Academic Requirements for International Applicants

When applying to a master’s programme at the University of Stavanger you need to fulfill the academic requirements which consist of three different criterias.

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1. Length of your bachelor’s degree

In order to be eligible for master's programmes at the University of Stavanger, you need to document a bachelor's degree of minimum three years. Depending on where you completed upper secondary education, you may be required to have more than three years of university education. Please check the Country List to see what applies to the country where you took you bachelor’s degree.



2. Programme requirement

Admission to master's programmes at the University of Stavanger requires a relevant bachelor's degree and each study programme has specific academic requirements. Check the programme requirements in the website for each master's programme.

The credit system used at the University of Stavanger is based on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

A bachelor’s degree in Norway normally provides students with 180 ECTS credits in total.

A master’s degree in Norway normally provides students with 120 ECTS credits in total.

Defining ECTS in relation to one full time academic year in Norway:

  • 10 ECTS credits are equivalent to a total workload of 17 % of one full academic year in Norway
  • 20 ECTS credits are equivalent to a total workload of 33 % of one full academic year in Norway
  • 30 ECTS credits are equivalent to a total workload of 50 % of one full academic year in Norway
  • 40 ECTS credits are equivalent to a total workload of 67 % of one full academic year in Norway
  • 50 ECTS credits are equivalent to a total workload of 83 % of one full academic year in Norway
  • 60 ECTS credits are equivalent to a total workload of 100 % of one full academic year in Norway

Some studies require a specific number of credits in a specific subject area. If you have taken a course which is made up of several subject areas, it may be unclear which subject area the course belongs to. If it is unclear, it may lead to rejection of your application due to the fact that it appears as you do not cover academic requirements. You are therefore responsible for uploading official documentation on what is included in a course and which subject areas the course is made up of.

3. Grade Requirement

Admission to international master's programmes at the University of Stavanger requires a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (according to ECTS Standards) in your bachelor's degree.

Check the Country List for detailed information about the minimum grade average for each country. Specific documentation requirements may apply depending on where you obtained your degree.

A Norwegian C is described as a good grade, generally comparable to an American B, a Second Class Upper Division in the British system. All international applicants with foreign education will be individually evaluated during the admission process.

The following minimum grade requirements are established as a guideline for admission to master's degree programmes at the University of Stavanger:

  • Bachelor's degrees from Cameroon (English-speaking part): 3,0 of 4,0 or higher 
  • Bachelor's degrees from Cameroon (French-speaking part): 14 of 20 or higher
  • Bachelor's degrees from Egypt: 65% or higher
  • Bachelor’s degree from Ethiopia: 80% or higher
  • Bachelor's degrees from Ghana: Second class upper division or higher
  • Bachelor's degrees from Nigeria: Second class upper division or higher
  • Bachelor's degrees from Uganda: Second class upper division or higher
  • Bachelor's degrees from China: 75% or higher
  • Bachelor's degrees from Iran: 14  of 20 or higher
  • Bachelor's degrees from India: 3,0 of 4,0 or higher/ 65% or higher
  • Bachelor's degrees from Nepal: 65% or higher
  • Bachelor's degrees from Pakistan: 65% or higher 
  • Bachelor’s degree from Philippines: 85% or higher/ 2,00 or better
  • Bachelor's degrees from Russian Federation: 4,0 of 5,0 or higher (Khorosho (Good) or higher)
  • Bachelor’s degree from USA: 3,0 of 4,0 or higher

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