The University of Oslo (UiO) is a public university in Norway’s capital. It describes itself as the country’s oldest, with 27,400 students, 8 faculties and 226 study programmes in 2025.[1] It is ranked 131st in the QS World University Rankings 2027, first in Norway.[2]
UiO is no longer tuition-free for everyone. Students with citizenship from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland pay tuition fees unless they are exempt.[3] For 2026/27 the listed master’s rates are NOK 204,000 or NOK 295,000 per year, depending on the programme; for 2027/28 they are NOK 186,000 or NOK 218,000.[4] Every student also pays a semester fee each term.[5]
Key facts
| Official name | Universitetet i Oslo (University of Oslo, UiO) |
| Location | Oslo, Norway (postal address P.O. Box 1072 Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo)[6] |
| Type | Public university; describes itself as Norway’s oldest[1] |
| Founded | 1811; known as the Royal Frederick University until 1939[1] |
| Students | 27,400 (figures labelled “UiO in numbers – 2025”)[1] |
| Employees | 6,900 full-time equivalents[1] |
| Faculties and programmes | 8 faculties and 226 study programmes[1] |
| Doctorates awarded | 476[1] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 131st (first in Norway)[2] |
| Tuition, non-EU/EEA/Swiss students | Yes, with exemptions; master’s rates 2026/27: NOK 204,000 or 295,000 per year[4] |
| Tuition, EU/EEA/Swiss citizens | No tuition fee[7] |
| Semester fee (each term) | NOK 690 to SiO + NOK 220 Kopinor + NOK 60 SAIH (SAIH optional); page updated 28 Nov 2025[5] |
| Master’s English requirement (most programmes) | IELTS Academic 6.5 overall and in each component, or TOEFL iBT 90, or PTE Academic 62[8] |
| Official website | uio.no/english |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 7 November 2026.
About the University of Oslo
The University of Oslo (Universitetet i Oslo, UiO) dates its work to 1811 and calls itself Norway’s oldest university.[1] Until 1939 it was named the Royal Frederick University, after King Frederick VI of Denmark and Norway.[9] Wikipedia’s infobox gives 2 September 1811 as the founding date, while its running text also mentions 1813; the university itself says only “since 1811”.[9]
UiO has eight faculties, two museums and one university library.[1] According to Wikipedia the faculties are Dentistry, Educational Sciences, Humanities, Law, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Medicine, Social Sciences and Theology; the main sites are the Blindern campus in the west of the city and an older central campus near the National Theatre.[9] The university’s own figures for 2025 are 27,400 students, 6,900 employees (full-time equivalents), 5,266 graduates and 476 doctorates awarded.[1]
How is the University of Oslo ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, UiO is 131st in the world and the highest-placed Norwegian university. It fell from 119th in the previous QS edition.[2]
UiO’s own ranking page lists other tables as well: Times Higher Education 118th (2027), the CWUR ranking 88th (2026) and the Shanghai ranking (ARWU) 86th (2026). It also repeats the QS 2026 position of 119th and does not yet show the QS 2027 result; the page was last modified on 30 September 2026.[10] The “UiO in numbers” page, which is labelled 2025, still quotes 83rd in the Shanghai ranking.[1] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat each position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Oslo?
UiO runs 226 study programmes across its eight faculties.[1] For international applicants the choice is narrower than that number suggests. UiO has one bachelor’s programme taught in English; its other bachelor’s programmes are taught in Norwegian, and you must be able to show that you already speak Norwegian proficiently. UiO offers no preparatory Norwegian course before admission.[11]
International students mostly apply to the master’s programmes taught in English. The fee table for 2026/27 and 2027/28 lists them, among them Economics, Philosophy, Psychology, Peace, Conflict, and Democracy, Physics, Chemistry, Geosciences, Data Science, several Informatics specialisations and the Theory and Practice of Human Rights.[4] A few programmes are joint degrees, for which the table refers you to the programme’s own contact for fee information.[4] Check the individual programme page for its admission requirements.[12]
How much does the University of Oslo cost?
