As a new international student, there are some things you need to remember:
All international students must cover all costs during the study period in Norway, such as accommodation, food, books, residence permit, and travel to and from Norway.
Once you have accepted your offer of admission you will receive two invoices from the University of Agder. One for tuition fees and one for your deposit for living costs in Norway.
Tuition fees will be charged to international students with citizenship from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland. Visit this page for more information about fees and exemptions.
The deposit is a necessary step of applying for your Study Permit (see more information in next box). The deposit is meant to finance your living costs in Norway, and is set to 151 690 NOK for the academic year 2024/2025 (the amount will be updated every year by the end of March).
As soon as the money is received, UiA will send you documentation confirming your payment. You must upload this document to your Application for Study Permit.
Once you open a Norwegian Bank Account, your deposit will be transferred back to you. In order to open a Norwegian Bank Account, you need to follow these steps:
It will take some time to get the deposit back after arrival, so please make sure to have access to sufficient funds for the first few months. Generally cash is not used in Norway, so bring Bank Cards. However, if you bring cash, please remember to only bring Norwegian kroner (NOK) as currency. Other currencies are not accepted. Visa and Mastercard is widely accepted. Check with your bank if your card is valid in Norway.
Please note that when you apply to renew your study permit, you will have to document proof of funding for the following year. Read more at the UDI webpage.
Once you have accepted the offer and transfered the deposit you will receive a statement of deposit. Then you will need to apply for a Study Permit (visa) for studying in Norway. This must be done from your home country as soon as possible. Most applicants can apply electronically at https://selfservice.udi.no. For more information please visit: www.udi.no
The fee for Study Permit is 5900 NOK. Please be aware that you must apply for the study permit every year.
If you have to pay tuition fees, you must also have money to cover this or document in your application that your tuition fees for the academic year have already been paid.
Membership in the National Health Insurance Scheme is automatically granted for students staying for more than 12 months.This entitles you to medical care under the Norwegian National Health Scheme. Expenses related to dental care and illnesses contracted before arrival in Norway are not covered.
All students from EU/EEA countries must bring a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from their home countries. This entitles students to medical care under the Norwegian National Health Scheme.
It is the student's responsibility to make insurance arrangements (third party liability) for any accident, injury, loss or damage to persons or property resulting from, or in any way connected with, the study period in Norway.
We recommend that all international students have travel insurance during their stay in Norway.
Once you accept your place at UiA, you will receive a housing letter with a application code. It is very important that you use this code when you apply for housing. Do not apply for housing before you receive this letter. Students that are non-EU/EEA nationals are guaranteed housing. You can find information about the housing here.
It is also possible to apply for private housing. You can check out finn.no or hybel.no
There are regular buses to the university and the central bus station (Rutebilstasjonen) and the trip takes about 30 minutes. Check out AKT.no for schedules
Many bus companies operate between Torp and Kristiansand, and the trip takes about 3,5 hours and cost around NOK 200 for students. The following bus company has one scheduled bus per day straight from Torp Airport to Kristiansand a day www.laprisekspressen.no, and these companies have several buses a day from Fokserød (about 3 kilometres from the airport, a local bus is available, otherwise take a taxi) www.nor-way.no and www.konkurrenten.no
Color Line (all year) and Fjordline (summer only) offers frequent departures between Hirtshals (DK) and Kristiansand. Travelling by boat may be less expensive than travelling by air, and you have a larger luggage allowance.
To obtain student discounts on transport, please show your admission letter.
For driving instructions to Kristiansand from any of the main cities, please consult one of the many route planners, such as this one. Campus Kristiansand is easily accessible and well signposted from the main road. Parking is free outside the student accommodation (except Kristian IV's gate).
Kristiansand is a main station on the train line between Oslo and Stavanger. For schedules and prices, please consult Vy.
There are regular airport buses from the airport to Grimstad and the trip takes 50 minutes and cost about NOK 100 for students. Check out AKT.no for schedules.
