Student exchange and internationalisation

Norwegian institutions of higher education have access to participation in the Erasmus+ cooperation through the EEA agreement. Erasmus+ finances student exchange between programme countries (the EU’s 28 Member States as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Norway) and between programme countries and partner countries. In addition to student and teacher mobility, the Erasmus+ programme can help support development projects and collaborative projects in education. In collaborative projects, the EU requires 3 or more programme countries to join forces in one project.

Read the Erasmus Policy Statement

In order to participate in Erasmus+ programme, you must be an accredited institution of higher education in your country, and hold an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). 

Read the Erasmus Charter 2021-2027

Read the Erasmus Charter 2014-2020

Nordplus is administered by the Nordic Council and is a program that supports initiatives in education, sports, culture, language networks and educational cooperation between the Nordic countries in addition to the Baltic countries. The program for higher education will finance educational projects across national borders that support Nordic cooperation. Nordplus requires 3 or more program countries to join together on the application. The application can include both mobility for undergraduate students, master students and academic staff. Nordplus does not support research projects.

Link to the Nordplus website

NDUC has a number of agreements for academic cooperation worldwide. Both for education and research purposes.

Institutions with an MoU or cooperation agreement with NDUC:
Escuela Superior de Guerra - Colombia War College
Forsvarsakademiet - Royal Danish Defence College
Forsvarshögskolan - Swedish Defence University
Institute for Defence studies and Analyses - India
King's College - United Kingdom
University of Glasgow - United Kingdom
Military Academy Belgrade - Serbia
National Defence University - USA
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) - USA

International networks:
EUAFA - European Air Force Academies
EMILYO - European Initiative for the Exchange of Military Young Officers 
NORDEFCO - Nordic Defence Cooperation
IAMA - International Association of Military Academies
ISMS - International Society of Military Sciences
PfP - Partnership for Peace

NDUC is looking for more opportunities to cooperate within the framework of student exchange and research collaboration. Please contact Marit Rye-Ramberg for more information.

If you are looking for an opportunity to come to NDUC as an exchange student, please check with your home institution if we have a signed exchange agreement. All exchange students must apply through their home university. Your home institution international coordinator will nominate the candidates. After your nomination, you will receive more detailed application procedures from the NDUC admission team.  

The NDUC will announce available seats for our master programme through our regular point of contacts and partner institutions. Prospective students may then apply by using our electronic application portal. Please contact your home institution for further information.

Application deadlines to attend master:

• Military personnel (Norwegian citizens) - end of June for start-up in August
• Civilians (Norwegian citizens) - mid-October for start-up in August
• Foreign students - 31 December for start-up in August

Application deadlines other studies:

• May 15 for start-up in August
• October 15 for start-up in January

Please go to soknadsweb.no to register your application.

Together with your application, you need to upload a copy of your passport, an academic transcript of records in English or Scandinavian language, a letter of personal motivation and a letter of recommendation from your superior. 

Please note that NDUC does not accept free movers. (Exchange students from a university without an institutional agreement with NDUC).

International exchange students are offered housing and meal plans on campus together with the domestic student community. NDUC housing may vary between the different campuses; some have single rooms, some double rooms. Please contact your adviser for detailed information.

NDUC seek to integrate the international students with offering housing and meal plans together with the domestic student community.

NDUC provides a variety of student clubs, work out facilities and social arrangements throughout the year. All of the courses offered in English are part of our regular study programmes.

All Norwegian higher education institutions use a system of credits (studiepoeng) for measuring study activities considered equivalent to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

• 60 ECTS credits are allocated to the workload of a full year of academic study.
• 30 ECTS credits are normally allocated to one semester’s full-time study.
• Courses are normally 5-15 ECTS credits per course.

Please look at the course catalogue for more detailed information about the courses offered at NDUC.

• Autumn semester: runs from early August to the end of December
• Spring semester: runs from beginning of January to mid-June

There are several national holidays in Norway on which the universities are closed. 

The form and period of the examination may vary between study programmes and courses offered due to the course structure. Please read the course catalogue for detailed information on each course description.

If you come from one of the Nordic countries you will not have to apply for a residence permit, but you should report your move to the National Population Register. 

If you come from an EU / EEA / EFTA area you have to register with the local police within three months.

Please bring these documents:

• a valid national identity card or passport.
• confirmation of admission to an approved educational institution or an upper secondary school.
• private health insurance or European health insurance card.
• a personal declaration stating that you have enough money to support yourself.

If you come from outside the EU/EEA/EFTA-area you have to apply for a student residence permit. 

There is a processing fee for each application, and the prize may vary depending on where you hand in your application. 

Please have a look at the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration for updated information regarding your country of residence. 

Your international coordinator at your home institution will be able to advise you in this matter.