The Ministry of Education and Research (Kunnskapsdepartementet) determines the changes in the regulations.
Read more about the changes in the regulations here (only in Norwegian).
The rates for loans and grants are adjusted
All rates are adjusted by 2.3 per cent. This means that they are adjusted in line with expected price increase in 2021. The basic loan for the academic year of 2021–2022 is NOK 126,357 for students who receive loans and grants for 11 months.
Part-time students can receive loans and grants for more than eight years
Students can receive loans and grants for a total of 8 years. From the academic year 2021–2022, this limit will change. From a number of years to a number of credits (studiepoeng) or equivalent. From the academic year of 2021-2022, a student can receive loans and grants for education of up to 480 credits or equivalent.
This means that part-time students can receive loans and grants for more than eight years. This will be positive for all part-time students, regardless of the reason why they study part-time.
Note that the change applies from 2021–2022. It does not apply retrospectively. This means that if you have received support for part-time education prior to 2021-2022, those periods will be counted in the same way as if you received support for full-time studies. For example, if you have received loans and grants for 50 percent part-time studies for three years prior to 2021–2022, you have then used three full years of the right to loans and grants. You will then have 300 credits left of the right to educational support. You can distribute these 300 credits over as many years as you prefer.
In combination with other rules previously implemented, this change will strengthen adults' opportunities to get access to education financed by Lånekassen. It is possible to receive educational support for part-time studies below 50 per cent and those over 30 can also apply for an additional loan.
No conversion of loans into grants for adults who take external examinations (privatisteksamen) in subjects from upper secondary education
Students may have up to 40 percent of the basic loan converted into a grant if they pass their exams, have income and assets below the set limits and do not live with their parents. From 2021–2022, the rules for conversion will be changed for those who take subjects that have been passed when they were entitled to upper secondary education with statutory rights as a young person.
Adults who take an external examination in a subject they have previously passed in upper secondary education with statutory rights as a young person, will not have loans converted to grans for these subjects from the autumn of 2021.
The rule change only applies to repetition of subjects that have already been passed. Adults who take external examinations in subjects on an upper secondary education level, not previously taken or passed,, may still have loans converted into educational grants for such subjects.
Reduced grant rate for travels outside the Nordic region
Pupils and students who study outside the Nordic region are entitled to loans and grants to cover travel expenses between Norway and the region where the educational institution is located. Each academic year, the rates are set for each region.
Today, pupils and students participating in educational programmes with a duration of more than 6 months, receive a fixed rate for two return-trip travels per academic year. 65 percent of the rate is given as a loan and 35 percent of the rate is given as a grant. Pupils and students participating in educational programmes with a duration of 6 months or less per academic year are entitled to half of the rate, to one return trip.
From the autumn of 2021, the proportion of grants for travel will be reduced. If you are participating in an educational programme outside the Nordic region with a duration of more than 6 months, you will receive a 35 per cent scholarship for just one return trip. The rest of the travel support is given as a loan. This means that you will only receive a loan for the second round trip.
This rule change does not affect the total amount you are entitled to. You will get the same amount, but a higher proportion of the amount will be a loan.
The change does not apply to pupils and students who are participating in an educational programme outside the Nordic region with a duration of less than 6 months. Most exchange students are on exchange for only one semester and will receive the same proportion of grants and loans for travels as before.