The BI Presidential Scholarship 2027 gives international master's students at BI Norwegian Business School full tuition for up to two years plus NOK 50,000 per semester for living costs. You need a top academic record and must upload a one-page scholarship letter with your admission application by March 1, 2027.
March 1, 2027. Submit your complete admission application, including the scholarship letter, through BI's online portal by this date. BI has not published a cutoff time or time zone and does not accept late applications.
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Program | BI Presidential Scholarship, an entrance scholarship for full-time Master of Science programs |
| Levels | Master's, first graduate degree only, two-year full-time programs (120 ECTS) |
| Funding | International applicants: full tuition for up to two years plus NOK 50,000 per semester. Norway residents: full tuition, no stipend listed |
| Deadline | March 1, 2027 (official time zone not published) |
| Status | Upcoming cycle for autumn 2027 entry. BI says its full-time application portal opens November 1 |
| Country | Norway (Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim campuses) |
| Decision | All applicants informed by the end of April 2027 |
| Source | BI Norwegian Business School, official scholarship page |
Numbers at a Glance
March 1, 2027
Scholarship and priority admission date for all master's applicants.
NOK 50,000
Per semester for international applicants, so NOK 100,000 a year.
Up to 2 years
Tuition coverage if you meet progression rules each semester.
NOK 170,368
BI's national estimate for the 2026-27 academic year.
30 ECTS
Required each semester, with a cumulative GPA of B or better.
June 15
Admission deadline for non-EU applicants who do not live in Norway.
- What Is the BI Presidential Scholarship 2027?
- Is It Really Fully Funded?
- What Does the Scholarship Cover?
- Funding by Applicant Category
- How Far Does the NOK 50,000 Stipend Go?
- Who Is Eligible?
- Eligibility Decision Table
- Which Master's Programs and Campuses Qualify?
- How Are Winners Selected?
- Presidential vs. Master International Scholarship
- What Should International Applicants Know?
- For U.S. Applicants
- For Pakistani Applicants
- For Applicants From Other Countries
- What Documents Do You Need?
- What Are the English and GMAT or GRE Requirements?
- How Do You Apply Step by Step?
- How to Write the One-Page Scholarship Letter
- BI Presidential Scholarship 2027 Deadlines and Key Dates
- Key Dates Timeline
- Deadline Time Zone Table
- How Much Will You Still Pay After the Scholarship?
- How Does the Norwegian Study Permit Fit In?
- What Happens After You Receive an Offer?
- What Mistakes Cost Applicants the Scholarship?
- How Was This Guide Verified?
- Should You Apply? Decision Checklist
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Official Sources
- Disclaimer
1. What Is the BI Presidential Scholarship 2027?
The BI Presidential Scholarship is BI Norwegian Business School's entrance award for top-performing students admitted to a full-time master's program. For the autumn 2027 intake, international applicants receive full tuition and a living stipend, while applicants who live in Norway receive tuition only. BI awards it for grades, not financial need.
BI's Presidential Scholarship page shows an update date of October 20, 2026. Its rules are short, and several of them decide whether your application is even read, so this guide goes through each one.
"Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence."
Who Offers It and Where Do You Study?
BI is a self-owned, not-for-profit foundation, according to its tuition page. It teaches master's students on campuses in Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim, and its master's page describes the school as triple accredited. The scholarship page names those same three campuses.
Is It Really Fully Funded?
For international applicants it covers all tuition for up to two years and adds a stipend. That is why this guide calls it fully funded. The stipend is NOK 100,000 a year, though, and BI's own living-cost estimate is NOK 170,368. You still need money of your own for the difference, covered in section 2 below.
2. What Does the Scholarship Cover?
Coverage depends on your citizenship and residence. International applicants get full tuition for up to two years plus NOK 50,000 each semester. Norwegian citizens and international citizens who count as Norway residents get the same tuition coverage but no stipend. Everyone must meet BI's progression rules every semester.
