Coronavirus

Information on the various measures which apply in connection with the coronavirus for pupils, students and anyone repaying a student loan.

Measures due to the pandemic - Autumn of 2021

These are the measures that apply now:
  • additional payment deferrals in the period March 2020 to December 2021
  • pupils and students studying abroad can receive a loans and grant even if they must live at home due to the coronavirus pandemic
  • exemption from income thresholds for students with work related to the coronavirus pandemic
  • exceptions from the main rules for delays for students who are delayed in education due to the coronavirus pandemic

Measures for pupils and students abroad

Pupils and students abroad who must live at home due to the coronavirus pandemic may be eligible for loans and grants.

The exemptions that applied to pupils and students abroad in the academic year 2020–2021 also applies for the autumn of 2021. The exemptions do not apply for the spring of 2022.

Do not attend campus to get a loan and grant

The first exception applies to the requirement of attending campus and following the programme of study. This requirement does not apply if your education is normally location-based but is now offered online or session-based due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The exception from the requirement to attend campus only applies if the programme of study is normally campus based, but that alternative teaching methods are temporarily offered due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This means that students who have been admitted to a programme of education that is normally online or session-based, are still not entitled to a loan or grant.

Grant for those who have to live at home due to the coronavirus pandemic

The second exception applies to pupils and students who are studying abroad, and who live temporarily at home with their parents in the autumn of 2021 due to the corona pandemic. These will be treated as though they lived away for the entire semester. This means that they can receive a grant.

The exemption from living away only applies to pupils and students who normally planned to live away, but who now must live temporarily at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This means that pupils and students who in a normal situation would live at home, are still not entitled to a grant.

 

Having trouble paying your bill?

You can
defer bills
more then 36 times

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Lånekassen's customers get extra payment deferrals. You apply for payment deferral on Dine sider, and you do not need to explain why you are applying or submitting documentation.

This also applies if you have used up your 36 payment deferrals, or if your payment deferral application has been rejected because you have already used up your 36 deferrals.

For bills between March 2020 and December 2021

These additional deferrals apply to the bills with a payment deadline in the period March 2020 to June 2021. But remember that you can only apply for deferral of bills you have not paid.

In addition to the 36

If you have applied for deferral of any of your deadlines during the period between March 2020 and June 2021, these additional deferrals will also apply to you – and you will not be "eating into" your 36 deferrals by applying.

Read important information about deferment of payment.

 

Send in documentation

If the exemption from the income threshold in 2020 applies to you, you need to submit documentation after you have received your decision about conversion for 2020. If you have income above the limits for 2021, you must wait to submit documentation for 2021 until 2022. Remember that you only need to document if your income has exceeded the threshold.

Exceptions to the income threshold

If you have received extra income for work that is related to the coronavirus epidemic, you can have your loan converted into a grant, even if you have earned more than Lånekassen’s income threshold in 2020 and 2021.

There is a limit to how much you can earn before your grant can be reduced, or for not having part of your loan converted into a grant.

The exception rule applies for 2020 and 2021

The exemption rule means that Lånekassen will disregard income that is above the threshold between the period 1 March 2020 and up to and including 31 December 2021, if such is payment for work related to the coronavirus pandemic. This means that you can earn over the threshold for 2020 and 2021 during this period, and still have your loan converted into a grant. If you have other income that is not related to the coronavirus pandemic during the same period, the exception will not apply to such income.

This exception only applies to certain groups

The government has determined that this exemption shall apply to students in higher and other education in Norway and abroad:

  • students in Norway working in the healthcare sector
  • students abroad, both those working in the healthcare sector in Norway and those who may be working in the country in which they are studying
  • police students who sign up to work for the police or emergency services
  • students who are ordered to serve in the Home Guard or Civil Defence Corps

The exeption applies to all work within the sectors mentioned above.

Furthermore, students who have children will not receive a reduction in their childcare grant on the basis of additional income from work related to the coronavirus pandemic which has been carried out by their spouse or partner. This exception also applies to the period 1 March 2020 and up to and including 31 December 2021. If your partner or spouse has other income that is not related to the coronavirus pandemic during the same period, the exception will not apply to such income.

You must document that the income is related to the pandemic

The exception only relevant to you if you receive a decision that you have income above the income threshold in 2020 or in 2021.

If your income did not exceed the threshold, you do not need to submit anything.

Deadline for submission

You submit the documentation as soon as you have received a decision on control of income and assets in 2020. The appeal deadline of three weeks does not apply to submitting new information on corona-related work, only for other matters.

The wealth and social security benefit thresholds still apply

No exceptions have been made to the thresholds which apply to how much wealth or social security benefit you can have before your grant is reduced. These thresholds still apply to students who could be exempt from the income threshold due to work related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Read more about income and assets limits for previous years.

Measures due to the coronavirus in 2020-2021

Read about the measures for students that apply in all, or parts of, the academic year 2020-2021.