NTNU Norway: admission to the Norwegian University of Science and Technology

NTNU is Norway's leading technical university, with campuses in Trondheim, Gjøvik and Ålesund. International applicants without Norwegian can join it only at master's level, because NTNU's bachelor's programmes are taught in Norwegian. For non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss nationals there is a single yearly intake: applications are accepted from 1 November to 1 December, and teaching starts in August. Several of the most sought-after programmes are closed to this group: in the 2026/27 cycle they included Informatics, Information Security and Physics. Under 2026/27 rates, a year of study costs $18,410 (NOK 176,300) or $21,470 (NOK 205,600), and a handful of programmes carry much lower special fees.

How NTNU differs from Oslo and Bergen

The Universities of Oslo and Bergen are classical universities built around law, the humanities and medicine. NTNU is built around engineering and technology: almost half of its students are in science and technology, and its international master's programmes concentrate on energy, marine and subsea technology, materials, geotechnics and project management. If you are looking for an English-taught technical master's in Norway, NTNU is usually the first benchmark.

The second difference is geography. Since the 2016 mergers NTNU teaches in three cities, and each programme belongs to one campus. Trondheim, with about 210,000 inhabitants and 37,000 students, is a classic student city; Gjøvik and Ålesund are smaller, and Ålesund hosts programmes in mechatronics and international business linked to the region's maritime industry. Check where a programme is taught before you apply, because it determines housing and job prospects.

Which master's programmes accept non-EU/EEA citizens

NTNU publishes its list of international master's programmes for each admission cycle, and not every programme accepts citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA. The table below reflects the 2026/27 cycle, the latest list published as of late September 2026.

For would-be computer scientists the implication is clear: in 2026/27 no pure computing master's at NTNU was open to non-EU/EEA citizens. Check the new list in October and keep an alternative such as informatics at the University of Oslo.

NTNU also takes part in Erasmus Mundus master's degrees (for example in cybersecurity and in aquaculture health management) and in the joint Nordic master's Cold Climate Engineering, whose deadline is 1 March. NTNU charges no tuition on these, although partner universities may, and the consortium sets selection rules and scholarships.

Why NTNU's bachelor's programmes are out of reach without Norwegian

Bachelor's programmes at NTNU are taught in Norwegian, and proficiency must be documented when you apply; NTNU says plainly that you cannot come to Norway to learn the language first. Applications go through the national Samordna opptak system rather than the international portal. Many applicants also face the GSU requirement: school certificates from a number of countries, including Russia and Kazakhstan, only qualify together with a year of recognised university study, and in that situation the Norwegian requirement can only be met with the Norwegian exam from the third year of Norwegian upper secondary school. For Russian citizens there is a permit issue too: UDI and the embassy in Moscow caution that study permits below master's level are hard to get without special circumstances.

Master's requirements: degree, grades and English

Degree. You need a bachelor's degree in a field relevant to the programme. Most programmes require an average grade of at least C on the ECTS scale. NTNU converts foreign grades itself and ranks applicants; it does not assess eligibility in advance and describes admission as highly competitive. Programme pages add specific conditions: Management of Innovation and Sustainable Business Development in Ålesund, for instance, requires at least 80 ECTS in business, economics, management, marketing, innovation or entrepreneurship.

English. One standard applies to all international master's programmes:

• TOEFL iBT: at least 90 on the 0–120 scale, or 4.5 on the new scale for tests taken after 21 January 2026. Scores must be sent directly by ETS (NTNU code 9652) and uploaded to the portal. MyBest scores and TOEFL Essentials are not accepted.
• IELTS Academic or IELTS Online: 6.5 in each section. NTNU accepts IELTS One Skill Retake results, which the Universities of Oslo and Bergen do not.
• PTE Academic: at least 62.
• Cambridge B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency at B2 level or higher, with no expiry date.

An IELTS, TOEFL or PTE test taken more than two years before 1 December will not count; Cambridge certificates never expire for NTNU. Exemptions include one year (60 ECTS) of English-taught study in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland or New Zealand, a degree majoring in English, and IB English at higher level.

Documents to upload by 1 December

Everything goes into Søknadsweb as PDFs, without embedded files and named as NTNU instructs. There is no submit button: the application saves automatically and can be edited until the deadline.

• passport pages showing your photo, full name, date of birth and nationality;
• upper-secondary diploma and transcript (no translation needed);
• bachelor's diploma and transcripts for all university study, with an authorised English translation if they are not in English or a Scandinavian language;
• English test result;
• CV in any format;
• proof of funding for one year: a statement issued within the last three months and not before 1 September of the year you apply, in your name or a sponsor's with a signed sponsor letter;
• any programme-specific material, such as a portfolio for Fine Art, which has its own deadline.