Funding by Applicant Category
What BI pays each group, per its official scholarship page:
| Applicant category | Tuition | Living stipend |
|---|---|---|
| International applicants | Full, up to two years | NOK 50,000 per semester |
| Norwegian citizens and international citizens resident in Norway | Full, up to two years | None listed |
| Third-year Sivรธk students | Full, up to two years | None listed |
How Far Does the NOK 50,000 Stipend Go?
The stipend covers about 59 percent of BI's living-cost estimate. Using BI's 2026-27 estimate, the table shows what you still need to find.
| Item | Per year (NOK) | Two years (NOK) |
|---|---|---|
| Stipend (50,000 x 2 semesters) | 100,000 | 200,000 |
| BI living-cost estimate, 2026-27 | 170,368 | 340,736 |
| Gap you cover yourself | 70,368 | 140,736 |
Assumptions: the estimate stays the same in year two, you keep the stipend by passing every semester, and the figures exclude tuition. Actual costs depend on your city and housing.
3. Who Is Eligible?
You must be a Norwegian or international citizen applying to the first year of a full-time master's program on the Oslo, Bergen or Trondheim campus. You need a top grade, an A on the ECTS scale or its equivalent, and you must be seeking your first master's degree.
Eligibility Decision Table
Who qualifies and who does not, based on BI's published rules:
| Your situation | Eligible? | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| International citizen, bachelor's degree from outside Norway, top grades | Yes | International category: tuition plus stipend |
| International citizen with a 180 ECTS bachelor's degree from Norway | Yes | Treated as a resident: tuition only |
| Already holds a master's degree | No | Only first graduate degrees are considered |
| Applying to the BI-Luiss Joint Master in Marketing | No | BI excludes this program |
| Applying to a bachelor's, part-time or executive program | No | This is a full-time, first-year master's award |
| Strong grades but below the top-grade bar | Not this one | See the Master International Scholarship in section 5 |
BI also treats an international candidate as a Norway resident if they qualify for tuition reduction or a student loan from Lรฅnekassen, for example through a 180 ECTS Norwegian bachelor's degree. The official page sets out these classification rules.
4. Which Master's Programs and Campuses Qualify?
The scholarship applies to BI's full-time master's programs on the Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim campuses, except the BI-Luiss Joint Master in Marketing. BI lists ten qualifying English-taught programs plus three taught in Norwegian. Check each program page for its campus and intake before you choose.
Core business
Business (seven majors), Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Strategic Marketing Management.
Finance programs
Finance, Quantitative Finance, Sustainability and Finance.
Analytics programs
Business Analytics, Data Science for Business.
Leadership and communication
Leadership and Organisational Psychology, Business Communication.
The Master in Business offers seven majors: Accounting and Business Control, Economics, Finance, Leadership Change and Analytics, Logistics Operations and Supply Chain Management, Marketing, and Strategy. Three programs are taught in Norwegian: Accounting and Auditing, Law, and Law and Business. BI's scholarship page does not say whether they qualify, so ask BI before you apply to one.
Two programs cost more. Business Analytics and Data Science for Business charge higher tuition than the standard master's fee, as the cost table in section 14 shows.
5. How Are Winners Selected?
BI picks recipients from admitted applicants who accepted their offer, using ECTS-converted grades first. It also weighs other academic achievements, GMAT or GRE scores, extracurricular work and personal achievements. BI spreads awards across programs and may prioritize certain programs, diversity, gender balance or partner schools.
BI says applications from strong candidates far outnumber the scholarships available. It does not publish how many Presidential Scholarships it awards, so any award count you see elsewhere is unconfirmed. The GMAT or GRE appears on BI's list of other factors, so a stronger score can only help, though BI does not say how much weight it carries.
"Scholarship decisions cannot be appealed."
Presidential vs. Master International Scholarship
How the two main master's awards for international applicants differ:
| Feature | BI Presidential Scholarship | Master International Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Who can receive it | Norwegian and international applicants | International citizens who are not residents of Norway |
| Grade bar | A on the ECTS scale or equivalent top grade | 4.0 on the ECTS scale, converted by BI |
| Tuition | Full, up to two years | Full, up to two years; some receive one year |
| Stipend | NOK 50,000 per semester for international applicants | Not listed on its page |
| Extra application | None, same upload | None, same upload |
International applicants who apply for the Presidential Scholarship are also considered for the Master International Scholarship. In practice that gives you a second chance from one upload, which is worth knowing if your grades sit just under the top bar.
