Refugees under the age of 21 years

This applies to those who will turn 20 years of age or less during the calendar year in which the academic year commences.

Who is eligible for refugee grants?

You must;
  • Be registered with refugee status with the Norwegian Directorate for Immigration (UDI)
  • Be enrolled in preparatory training or upper secondary education
  • Not receive introduction benefit at the same time as receiving a refugee grant
  • Not live at a reception centre for asylum seekers

Separate grants for refugees

Refugees who do not receive introduction benefit at the same time may be eligible for refugee grants for up to three years.

What is the refugee grant?

The refugee grant is a separate support scheme for refugees in primary, secondary or upper secondary education. The refugee grant means that loans you could otherwise have received from Lånekassen are converted to grants instead.

You cannot receive a refugee grant at the same time as participating in an introduction programme.

These loans and grants are not converted to refugee grants: Grant for course materials, travel grant, additional loans for tuition fees, additional loans for applicants over the age of 18 who have children.

You may be eligible for a refugee grant for three years

You may be eligible for a refugee grant for up to three years within a period of six years after the date on which you were granted asylum. The number of years for which you may be eligible for the grant depends on how quickly you start your education after being granted asylum. If you start your education within three years of being granted asylum, you may receive a refugee grant for up to three years, but if you start your education after five years, for example, you may only receive a refugee grant for one year.

The period during which you may receive a refugee grant may be extended from six to eight years if you already have children or have a child during the period in which you receive a refugee grant. This also applies if you are undertaking primary and secondary education before starting upper secondary education. You may then still be eligible for a refugee grant for three years even though you did not start your education before five years had elapsed.

To the application

Video om flyktningstipend

What can I get in refugee grants?

How much you can receive will be calculated based on the same rules applicable to other students.

The following grants and loans can be converted to refugee grants:

Housing grant

If you do not live together with your parents or the distance between your parental home and the school exceeds 40 kilometres.

Income-dependent grant

You may be eligible for an income-dependent grant if your parents have a low income. You will also receive this if you do not have parents in Norway.

Loans for students over the age of 18

If you are over the age of 18 and live away from your parents, you may also be eligible for a loan. You do not need to pay back the loan if you receive a refugee grant.

Child grant

You may be eligible for an extra grant if you have children.

Do you live at an institution?

If you live at an institution, you will generally only be eligible for a grant for course materials.

Loans that have to be repaid

If you take out a loan to pay for tuition fees, travel or you take out additional loans because you have children, these loans will not be converted to refugee grants. This means that the loans must be repaid when you have finished school or you no longer receive support from Lånekassen.

See how much you can get

Do you have children?

You may receive extra
loans and grants
if you have or get children

If you have a child during your studies, or within seven months of completing a degree, you can receive a parental grant.

Parental grant in the event of birth or adoption

If you have children while studying, your basic support and additional loan for school fees may be converted to a grant for up to 49 weeks.

Child grant

If you have children below the age of 16, you may qualify for an additional grant. If you have several children, you receive more in grants. The child grant is means tested, which means that the amount is reduced if the family has income or assets in excess of the limits stipulated in the regulations. If you are a part-time student, you also get a smaller amount.

Additional loans

You may also borrow NOK 57,940 extra per year when you have children below the age of 16, with an upward limit of NOK 115,880 in total. Income and assets have no impact on whether you can receive an additional loan. If you are a part-time student, you will be offered a loan with a smaller amount.

Read about children and childbirth

Related rules