Many bus companies operate between Torp and Grimstad and the trip takes about 2,5 hours and cost around NOK 200 for students. The following bus company has one scheduled bus per day straight from Torp Airport to Grimstad a day: www.laprisekspressen.no. These bus companies have several buses a day from Fokserød (about 3 kilometres from the airport, a local bus is available, otherwise take a taxi): www.nor-way.no and www.konkurrenten.no
Color Line (all year) and Fjordline (summer only) offers frequent departures between Hirtshals (DK) and Kristiansand. Travelling by boat may be less expensive than travelling by air, and you have a larger luggage allowance. The Kristiansand bus terminal is next to the ferry terminal and there are frequent buses to Campus Grimstad.
To obtain student discounts on transport, please show your admission letter.
For driving instructions to Grimstad from any of the main cities, please consult one of the many route planners. Campus Grimstad is easily accessible and well signposted from the main road. Parking is free outside the student accommodation.
More information will be updated on this page: www.uia.no/en/semester-start
In order to obtain your residence permit, you need to register with the police and meet at the local police office in Kristiansand.
UiA will book an appointment with the police where you will have to meet at the local police office in Kristiansand.
Make sure you bring along copies of following documents as shown in the checklist from UDI (originals must also be presented):
The police will order your residence card when you have registered with them. A residence card is a plastic card that proves that you have been granted a residence permit in Norway.
Make sure you have completed the online registration form before you go to your appointment bring along the following documents:
The police will issue a registration certificate, a document that confirms that the police have registered you as an EU/EEA national living in Norway.
It will take at least ten working days from your appointment with the police until you receive the card/certificate in the mail. Please ensure you are registered with the correct address when you are at the police and that your letterbox is clearly marked.
After you have been to the police to order your residence card, the police will notify the Norwegian Tax Administration that you have been granted a residence permit. You will then receive a letter from the Tax Administration with your national identity number or your D-number.
You must go to the Tax Administration Office (Skatteetaten) in Kristiansand or Grimstad after registering with the police to report that you are relocating to Norway.
The tax office is currently not allowing drop-in and is only available by appointment, please read more here Kristiansand - The Norwegian Tax Administration (skatteetaten.no. You can also chat with them or call them for general inquiries.
You will need to fill in the form "Notification of relocation to Norway from abroad". Please see Norwegian Tax Administration website for the form and for information on what documents you need to bring. When your relocation has been correctly reported, you will automatically receive a National ID number within 2-3 weeks.
Students from countries with high occurrence of tuberculosis are required to undergo an obligatory health check upon arrival as part of the visa process. An email will be sent to those students who requires a health check with details of your appointment with the Health Centre.
You will receive an SMS with your username and password. If you don't receive the SMS within semester start, you can contact the International Office at int-office@uia.no.
With this username and password you will gain access to, wireless internet on campus, in addition to Innsia, Canvas and Studentweb.
You need to pay your Semester fee within 1 September for the autumn semester and 1 February for the spring semester, in order to keep your UiA study permit at UiA. The Semester fee is NOK 740 per semester. As soon as you receive your username by SMS from UiA, you can access your Studentweb account, create a password and download your Semester fee invoice. You can download the app/get your semester card and receive your student ID-card.
Semester fee payment can be done in several ways:
There is currently no way to pay your Semester fee by cash, credit or debit card. If you cannot download your invoice, please contact UiA Help, and they can assist or direct you.
Register for classes and exams on the StudentWeb as soon as possible and before the deadlines (1 September for the autumn semester and 1 February for the spring semester).
Register your home address and Norwegian address on the StudentWeb
Download the semester card app to access your semester card after registration on the StudentWeb. Read more about the digital semester card here.
Create a student card in the photo booths on campus, and pick up the card at UiA Help. Remember to bring an ID and your semester card (app). You will not receive a student ID card until you pay the semester fee and semester register at Studentweb.
Canvas is the e-learning management system used at UiA.
Log on to Canvas and check that you have access to all the right courses.
Check your UiA e-mail address and Canvas at least once a week for important information.
You are required to present the original documents of your diplomas and transcripts upon arrival to the Admissions office. You will receive more information on this during semester start.
As a UiA student, you have free access to a variety of useful tools, and should familiarise yourself with some programmes and apps you need to use in your studies:
Responsible for this page: webredaksjonen@uia.no
The wireless network at UiA is called "eduroam". You connect with your UiA username and password.
The username must be entered in this format: username@uia.no.