6. What Should International Applicants Know?
BI defines an international applicant as someone with non-Norwegian citizenship who moved to Norway to study. Citizenship alone does not decide your category. A Norwegian bachelor's degree can reclassify you as a resident, which removes the stipend. The country sections below cover the differences that matter.
These rules apply to every international applicant. You need a GMAT or GRE score if your bachelor's degree is from outside Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland or Finland. You need an accepted English test unless you qualify for a waiver. International applicants must add a financial declaration and a passport copy, and BI converts your grades to the ECTS scale itself.
7. What Should U.S. Applicants Know?
U.S. applicants use the same portal, deadline and documents as everyone else. A U.S. bachelor's degree is not from a Nordic country, so you need a GMAT or GRE score, and BI converts your grades to the ECTS scale. U.S. citizens pay the non-EU tuition rate.
BI's fee table shows about USD 16,466 per year for the standard non-EU rate and about USD 17,413 for Business Analytics and Data Science for Business, using a November 1, 2025 exchange rate. The stipend is paid in kroner, so exchange rates affect its value. Native English speakers can request an English test waiver. Graduates of partner schools or internationally accredited business schools can request a GMAT waiver, using BI's waiver page. BI also has a GPA calculation guide. Eastern and Pacific equivalents of the deadline are in the time zone table in section 13.
8. What Should Pakistani Applicants Know?
Pakistani applicants need a GMAT or GRE score because Pakistan is outside the Nordic countries, plus an accepted English test or an approved waiver. Your transcript must show completed semesters and include an official grade scale explanation. All of it must be ready before March 1 to count for the scholarship.
BI expects transcripts for a three-year bachelor's degree to show five completed semesters, and for a four-year degree seven. BI requires a 180 ECTS bachelor's degree, so if your degree is shorter, ask BI how it evaluates your transcript before paying for tests. Check your score targets with our IELTS band score calculator and your grade conversion with our CGPA calculator.
If you studied for two or more academic years in English, BI lets you request an English test waiver. Keep an official letter from your university confirming English as the language of instruction ready as proof. The deadline falls in the early hours of March 2 in Pakistan if BI counts the end of the day in Oslo. Plan to submit days earlier.
9. What Should Applicants From Other Countries Know?
Other applicants follow the same scholarship rules, but fees and permits depend on citizenship. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens pay the same tuition as Norwegians. Applicants from other regions pay the 30 percent non-EU differential and must document funds for a study permit.
BI accepts master's applications until August 1, but the scholarship deadline stays March 1. Some international citizens living in Norway qualify for domestic fees, and BI explains this on its tuition exemption page. Because BI's scholarship rules classify by citizenship and residence rather than EU membership, confirm your own category with BI if you are unsure.
10. What Documents Do You Need?
You submit two sets of documents in one portal application: the scholarship file and the admission file. The scholarship file is a CV plus a letter of one page at most, merged into one PDF. The admission file holds transcripts, test scores, a CV and, for international applicants, a financial declaration and passport copy.
The Scholarship File
Combine your CV and scholarship letter into one PDF and upload it in the Scholarship section of the admission application. BI considers only what you submit at the time of applying, and it accepts no extra documents afterward. If the portal rejects your file as too large, our PDF compressor can reduce its size.
The Admission File
- Official transcripts and diplomas, with an official explanation of your grade scale
- A GMAT or GRE score report, if required
- An English test score or waiver request
- A one-page CV
- International applicants: a copy of your passport photo page
- International applicants: a financial declaration, using BI's template
Documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language, issued officially or certified in translation. A certified translation must come with the original document. Details are on BI's master's admission requirements page.
11. What Are the English and GMAT or GRE Requirements?
If English is not your first language and you are not from the Nordic area, you need one accepted English test, such as IELTS Academic 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 90. If your bachelor's degree is not from a Nordic country, you also need a GMAT or GRE score. Take both before March 1 to stay in the scholarship pool.
