Documentation for studies abroad

Here you will find information about what kind of documents you will need to submit before, during, and after your studies abroad.

Requirements for documentation

What kind of documentation you need to submit depends of your situation.

Everyone who applies for support for a new programme of education abroad must submit documentation of admission and tuition fees.

You must fulfil the requirements for links to Norway when applying for support for studies abroad. This is relevant to those who are either Norwegian citizens who have been resident abroad for an extended period of time or those who are foreign citizens.

You need to submit documentation when you apply for loans and grants for education abroad, during your education and after you have finished.

When you apply for the first time

When applying for support for a new programme of education abroad, i.e. the first time you apply for support for the programme of education in question, you will need to submit documentation of study competence, admission and tuition fees.

You need to submit a certificate from an upper secondary school  that shows that you have general study competence in Norway. There are several ways to achieve general study competence. If you are not sure that you have general study competence in Norway, you can find more information about this at Samordna opptak's web site. There you will also find information about general study competence with an education from abroad. 

You need to sumbit an unconditional offer from the educational institution. If you have received a conditional offer, you need to wait to apply until you have received a new and final letter of admission from the educational institution.

The letter of admission must include your name, the degree you will be studying for, e.g. bachelor’s degree, confirmation that you are a full-time student, the subject and duration of the course and expected conclusion date.

Lånekassen will need a confirmation from the educational institution showing how much you will have to pay in tuition fees. Support for tuition fees from Lånekassen covers tuition fees only. This means fees that are directly linked to teaching. It is therefore important that the confirmation you submit does not include any other fees. Examples of such expenses could include food and accommodation.

Documentation must also be submitted if you receive grants from the educational institution or other parties to cover tuition fees. Lånekassen will cover only the amount that you have to pay yourself. We do not accept printouts from websites or e-mails.

Norwegian citizens are eligible for loans and grants for studies abroad. If you are a Norwegian citizen, you don’t have to submit documentation.

If you are a foreign citizen, you must submit documentation that shows how you meet one of the criteria that makes you eligible for support.

If you are a citizen of an EEA or EFTA country, or a family member of a citizen of an EEA or EFTA country, you may be entitled to loans and grants on certain conditions, e.g. if you or the family member is an employee in Norway or have a permanent right of residence in Norway.

Click here to read more about documentation for citizens from an EEA or EFTA country.

If you are not an EEA or EFTA citizen, or a family member of an EEA or EFTA citizen, you are unfortunately not eligible for loans and grants for studies abroad. You might however, be eligible for support for studies in Norway.

In order to be eligible for support from Lånekassen for education abroad, you must fulfil the requirements for links to Norway. This is relevant for those who are Norwegian citizens who have been resident abroad for an extended period of time, and for foreign citizens.

During education

If you receive support for studies abroad, you need to document your academic progress and any tuition fees paid each year. You will receive a form titled Documentation of academic progress, that must be completed by the educational institution. We do not accept electronic signatures or automatically generated signatures.

Academic progress for the calendar year in question. The educational institution must use the form to let us know if you have failed your examinations. If you have not yet sat your examinations, the educational institution must specify whether you are on track academically.

You still need to submit the form even if you received it during the same spring that you started your studies. The educational institution must confirm that you are enrolled in full-time studies and how much you may have paid in tuition fees.

Confirmation that you have been a full-time student during the period in question.

If you have paid tuition fees, the form must show how much you have paid for both the autumn and spring semester. If you are paying the educational institution by instalment, you need to wait to submit the form until the entire tuition fee amount has been paid.

The educational institution must list only pure tuition fees that you have actually paid yourself and must not include other fees, accommodation and living costs or any grants you have received from other parties.

We may be able to accept it if the educational institution furnishes you with, for example, a letter instead of the form you receive from us. The letter must include the same information that we request in the form and be addressed to you personally.

When you have completed your degree

When you have completed your education, you must send us documentation in order to have loans converted to grants.

You need to send an official diploma that shows what courses you have completed and how many ECTS, credits or similar. You also need to send an official document that shows if you have achieved a degree.

You mst enclose documentation from your educational institution that shows how much you have paid in tuition fees your final year.

Preliminary statement of loans and grants

Some foreign universities require confirmation that you are entitled to support from Lånekassen to finance your studies. You can download a standard letter here.

A provisional decision on the right to support can act as provisional documentation that you can receive support from Lånekassen when applying for admission to study abroad.

The decision is valid worldwide, but students in the USA and Canada in particular require such decisions.

Download a preliminary statement