Norwegians study abroad in smaller numbers: 13,500 completed a full degree overseas in 2024, 22% fewer than in 2016, according to Norway’s Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (Direktoratet for høyere utdanning og kompetanse, HK-dir).
New survey data indicate that graduates with a master’s degree from abroad perform as well in the labour market as those educated in Norway six to seven years after graduation.
Brexit and higher fees cut interest in the UK
The United Kingdom remains the most popular destination for Norwegian degree students, but it has seen the sharpest decline since 2016. HK-dir links the fall to Brexit and the end of EU/EEA tuition arrangements, which made studying in Britain more complex and expensive.
As HK-dir’s director Sveinung Skule put it, “the decline is probably connected to Brexit; when the UK left the EU, it became harder and more expensive to study there.”
Why fewer Norwegians study abroad now
Beyond the UK, HK-dir notes that developments in the United States—another key destination—may also shape choices, amid a more uncertain academic climate and tighter immigration settings.
Longer‑term indicators show that the number of Norwegian degree students abroad has been trending downward for roughly a decade, with 2023/24 marking the lowest level in the period observed by national research indicators.
Employment outcomes: foreign and domestic master’s degrees perform alike
Findings from the Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education (NIFU) show no disadvantage in employment for those holding a master’s degree from abroad compared with peers educated at Norwegian institutions. Six to seven years after graduating, around 96% of master’s graduates—domestic or international—are in work, and most report jobs that match their qualification level and field.
The Ministry of Education and Research (Kunnskapsdepartementet) has emphasised that both groups display strong labour‑market integration.
What this means for Norway and the Nordics
The drop in degree mobility has policy implications: fewer study‑abroad cohorts can narrow international networks, reduce language exposure, and affect the talent pipeline for industries with global footprints.
While fewer Norwegians study abroad, the career payoff appears unchanged for those who do. The UK’s post‑Brexit fee regime and broader geopolitical and academic headwinds help explain the decline, but employment outcomes for international graduates remain strong. For Norway—and the wider Nordic‑EU context—the question is how to keep mobility channels open while ensuring equitable access to high‑quality education at home and abroad.