Minimum scores listed on BI's master's admission page:
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall |
| TOEFL iBT | 90 overall |
| Pearson PTE Academic | 62 overall |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 176 overall |
| Cambridge C2 Proficiency | 180 overall |
| GMAT Focus Edition | 555 |
| GMAT 10th Edition | 600 |
| GRE Quantitative | 158 |
BI's TOEFL institution code is 0529 and its GRE code is 0497. For the GMAT, search for BI by name because there is no institution code. The page states the consequence of missing the March 1 test date:
"you will not be considered for a scholarship"
English requirements can differ by program and change between cycles. Open your chosen program's page on BI's official website right before you submit and confirm the exact test and score.
How BI Combines GPA and GMAT for Admission
Admission, which comes before the scholarship, uses a minimum GPA of 3.50 (B) on the ECTS scale. BI says an applicant between 3.30 and 3.50 may still qualify with a strong GMAT result, using a formula that multiplies the GPA by 200 and adds the test score. Below 3.30 is rejected whatever the score, and a GMAT Focus score below 530 is rejected whatever the GPA. This matters because the scholarship only reads your file once you are admitted.
12. How Do You Apply Step by Step?
Apply in the same portal session as your admission application, never separately. Choose your program, finish your tests, assemble your documents, upload the scholarship PDF in the Scholarship section, submit by March 1, and accept your admission offer. BI does not take scholarship applications by email.
Pick a full-time master's program on the Oslo, Bergen or Trondheim campus and read its admission requirements.
Take the GMAT or GRE and an English test before March 1, or request a waiver if you qualify.
Collect transcripts, diploma, grade scale explanation, CV, passport copy and the financial declaration.
Write a letter of one page at most and merge it with your CV into one PDF file.
Click Apply now on the program page and log in to BI's application portal, which opens November 1.
Upload the scholarship PDF in the Scholarship section and submit the complete application by March 1.
Accept your admission offer when it arrives, then wait for the scholarship decision by the end of April.
How to Write the One-Page Scholarship Letter
BI asks the letter to explain why you should be considered, in one page at most. It states that awards follow grades rather than need, so a hardship argument will not help. BI does not prescribe a structure. This is my suggested outline, offered as guidance rather than an official format:
- Your academic record in one or two sentences, with your actual GPA, class standing and grade scale.
- Why this program at BI fits your background and goals.
- What you add to a diverse, international cohort, with real examples.
- Where you plan to take your career after the degree.
Our guide to writing a winning motivation letter covers tone and structure in more depth.
13. BI Presidential Scholarship 2027 Deadlines and Key Dates
The BI Presidential Scholarship 2027 deadline is March 1, 2027. BI lists this date for all full-time master's applicants, and your complete admission application with the scholarship letter must be in the portal by then. BI publishes no cutoff time, so plan for 11:59 PM Oslo time at the latest and submit earlier.
BI's page gives March 1 without a year. It applies to the autumn 2027 intake listed on BI's program pages. You can follow it alongside other dates on our scholarship deadline tracker.
Key Dates Timeline
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | BI's full-time application portal opens |
| March 1, 2027 | Scholarship deadline and admission priority date; GMAT or GRE and English test must be taken |
| By end of April 2027 | BI informs all scholarship applicants of its decision |
| Date on your offer | Last day to accept a scholarship offer, or BI withdraws it |
| June 15, 2027 | Admission deadline for non-EU applicants who do not live in Norway |
| August 1, 2027 | BI stops accepting master's applications (admission only) |
Deadline Time Zone Table
What 11:59 PM on March 1 in Oslo means elsewhere:
| Location | Time zone | Equivalent time |
|---|---|---|
| Oslo, Norway | CET (UTC+1) | March 1, 11:59 PM |
| United Kingdom | GMT | March 1, 10:59 PM |
| Pakistan | PKT (UTC+5) | March 2, 3:59 AM |
| U.S. Eastern | EST (UTC-5) | March 1, 5:59 PM |
| U.S. Pacific | PST (UTC-8) | March 1, 2:59 PM |
Assumption: 11:59 PM in Oslo is a planning limit, not an official cutoff. Daylight saving changes in Norway and the U.S. happen after March 1, so these conversions hold.