Applicants with citizenship from a country outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must pay tuition fees unless they qualify for an exemption. The fees do not apply to students admitted before 2023 or to exchange students from partner universities.[3] Citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland, and holders of a permanent residence permit in Norway, do not pay tuition fees.[7]
| Master’s programme (examples) | 2026/27 (NOK per year) | 2027/28 (NOK per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | 204,000 | 186,000 |
| Philosophy | 204,000 | 186,000 |
| Education | 204,000 | 218,000 |
| Physics | 295,000 | 218,000 |
| Data Science | 295,000 | 218,000 |
| Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management | 295,000 | 186,000 |
| Ibsen Studies Online | 136,000 | 124,000 |
UiO publishes a price for every programme and academic year, and the amounts differ by programme and year, so look up yours in the official table. The table also lists one bachelor’s programme, Technology Systems: Science and Engineering, at NOK 218,000 for 2027/28 and no 2026/27 rate. Some entries (joint degrees and similar) have no rate in the table. Programmes of 1½ years may cost a different amount per year than the stated sum.[4]
Single courses are priced by number and subject area. For 2026/27 a 10-credit bachelor’s course costs between NOK 24,670 and NOK 30,330, and a 10-credit master’s course between NOK 34,000 and NOK 49,170.[4] UiO does not offer scholarships that cover tuition fees. Fees must be paid in full before each academic year, although second-year students may pay per semester; instalments are not possible.[3]
Semester fee and other costs
Separately from tuition, all active students pay each semester NOK 690 to the student welfare organisation SiO, a Kopinor fee of NOK 220 (NOK 110 for defined part-time studies of 50% or less) and a SAIH contribution of NOK 60, which you can leave out. Incoming Erasmus, Nordplus and most bilateral exchange students are exempt. That page was updated on 28 November 2025, so check the amount in Studentweb before paying.[5]
Non-EU/EEA applicants must also document living costs for the residence permit; UiO quotes the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration’s amount of NOK 170,368 for 2026/27.[3] For the wider picture of living costs, see our Norway guide.
How do you apply to the University of Oslo?
The route depends on the level and on your citizenship.
- Master’s: the process has two parts. You first answer pre-application questions about the admission requirements, and if you meet the minimum you register your application in UiO’s online portal, Søknadsweb.[13] Applicants with citizenship from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland have one admission round a year, can apply for up to two programmes, and cannot add or change programmes after the deadline.[12]
- Bachelor’s: most bachelor’s programmes are taught in Norwegian and require proven Norwegian proficiency.[11] UiO’s English-proficiency page for bachelor’s studies refers to the national GSU list and to Samordna opptak, the national admission service, for the requirements.[14] The general admission page does not describe the bachelor’s application steps, so follow the programme page.[11]
- Exemptions: if you believe you are exempt from tuition, you apply for the exemption after you have been offered and accepted a place.[7]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by group and programme; the master’s admission page lists the current ones.[12]
Which language level do you need?
For master’s programmes taught in English you must document English with a test unless you are exempt. Results must not be older than two years on the application deadline. UiO’s requirement is higher than the national GSU list.[8]
| Test | Most master’s programmes | English Language and Linguistics, English Literature, American and British Studies |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall, 6.5 in each component | 7.5 overall, 7.0 in each component |
| TOEFL iBT | 90 total (minimum 19 reading, 20 listening, 20 speaking, 24 writing) | 108 total (25, 25, 23, 27) |
| PTE Academic | 62 overall, 58 in each component | 74 overall, 65 in each component |
From 21 January 2026 UiO also accepts the new TOEFL scale: a total of 4.5 for most programmes, or 5.5 for the English programmes named above, with component minimums.[8] TOEFL MyBest Scores and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted.[8] Holders of certain Cambridge certificates and some International Baccalaureate subjects are exempt from the test.[8]
For bachelor’s studies the English requirement is lower: IELTS Academic 5.0 overall, or TOEFL iBT 60 (3.5 on the new scale).[14] Norwegian-taught bachelor’s programmes additionally require Norwegian.[11]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the University of Oslo free for international students?
How much is the tuition fee at UiO for non-EU students?
How is the University of Oslo ranked?
Which English test score does UiO require for a master’s?
For most programmes IELTS Academic 6.5 overall and in each component, TOEFL iBT 90 or PTE Academic 62. The English-language and literature programmes need more.[8]
Can I study in English at the University of Oslo?
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)
- 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 South-Eastern Norway
- University of Stavanger
Sources
[1] University of Oslo: UiO in numbers and facts (figures labelled 2025; page updated 26 Jun 2026)
[2] Uniforum (University of Oslo): UiO goes down in new ranking but keeps the lead in Norway (QS 2027) (published 18 Jun 2026; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access)
[3] University of Oslo: Tuition fees (page updated 15 Sep 2026)
[4] University of Oslo: How much is the tuition fee? (table of costs) (last modified 16 Sep 2026; rates for 2026/27 and 2027/28)
[5] University of Oslo: Pay the semester fee, Kopinor fee and SAIH contribution each semester (page updated 28 Nov 2025)
[6] University of Oslo: Contact (page updated 24 Apr 2026)
[7] University of Oslo: Exemptions and documentation (page updated 8 Sep 2026)
[8] University of Oslo: English proficiency requirement for master’s programmes taught in English (last modified 22 Sep 2026)
[9] Wikipedia: University of Oslo (history, former name and faculties; page without a date)
[10] University of Oslo: UiO’s international rankings (page updated 30 Sep 2026)
[11] University of Oslo: Admission to the University of Oslo (page updated 29 May 2026)
[12] University of Oslo: Application and admission to master’s degree programmes (page updated 10 Sep 2026)
[13] University of Oslo: Application process (master’s) (page updated 29 Sep 2025)
[14] University of Oslo: English proficiency for bachelor studies (page updated 27 Jan 2026)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.