- SCOPE
- REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE APPLICANT
- EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME, COURSE PLAN AND INTRODUCTORY PROGRAMME
- THE PERIOD OF TIME FOR WHICH FINANCIAL AID CAN BE GIVEN
- CALCULATION OF THE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL AID
- REMISSION OF EDUCATIONAL LOAN
1 SCOPE
1.1
This chapter applies to citizens aged 18 years and above from developing countries and countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia who were accepted at a college or university in Norway from and including the autumn semester of 1994, according to the conditions laid down by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, for a educational programme for which places are awarded on a quota basis.
2 REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE APPLICANT
2.1
It is a condition that the applicant has been awarded a place at an institution of higher education according to the educational programme mentioned in point 1.1, has an education-seeker's residence permit, and intends to use his or her education in his or her home country when the study programme has been completed.
2.2
It is normally a condition that the applicant applies for acceptance from his or her home country, and can substantiate that he or she has been in the home country for at least one year prior to acceptance into the programme. Exception from the requirement of application from the home country can be made for applicant who has previously received financial aid from the Loan Fund, or who has financed his or her studies in Norway through NORAD, The Research Counsil of Norway or similar institutions. It is then a condition that the total study period does not exceed five years.
3 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME, COURSE PLAN AND INTRODUCTORY PROGRAMME
3.1
The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research stipulates detailed rules for the scope of the individually arranged educational programme, and the types of study programmes at Norwegian universities and colleges that may be included under the scheme. The programmes must be approved for support from the Loan Fund before they can be included under the scheme.
3.2
Support may be given only for the study programme to which the applicant has been admitted.
3.3
Financial aid may be given for up to one year for an introductory course in the Norwegian language, to an applicant admitted to a programme according to point 3.2.
4 THE PERIOD OF TIME FOR WHICH FINANCIAL AID CAN BE GIVEN
4.1
Financial aid may be given for the time stipulated for the education. An introductory programme in Norwegian is additional, cf. point 3.3.
4.1.1
The Loan Fund shall monitor the student's progress. In the event of a delay in the completion of the educational programme, financial aid may be given for up to one year over and above the standard time (cf Chap. I, point 11.1).
4.2
Financial aid may be given for a post-graduate study and/or studies leading to a doctorate. It is a condition that the total educational programme does not last more than four years. If the applicant plans to do a doctorate, financial aid can only be granted for one year at post graduate level.
4.2.1
If the educational programme includes at least one year of field work in the student's home country, financial aid may be given for a total of up to five years. Financial aid for field work will be given according to the same rules as apply to Norwegian applicants (cf. Chap. I, point 8.1).
4.3
Financial aid can be given for up to four years for a training for a profession. With these programmes, the requirement of two years of higher education before acceptance to a programme that is subject to a quota does not apply.
5 CALCULATION OF THE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL AID
5.1
When calculating the amount of financial aid, the same rules and rates apply as for calculating the amount of financial aid in Chap. III. The same applies for the rules in Chap. IV, points 2 and 3. Financial support can be given for 12 months per academic year for ph.d-students.
5.1.1
The applicant can receive a provider's supplementary grant for children born in 1990 or later, who have a residence permit and live in Norway.
5.2
A supplementary amount may be given to cover part of the travel to Norway when the programme starts, and back to the home country when it is finished. Financial aid may also be granted for an annual trip home according to the rates of the Loan Fund, when the programme lasts for more than one year. It is not given if the applicant has had field work in his or her home country the semester before or plans to have this the semester following the summer vacation.
5.2.1
Supplementary support for travel in Norway is given according to chap. III, point 8.1. Age limit, maximum amount, and deductive amount in Chap. III, point 8.1. do not apply to students who receive support according to Chap. IX.
Financial aid for travel abroad will take the form of a 70 per cent grant, and a 30 per cent loan.
6 REMISSION OF EDUCATIONAL LOAN
6.1
Borrowers who have received financial aid according to the rules in this chapter to take an education in Norway, will get their educational loan remitted when they return to their home country to take up permanent residence there.
6.2
Borrowers who live in Norway or in some country other than their home country after completing their education cannot get their loan remitted. The rules regarding accrual of interest and repayment in Chap. VI apply to these borrowers.
6.3
If the borrower later returns to Norway, the decision on remission will be rescinded. However, if the decision is more than ten years old, it cannot be changed.