14. How Much Will You Still Pay After the Scholarship?
A non-EU student on a standard two-year program faces NOK 333,400 in tuition, which the scholarship removes. By BI's estimate, living costs of NOK 340,736 remain. After the NOK 200,000 stipend, the gap is NOK 140,736 over two years, before books, insurance, fees and travel.
| Cost line (NOK, two years) | Without scholarship | With Presidential Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (2 x 166,700) | 333,400 | 0 |
| Living costs (2 x 170,368) | 340,736 | 340,736 |
| Stipend (4 semesters x 50,000) | 0 | -200,000 |
| Net amount to fund | 674,136 | 140,736 |
Assumptions: 2026-27 fees and estimates stay unchanged for both years, you pass every semester, and the table excludes books, insurance, the student welfare fee, residence permit costs and flights. For Business Analytics and Data Science for Business, tuition is NOK 176,300 a year, so the no-scholarship total rises to NOK 693,336.
"Tuition fees are adjusted annually in line with the rate of inflation."
Expect the 2027-28 fees to differ from these 2026-27 figures. BI also charges a separate semester fee to the student welfare organization at your campus.
15. How Does the Norwegian Study Permit Fit In?
Applicants from outside the EU need a Norwegian study permit and must show enough money for living costs. BI's cost page uses the national estimate of NOK 170,368 for 2026-27. BI's admission page also asks international applicants for a financial declaration and a passport copy with the application.
BI says the Norwegian government requires non-EU students to provide a deposit covering tuition and one year of living expenses, for each of the two years. BI does not say how a scholarship offer is counted in that deposit. Ask BI or the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration before you rely on the stipend. Non-EU applicants who do not live in Norway must also apply for admission by June 15 to leave time for the permit.
16. What Happens After You Receive an Offer?
You receive your admission offer first, and the scholarship decision arrives separately, by the end of April. Accept the admission offer while you wait, because BI only considers scholarship applications once the offer is accepted. A scholarship offer must be accepted by the date on it, or BI withdraws it.
To keep the award, you must complete 30 ECTS in every semester and hold a cumulative GPA of B or better on BI's scale after each semester. The scholarship stays tied to your program and campus and cannot be transferred. BI awards only one scholarship per applicant, and the Scholarship Agreement contains the full progression terms.
17. What Mistakes Cost Applicants the Scholarship?
Most lost scholarships come from process errors, not weak grades. The common ones are emailing the application, submitting after March 1, missing test scores, adding documents later, and not accepting the admission offer. Each is ruled out in BI's published rules.
- Emailing the application. BI accepts it only through the portal, with one exception for third-year Sivรธk students.
- Submitting late. BI does not consider late applications.
- Taking tests after March 1. No GMAT, GRE or English test by that date means no scholarship consideration.
- Sending extra documents later. BI reads only what you submitted with the application.
- Forgetting to accept the admission offer. BI only considers scholarship applications once you accept it.
- Assuming "all countries" means automatic eligibility. Your grades, first-degree status and residence all matter.
- Treating it as a complete living-cost grant. The stipend covers part of BI's estimate, as shown in section 2.
18. How Was This Guide Verified?
I checked the facts in this guide against BI Norwegian Business School's official pages on November 1, 2026. These include the Presidential Scholarship, Master International Scholarship, scholarships overview, master's admission requirements, tuition fees and how-to-apply pages. The sources are listed in the Official Sources box.
- BI publishes no cutoff time or time zone for March 1, and its page gives no year, so 2027 is inferred from the autumn 2027 intake.
- BI does not publish how many Presidential Scholarships it awards, so this guide uses no award count. Other websites print different numbers and amounts that do not appear on BI's pages.
- The scholarships overview lists the Future African Leader Scholarship among those needing an extra letter, while the Presidential page names two others. Check the page of any extra scholarship you want.
