Norwegian Quota Scholarship Scheme for Developing Countries, 2012/2013

The Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education (SIU)  is a public Norwegian agency promoting international cooperation in education and research. It has many programs, one of which is the Quota Scholarship Scheme.

The Norwegian government provides students from developing countries in the South and countries in the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and in Central Asia with financial support to study for a degree in Norway under the Quota Scheme

The main objective of the Quota Scheme is to contribute to capacity building through education that will benefit the home country of the students when they return. The Quota Scheme is also intended to strengthen relations between Norway and the selected countries and thus contribute to internationalization at Norwegian institutions of higher education.

Scholarship Description: The Quota Scheme currently provides funding for a total of 1,100 students, 800 of them from developing countries in the South and 300 from countries in the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and in Central Asia.

The Scheme is quite popular both with the Norwegian institutions involved and among eligible students, most of whom are highly qualified in their field of study. Every year the number of applicants far exceeds the number of students admitted under the scheme.

Eligibility: If you wish to participate in the Norwegian Government Quota Scholarship Scheme,

- You must apply directly from your home country.
- You must have stayed at least one year in your home country directly prior to the planned course of   study at the Norwegian university / University College.
- you must be able to find your home country on the list below:

Eligible Developing Countries: 

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Djibouti, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall islands, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestinian territories, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Republic of the Congo (Congo- Brazzaville), Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, South Africa, Tanzania, Tchad, Thailand, The Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire), Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Yemen, etc.

Selection criteria: All candidates should typically have the following basic qualifications:
- Secondary school certificates
- Minimum two years of higher education from their home country
- Some exceptions apply for certain professional educational courses at Bachelor’s level.

Scholarship Worth: 

Each student receives the same amount of money as a Norwegian student would do in an equivalent educational programme. 40 per cent of the amount is given as a grant and 60 per cent as a loan. However, the loan portion may be waived when the student returns to his/her home country after completing the course of study. Students who stay in Norway after finishing their studies or take up residence in another country than their home country must repay the loan. Travelling expenses for entry into Norway may be reimbursed (fixed price).

How to Apply: 

Applications forms are available from the websites of the universities and university colleges. All applications should be sent directly to the International Office at the university/college to which the student is applying.

Download the List of Institutions offering scholarships under the Quota Scheme here.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 

The deadline for applications for the Quota scheme is usually 1st of December every year. Some courses and educational programmes may have other deadlines. Please contact the International Office at the university/college to which you want to apply for detailed information. The Letter of Admission is normally sent to the successful candidate by 15 April every year.

Please NOTE that SIU is not responsible for the admission of students . The institutions of higher education that are part of the Quota Scheme handle all applications from prospective students. Information about the application procedure for the Quota Scheme should be available at the participating universities’ and university colleges’ websites.

For more information about this Scholarship,
visit the Norwegian Quota Scholarship Scheme for Developing Countries Webpage.