Health Matters

Learn about the different health matters that may be relevant during your stay in Stavanger.

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What if you get sick in Norway?

Emergency: Call 113 for the ambulance.

Not life-threatening, but still urgent: Call 116 117 for the emergency clinic (legevakten).

Less urgent: Contact your GP (fastlege).

Health insurance and the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme

Depending on how long you stay in Norway, students can be automatically covered by the National Insurance Scheme.

Bilde av Stavanger Universitetssjukehus (SUS)

You automatically become insured under the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme when you receive a Norwegian ID number (fødselsnummer).

However, be advised that,

  • It takes time before you become a member of the Insurance Scheme and can use your GP (family doctor). This can only be done after obtainig the Norwegian ID-number. All students should therefore have a private health insurance from the arrival day in Norway until the day you get assiged a GP.
  • As a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme you still pay a fixed part of the cost of public health services, called patient charges. This applies to medical treatment and buying prescribed medicines.
  • A Norwegian National Insurance membership only entitles you to medical care in Norway and it cannot be used as a travel insurance when you are abroad.
  • Dental care is not covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.

Student from non EU/EEA countries

  • You must bring a travel insurance from your home country, which covers your medical care in Norway.
  • You may apply to become a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme, but there is no guarantee that you will be granted membership. Once you obtain your Norwegian ID number, you can apply for a voluntary membership of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. To apply, go to the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration’s website and log in as student.

Student from EU/EEA countries

  • You must bring the European Health Insurance Card which is obtainable in your home country.
  • The European Health Insurance Card only entitles you to medical care under the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.
  • For further information about your supplemental insurance needs, contact the nearest insurance office in your home country.

Students from the Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland)

  • You are entitled to medical treatment once you enter Norway, according to existing conventions between the Nordic countries.
  • For further information about your supplemental insurance needs, contact the nearest insurance office in your home country.

Students who stay in Norway for less than three months must bring private health insurance from their home country as they are not covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.


Additional Insurance

It is the student's own responsibility to make insurance arrangements for any accident, illness, injury, loss or damage to persons or property that might occur during the study period in Norway. We urge all students to insure their household contents during their stay in Norway. Theft and burglary in student dormitories may occur.

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Your Doctor in Stavanger

Students who have received a Norwegian ID number (fødselsnummer) are entitled to have a GP (general practitioner, or "fastlege" in Norwegian) in Stavanger.

Doctor

Once you receive your Norwegian ID number, you are given an appointed GP in Stavanger. You can find the information about your GP on Min Helse. 

For more information about heath care in Norway please visit helsenorge.no

We recommend you to find out who is your GP as soon as you receive your Norwegian ID number so that in case of sickness you can see a doctor.

It is also possible to change to a different GP on Min Helse. You may change your GP twice a year and the change will take effect from the first day of the following month.

  1. Go to Min Helse. Log in using BankID or one of the other options. If you do not have a bank account yet, click on “How to obtain an electronic ID” and follow the instructions about how to log in with MinID.
  2. You will see the name of your GP on your page. 
  3. Click “Finn fastlege”. You will see an overview of all doctors in that part of city, including their age, sex, the address of their office and how many free spots they have for new patients. When you decide which doctor you want to go to, click on “Bytt”.
  4. A confirmation will pop up. Click on “Bekreft bytte” to complete the process.
  5. You will now see that you have been assigned to the chosen doctor.It states your doctor’s name and the date from which you can start using this doctor.The change comes into effect on the first day of the following month.

NB! The transfer of your records to the new GP does not happen automatically. If you want your records transferred to your new GP, you have to pay a fee to your previous GP. 

If you need help to change your GP online, call 8004 3573. Have your Norwegian ID Number available when you make the call.

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SiS Health and Dental care

Dental care in Norway is expensive but students can get parts of the costs refunded by SiS. SiS also offers other health services on campus.

Photo by Marco Bianchetti

SiS Heatlh (SiS Helse) provides psychologist service, consultation with school nurse and financial support for medical and dental expenses. For more information, please visit the SiS website.

The dental system in Norway is made up of private and public dentists. The government sets the cost of treatment by public dentists and a price list is available from each dental office. Dentists in private practice set their own prices.

In general, dental treatment in Norway is expensive. It is recommended to have a dental check at home before you travel to Norway.

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Tuberculosis test

Every person who is from a high endemic country/area of tuberculosis, must take a test for tuberculosis when entering Norway.

Tuberculosis test

According to Norwegian law this test is mandatory for every person from a high endemic country/area and every person who has stayed in those countries/areas for more than 3 months and who is planning to work/study in child/health care in Norway. If you do not take the test, you can be denied starting your work/studies in Norway. You should take the test within four weeks after arrival to Norway.

The tuberculosis test is free of charge.

Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease and is a worldwide problem. Tuberculosis is spread through air from persons with tuberculosis in their lungs.

See the list of countries with high and very high occurrence.

Please find more information regarding tuberculosis and testing (pdf). 

Positive results

A positive result will not influence your stay in Norway. If your test turns out positive, you will be offered further controls and treatment if necessary. All eventualities regarding further testing, controls and treatment of tuberculosis is also free of charge.

Appointments and contact information

NB! Students arriving in August will be invited for an information meeting in September, so there is no need to make a personal appointment.

For any inquiries related to testing, please contact the Office of Infection Control (Smittevernkontoret) in Stavanger.

Please provide the following information in your email:

  • Name:
  • Date of birth:
  • Country (where you are arriving from):
  • Address in Norway:
  • Telephone number in Norway (only if you have a Norwegian telephone number already).
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Additional needs

Do you have a disability, an ailment or an injury or, for different reasons, feel the need for special adjustments?

Photo of a wheel chair illustration on a concrete wall.

Read more about addtional needs.

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Practical information for international students
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