- Fees and the living-cost estimate are 2026-27 figures. BI adjusts them each year.
19. Should You Apply? Decision Checklist
Apply if you hold a top grade on the ECTS scale or equivalent, can finish a GMAT or GRE and an English test before March 1, and can cover the living-cost gap. If your grades are strong but slightly lower, the Master International Scholarship may still fit, and the same upload covers it.
- Your overall grade meets BI's top-grade bar after ECTS conversion.
- This will be your first master's degree.
- Test scores are taken, or a waiver is requested, before March 1.
- The scholarship letter is one page and merged with your CV in one PDF.
- You can fund about NOK 70,368 a year of living costs beyond the stipend.
Your next step: book your GMAT or GRE and English test dates now, leaving time for scores to reach BI before March 1.
20. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for the BI Presidential Scholarship 2027?
BI's official page lists March 1 as the application deadline, which applies to the autumn 2027 intake, so the date is March 1, 2027. Your complete admission application and scholarship letter must be uploaded to the online portal by then. BI publishes no cutoff time or time zone and does not consider late applications, so submit early.
Is the BI Presidential Scholarship fully funded?
For international applicants it covers full tuition for up to two years plus NOK 50,000 per semester for living expenses, if you meet the progression rules. The stipend equals NOK 100,000 a year, while BI's national living-cost estimate is NOK 170,368, so you still need other funds for the difference.
Who can apply for the BI Presidential Scholarship?
Norwegian and international citizens admitted to the first year of a full-time master's program in Oslo, Bergen or Trondheim can apply. You need an overall grade of A on the ECTS scale or the equivalent top grade, and you must be seeking your first master's degree. BI-Luiss Joint Master in Marketing applicants are not eligible.
Can I apply for the BI Presidential Scholarship by email?
No, for almost everyone. BI accepts the scholarship application only through the online admission portal, uploaded in the Scholarship section together with your admission application. The only email route is for BI students in their third year of the Sivilรธkonom program, who send a CV and letter to BI.
Do I need a GMAT or GRE to get the scholarship?
Yes, if your bachelor's degree is from outside Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland or Finland, unless you qualify for a waiver. BI asks for GMAT Focus 555, GMAT 10th Edition 600, or GRE Quantitative 158. You must also take an accepted English test before March 1 to be considered for a scholarship.
What GPA do I need for the BI Presidential Scholarship?
BI asks for an overall GPA of A on the ECTS scale or the equivalent top-level grade on international grade scales. BI converts international grades to the ECTS scale itself. Admission to the program is a lower bar, with a minimum of 3.50, which is a B.
When will I hear the scholarship result?
BI informs all scholarship applicants, including unsuccessful ones, by the end of April. Scholarship offers do not arrive with the admission offer, so accept your admission offer first and then wait. Scholarship decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
Does the scholarship count toward the Norwegian study permit funds?
BI says students who need a study permit must document enough funds for living expenses and any applicable tuition. Whether the scholarship stipend counts toward that proof is decided by the Norwegian immigration authorities, not this guide. Ask BI or the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration before you rely on it.
How many BI Presidential Scholarships are awarded each year?
BI's official pages do not state how many Presidential Scholarships it awards each year. They say applications from strong master's candidates are far greater than the number of scholarships available. Treat any award count you see on other websites as unconfirmed until BI publishes it.
21. Official Sources
- BI Presidential Scholarship
- BI scholarships overview
- BI Master International Scholarship
- General admission requirements, master's
- Tuition fees: master's programs 2026-27
- BI tuition fees overview
- BI master's programs
- Master in Business and its seven majors
- How to apply: full-time programs
- Norwegian Directorate of Immigration: studies
22. Disclaimer
This guide is independent and is not affiliated with BI Norwegian Business School. Rules, dates, fees and scores change between cycles, so confirm every detail on BI's official pages before you apply. If you find an error, tell us through our contact page, and we will correct the post and update the date. Read our full disclaimer.
Read more:
- TU Delft Excellence Scholarship 2027
- SDU Danish Government Scholarship 2027
- Umeรฅ University Scholarships 2027
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