in Data Science for Business requires mathematics.[11]
- Master of Science: applicants with a bachelor’s degree from outside the Nordic countries need a GMAT (at least 555 Focus Edition or 600 10th Edition) or GRE (at least 158 Quantitative) score, plus an English test. BI cannot assess an application without a valid GMAT or English score or an approved waiver.[12]
We give no deadlines because they change every year. Start from the admissions overview and your programme page.
Which English level do you need?
If English is not your first language you must document it. The levels differ by degree:
| Test | Bachelor’s | Master of Science |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 80 | 90 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 59 | 62 |
The bachelor’s page (updated 10 April 2025) also accepts several Cambridge and telc certificates and says test reports older than two years are not accepted; education-based routes include a school-leaving certificate or bachelor’s degree from the UK, the USA, New Zealand, Canada, Australia or Ireland.[11] For the master’s, Cambridge C1 Advanced needs 176 and C2 Proficiency 180; native speakers or applicants with two or more academic years of English-taught study may request a waiver.[12]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BI Norwegian Business School free?
No. BI is a private foundation and charges tuition to all students, Norwegians included. For 2027–28 the bachelor’s fee is NOK 110,700 for domestic and EU/EEA/Swiss students and NOK 144,000 for others.[2]
How much more do non-EU students pay at BI?
A 30% differential applies to new students from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland, with exemptions for some residents of Norway.[10]
Do I need the GMAT for a master’s at BI?
Yes, a GMAT or GRE score is required if your bachelor’s degree is from outside Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland or Finland.[12]
Are BI’s programmes taught in English?
Which accreditations does BI hold?
AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA, the three leading international business school accreditations.[1]
More about studying in Norway
- Norway: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Norway
- MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society
- Nord University
- Norwegian Academy of Music
- Norwegian School of Economics (NHH)
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
- NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO)
- OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway
- University of Agder
- University of Bergen
- University of Oslo
- University of South-Eastern Norway
- University of Stavanger
Sources
[1] BI Norwegian Business School: About BI (page without a date; © 2026, newest news item Sep 2026)
[2] BI: Tuition fees, Bachelor programmes (page without a date; fees for the 2027–28 academic year, exchange rates Oct/Nov 2026)
[3] BI: Tuition fees, Master of Science (page without a date; fees for the 2027–28 academic year, exchange rates Nov 2026)
[4] Wikipedia (Norwegian): Handelshøyskolen BI (Norwegian name and status; secondary source)
[5] BI: Contact us (page without a date; © 2026)
[6] Wikipedia: BI Norwegian Business School (status, accreditations, rankings mention and student count 2024; secondary source)
[7] BI: Bachelor programmes (page without a date)
[8] BI: International students (page without a date; © 2026)
[9] BI: Master programmes (page without a date)
[10] BI: Tuition fees for students from outside the EU/EEA (page without a date)
[11] BI: Admission requirements, Bachelor programmes (page updated 10 Apr 2025)
[12] BI: General admission requirements and admission process, Master of Science (page updated 5 Nov 2026)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.