NTNU does not ask for a motivation letter. A provisional certificate may be considered if it comes with a statement from your university on when the degree will be issued, but applicants from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland must upload the official diploma by 1 February, so the degree has to be completed by then. Original documents must be shown on arrival, and NTNU may withdraw the offer if they are not. Hard copies by post are only required from a short list of countries such as the USA, Canada, Nigeria and the Philippines.

Timeline for an autumn 2027 start

As of late September 2026 NTNU had not yet updated its pages for 2027/28, but the sequence for non-EU/EEA applicants has been the same each year.

NTNU's results arrive earlier than Oslo's, which leaves more time for transfers and visa appointments. Rejections can be appealed as described in the decision letter.

Tuition: price categories and special rates

Tuition applies to citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, including those already living in Norway on another permit, unless an exemption is granted. Rates for 2026/27:

Fees are adjusted annually, and NTNU had not published 2027/28 rates by late September 2026; your admission letter will state the exact figure, and NTNU suggests asking the faculty which category a programme belongs to. There are no discounts, scholarships or instalment plans. Extending your master's thesis by up to two semesters without extra credits costs nothing more, and retaking a course is free.

A realistic minimum for year one covers tuition, UDI's 2026/27 living-cost amount, semester fees of about $100 (NOK 1,000) per semester and the permit fee:

• category 2 technical or science programme: ≈ $40,030;
• category 1 humanities, social science or management programme: ≈ $36,970;
• one of the two Ålesund business programmes at $6,440 (NOK 61,705): ≈ $25,010.

Housing, food and transport are covered by the UDI living-cost amount, which is Norway's official minimum for a student's year. See the cost of studying in Norway and free education in Norway: who still qualifies for context.

Exemptions and refunds

Automatically exempt: EU/EEA and Swiss citizens, exchange students from partner universities, Erasmus Mundus and Nordic Five Tech joint-degree students, PhD candidates, scholarship holders under certain Norwegian schemes and students admitted to their programme before 2023. Other grounds, such as permanent residence, family ties to a Norwegian citizen, 24 months of full-time work in Norway or three consecutive years of study in Norway, must be documented within three weeks of the admission letter; the invoice deadline is paused while NTNU decides.

NTNU's refund rules are unusually clear:

• if UDI refuses your study permit, NTNU refunds everything except bank charges, even after 1 September, on presentation of UDI's decision letter;
• if you withdraw before 1 August, you get a full refund minus bank charges;
• between 1 August and 1 September, $520 (NOK 5,000) is deducted;
• after 1 September there is no refund.

Proof of funds and NTNU's deposit account

For 2026/27, UDI's living-cost requirement is $17,790 (NOK 170,368). At NTNU this proof is an admission requirement: the statement must be uploaded by 1 December and is not accepted later. Statements from any bank or account type and in any currency are fine, including fixed deposits, securities and bonds. The money does not need to stay in the account until results, but after admission the full amount must be transferred to NTNU's deposit account at DNB.

International transfers usually take 7–14 days, sometimes longer, and NTNU confirms receipt once the money arrives. Someone else can make the transfer as long as the student's name is clearly stated. You document one year at a time: study permits are issued for a year, and you show funds again when you renew. Applicants paying from Russia should read how to pay for studies abroad from Russia before the invoice arrives.

Study permit

UDI decides on the permit; NTNU emails admitted students separate instructions. Your file needs the admission letter, proof of tuition payment or exemption, the deposit confirmation and a housing contract. UDI charges $560 (NOK 5,400), payable only by card in its online portal when you register the application.

Russian citizens hand in their documents and fingerprints at a VFS Global centre in Russia; the Norwegian embassy in Moscow, which serves applicants from Russia and Belarus, verifies the passport and passes the file on, and UDI rules on it. Kazakh applicants file at VFS in Kazakhstan, and their applications are routed through Norway's embassy in Ankara. Norway stopped applying its visa facilitation deal with Russia in September 2022, VFS appointments are hard to get, and Russian-issued bank cards generally fail in the payment step, so line up a foreign card early. Permit holders may work part-time, capped at 20 hours weekly during term (remote work counts), with no cap in holidays. The full checklist is in our Norway study permit guide.

Once you graduate, you can ask UDI for a job-seeker permit of up to a year. The application must go in while the study permit is still valid (UDI suggests a month or more before it ends); you live on your own savings during that period, but you may take any job, with no cap on hours.

Housing in Trondheim, Gjøvik and Ålesund

Most student villages in Trondheim are run by the student welfare organisation Sit, which reserves a quota for international students each semester that NTNU allocates. Sit commits to housing only two groups: students from outside the EU/EEA/EFTA, and non-Nordic international degree students. Others should expect to search on the private market and start early. Trondheim's "roof over your head" scheme provides affordable temporary housing in the autumn semester for students still searching. Gjøvik and Ålesund have their own arrangements, described on the campus pages.

