The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) is a public university in Ås, Akershus, with around 7,700 students and seven faculties.[1] It dates back to 1859 and is the only institution in Norway that provides veterinary education.[1] The QS World University Rankings 2027 list it at 761–770.[2]
Students from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland study without tuition. Students from other countries pay NOK 80,000 or NOK 150,000 per year for most programmes, and NOK 275,000 for veterinary medicine; the rate table on the NMBU page is headed 2027/2028.[3] English-taught master’s programmes require a high language score, for example IELTS Academic 7.0.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet (NMBU) |
| Location | Ås, Akershus county (Postboks 5003, 1432 Ås)[5] |
| Type | Public university[1] |
| Founded | 1859 as the Higher Agricultural College; university status 2005; merged with the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science in 2014[1] |
| Students | Around 7,700[1] |
| Faculties | Seven, including Biosciences, Veterinary Medicine and the School of Economics and Business[5] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Band 761–770[2] |
| Tuition, non-EU/EEA students (rate table headed 2027/2028) | NOK 80,000 (category 1) · NOK 150,000 (category 2) · NOK 275,000 (veterinary)[3] |
| Tuition, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens | None[3] |
| Semester fee | NOK 470 to SiÅs plus NOK 240 Kopinor fee (invoice NOK 750 with optional NOK 40 for SAIH); page without a date[6] |
| English requirement (master’s) | IELTS Academic 7.0 overall or TOEFL iBT 92 (5.0 on the new scale)[4] |
| Official website | nmbu.no/en |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About the Norwegian University of Life Sciences
NMBU was established in 1859 as the Higher Agricultural College (Den høiere Landbrugsskole). In 1897 it became the Norwegian College of Agriculture, in 2005 it received university status, and in 2014 it merged with the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science (NVH) in Oslo, which brought veterinary education to the university.[1]
NMBU has seven faculties: Biosciences; the School of Economics and Business; Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Sciences; Landscape and Society; Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management; Science and Technology; and Veterinary Medicine. The main campus is in Ås, south of Oslo.[5] The university describes its mission as contributing to the well-being of the planet.[5] Student numbers differ by source: Wikipedia gives around 7,700, while the XuanXiao aggregator shows 9,040 from the Times Higher Education 2027 data.[2]
How is NMBU ranked?
The QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, list NMBU in the 761–770 band. The same aggregator reports Times Higher Education 2027 at 801–1000, ARWU 2025 at 701–800 and U.S. News 2027 at 1,043.[2]
We could not read the QS table itself, because topuniversities.com blocks automated access, so treat the band as reported by a third party. Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at NMBU?
NMBU teaches in English and Norwegian. The tuition page names these English-taught programmes:[3]
- Bachelor’s: International Environment and Development Studies.
- Master’s, economics and development: Applied Economics and Sustainability, Economics and Environmental Governance, Global Development Studies, Global Economy and Politics, International Relations, International Environmental Studies.
- Master’s, life and natural sciences: Animal Science, Aquaculture, Data Science, Ecology, Intelligent Water Technology, Landscape Architecture for Global Sustainability, Nuclear and Environmental Sciences, Plant Sciences, Sustainable Food Systems and others.
Several master’s programmes on the list are marked as not admitting new students, so check the programme page. Most bachelor’s programmes, the five-year master’s programmes and the veterinary degree are taught in Norwegian.[3]
How much does NMBU cost for international students?
| Category | Tuition per year (60 ECTS) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland | None | All programmes |
| Category 1 | NOK 80,000 | BSc International Environment and Development Studies; MSc International Relations, Global Development Studies |
| Category 2 | NOK 150,000 | MSc Animal Science, Aquaculture, Data Science, Ecology, Plant Sciences |
| Category 3 | NOK 275,000 | Veterinary medicine (professional degree) |
Which year do these rates belong to? The NMBU page presents its rate tables under the heading “Rates for the academic year 2027/2028” and shows no separate 2026/27 table. The only 2026/27 figure on the page is the living-cost amount.[3] Confirm with NMBU which rate applies to your intake before you budget.