Learning Norwegian while you study

Although international master's programmes are in English, Norwegian widens your job options during and after your studies. NTNU offers the free online course Norwegian on the Web (no exam, no credits) and one-semester "Norwegian for foreigners" courses of 7.5–15 ECTS on all three campuses, with early deadlines of 1 June for autumn and 1 November for spring. Since autumn 2023 these courses carry tuition for students without an exemption, and each level requires a new admission.

Who NTNU suits

NTNU is a strong fit if you hold an engineering or science bachelor's with a solid grade average, are happy in a student city, and are interested in energy, hydropower, marine and subsea technology, materials, geotechnics, project management or industrial ecology. Its special rates on a few programmes also make it one of the most affordable options in Norway.

It fits less well if you want a master's in computing or physics (closed to non-EU/EEA citizens in the latest cycle), a capital-city environment or an English-taught bachelor's. Compare it with the University of Oslo, the University of Bergen, the private BI Norwegian Business School or, for engineering in Sweden, KTH. The broader picture is on studying in Norway and applying to Norwegian universities.

Common mistakes

• Choosing a programme from an outdated list. Informatics, Physics and Information Security were EU/EEA-only in the latest cycle.
• Applying in the wrong category. Non-EU/EEA citizens without a Nordic degree must choose International Master's Programmes and apply by 1 December; a wrong category can lead to rejection.
• Uploading a bank statement dated in August. It must be dated 1 September of the application year or later.
• Uploading TOEFL scores only as a file. ETS must send them directly to NTNU.
• Sending a motivation letter instead of a CV. NTNU does not read motivation letters, but the CV is mandatory.
• Counting on part-time work to fund the year. UDI's amount already covers the full year, and jobs without Norwegian are limited.

FAQ

Can I study at NTNU after secondary school?

Not in English. NTNU's bachelor's programmes are taught in Norwegian, and many foreign school certificates also need a year of university to meet Norway's general entry requirement. The realistic route is a bachelor's degree elsewhere, followed by an application to an NTNU international master's by 1 December. Russian citizens should also know that UDI describes study permits below master's level as difficult to obtain without special circumstances.

Is there a computer science master's at NTNU for non-EU students?

In 2026/27, Informatics, Information Security and Digital Infrastructure and Cyber Security accepted only EU/EEA and Norwegian/Nordic applicants. NTNU publishes the 2027/28 list in the autumn, so keep an alternative, such as informatics at the University of Oslo, until it appears.

How much does NTNU cost per year?

Under 2026/27 rates, $18,410 (NOK 176,300) for humanities, social science and business programmes and $21,470 (NOK 205,600) for technical and science programmes, with special rates from $2,760 (NOK 26,445) to $6,440 (NOK 61,705). You also need to show $17,790 (NOK 170,368) for living costs.

Do I need a motivation letter?

No. NTNU does not request one. The CV, transcripts and diplomas, English test, passport and proof of funding are mandatory, and some programmes add their own material such as a portfolio.

Will I get my tuition back if my visa is refused?

Yes. If UDI refuses the study permit, NTNU refunds everything you paid except bank charges, provided you submit UDI's official decision. The money is returned to your account in your home country.

Does NTNU provide student housing?

Students from outside the EU/EEA/EFTA are among the groups the Sit welfare organisation commits to housing in Trondheim. You apply within the deadlines NTNU sends after admission, and a temporary housing scheme helps students still searching in the autumn.

How can StudyU help with an NTNU application?

Shortlisting programmes from the current list, checking your degree against programme requirements, preparing your document set and Søknadsweb profile, and help with the deposit and visa steps are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission decisions are made by NTNU, while the study permit is UDI's decision.

Sources

• NTNU: Master's programmes in English (2026/27 list and availability notes)
• NTNU: Apply for an international master's degree
• NTNU: Tuition fees (2026/27 categories, special rates, exemptions, refunds)
• NTNU: English language requirements and master's admission FAQ
• NTNU: Financing and scholarships
• NTNU: Management of Innovation and Sustainable Business Development
• NTNU: Housing in Trondheim and Studying in Trondheim
• NTNU: FAQ for prospective undergraduate students and Learn Norwegian
• NTNU: Facts and figures
• HK-dir: GSU list and language requirements
• Study in Norway: Cost and requirements
• UDI: Study permit and permit to look for work after graduating
• Embassy of Norway in Moscow: visitor visas and residence permits
• BI: Study permit (current UDI application fee)
• Times Higher Education: NTNU

Conversion to US dollars: ECB reference rate of 29 September 2026 (EUR 1 = USD 1.1355, EUR 1 = NOK 10.8735; one krone ≈ 10.44 US cents), rounded to $1 below $100 and to $10 above.

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