Single courses are charged under category 1 at NOK 1,333 per ECTS credit. For students admitted from 2025, additional fees apply if you take more than 180 ECTS in a bachelor’s or 120 ECTS in a master’s.[3] Tuition must be paid in full before each academic year, without instalments.[3]
Who is exempt?
Exchange students from partner universities, students admitted before 2023 (for that programme), students in the StAR, NORPART, NORHED and Fulbright programmes, and holders of a full-degree scholarship from HK-dir do not pay. NMBU offers no scholarships that cover tuition.[3]
Semester fee and living costs
Students pay a semester fee to the Foundation of Student Life in Ås (SiÅs). The page we read gives NOK 470, on one invoice of NOK 750 with the mandatory NOK 240 Kopinor fee and an optional NOK 40 for SAIH. The page has no visible date, so confirm the current amount.[6] To obtain a study permit, students from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland must document living funds of NOK 170,368 for the academic year 2026/27, separate from tuition.[3] For costs across Norway, see our Norway guide.
How do you apply to NMBU?
Applicants from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland apply for a master’s programme through the online portal fsweb.no (Søknadsweb), and you can apply for up to two programmes.[7]
- Degree: your bachelor’s degree must be completed before you apply, and you must meet the Norwegian entrance requirement listed in the GSU list.[7]
- Grades: three years of higher education with grades comparable to a Norwegian C, roughly an American B. Admission is competitive, so successful grades are usually higher.[7]
- Documents: PDF files; applicants from certain countries must have transcripts sent directly from their university.[7]
- Fees and funds: tuition is due shortly after an offer, and you must show you can cover one year of living costs.[7]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year; check the NMBU application page.
Which language level do you need?
NMBU sets its English minimums above the national minimum. Applicants with a lower score are not offered admission, results may be no more than two years old, and IELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted.[4]
| Test | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT (incl. Home Edition) | 80 or 4.5 | 92 or 5.0 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 | 7.0 |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 59 | 65 |
| Cambridge Advanced (C1) | Grade C or better | Grade C or better |
Exemptions include at least one year of university study in the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada, New Zealand or Australia, a bachelor’s degree or one year of master’s study taught in English in a Nordic country or the Netherlands, a university degree in English language or literature, and an IB Diploma with English A grade 3 or better. Branch-campus, validated, franchised and distance-learning programmes are not exempt.[4]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NMBU free for international students?
Only for citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland and for a few listed exemptions. Other students pay NOK 80,000, NOK 150,000 or, for veterinary medicine, NOK 275,000 per year according to the rate table on NMBU’s page, which is headed 2027/2028.[3]
Does NMBU offer scholarships that cover tuition?
No. NMBU says it does not offer any scholarships that cover tuition fees.[3]
What English score does NMBU require for a master’s?
IELTS Academic 7.0 overall, TOEFL iBT 92 (5.0 on the scale used from 21 January 2026) or PTE Academic 65. A lower score means no offer.[4]
How is NMBU ranked?
It is in the 761–770 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027, according to the aggregator XuanXiao. We could not read the QS table directly.[2]
More about studying in Norway
- Norway: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Norway
- BI Norwegian Business School
- MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society
- Nord University
- Norwegian Academy of Music
- Norwegian School of Economics (NHH)
- 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] Wikipedia: Norwegian University of Life Sciences (history, merger of 2014 and student numbers)
[2] XuanXiao: Norwegian University of Life Sciences rankings (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (aggregator page showing QS 2027 761–770; QS edition released 18 Jun 2026; page without a date)
[3] NMBU: Tuition fees for international students (page without a date; rate tables headed academic year 2027/2028; living-cost figure for 2026/27)
[4] NMBU: Language requirements for programmes taught in English (page without a date)
[5] NMBU: About NMBU (page without a date)
[6] NMBU: Semester fee (page without a visible date; amounts may have changed)
[7] NMBU: How to apply for master’s programmes, international applicants (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.