The Norway Mobility Scholarship 2027 is a fixed-rate grant from Norway's HK-dir that supports one to three months of thesis fieldwork in Norway. It is open to Master's and PhD students outside Norway who write on the Norwegian language, literature, or culture. It is not open to every field, and the 2027 deadline has not been announced.
Many websites describe the Norway Mobility Scholarship 2027 as "fully funded" and open to any Scandinavian studies topic. The official text says something narrower. This guide separates what the official pages confirm from what aggregator sites add, so you can decide quickly whether to prepare an application.
Quick Facts: Norway Mobility Scholarship 2027
This table lists the confirmed facts from the official page and guidelines. The official name is Mobility Grant for Norwegian Language, Literature and Culture, and it belongs to the Scheme for Norwegian Studies Abroad.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Program | Mobility Grant for Norwegian Language, Literature and Culture |
| Levels | Master's and PhD (Bachelor students may not apply) |
| Funding | Partial: fixed-rate travel stipend plus fixed-rate residence stipend |
| Duration | 1, 2, or 3 months of fieldwork in Norway |
| Country | Norway |
| Deadline | Not yet announced for the 2027 call |
| Status | No active application on the official page when checked |
| Administrator | Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) |
| Source | studyinnorway.no official page |
Bookmark the official page and the scholarship deadline tracker.
- What Is the Norway Mobility Scholarship 2027?
- Numbers at a Glance
- Is It Really Fully Funded? Official Text vs Aggregator Claims
- Who Is Eligible?
- Eligibility Decision Table
- What Does the Grant Cover?
- How Much Could You Receive? A Cost Example
- What Documents Do You Need?
- How to Apply, Step by Step
- How Are Applications Assessed?
- What Is the 2027 Deadline?
- Visa and Housing in Norway
- Guidance for International Applicants
- For U.S. Applicants
- For Pakistani Applicants
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Other Nordic Funding if You Do Not Qualify
- Verification Note
- FAQ
- Official Sources
- Disclaimer
What Is the Norway Mobility Scholarship 2027?
It is a short research-stay grant for foreign Master's and PhD students whose thesis topic is Norwegian language, literature, or culture. HK-dir administers it, and the money helps with living costs and travel to Norway.
It is not a degree scholarship. You do not enroll in a Norwegian university and you do not receive tuition support. You stay enrolled at your home university and spend one to three months at a Norwegian university or research institute collecting material for your thesis.
Numbers at a Glance
These figures come from the official page. The rates are for the 2025-2026 academic year, except the monthly stipend, which the page itself labels with a 2023-2024 figure. Always check the current call for updated rates.
1 to 3 months
Awarded for one, two or three months of fieldwork.
NOK 3,000
Fixed travel stipend from European countries.
NOK 6,000
Fixed travel stipend from other Eurasian countries and countries outside Europe.
NOK 12,500
Residence stipend per month as printed on the official page.
3 required
Recommendation letter, invitation letter, passport copy.
1 portal
Online only, through HK-dir's Espresso. Email applications are not assessed.
Is It Really Fully Funded? Official Text vs Aggregator Claims
No. The official page describes a contribution to subsistence and travel costs paid at fixed rates. That is partial funding. Several scholarship blogs use "fully funded" and a wider subject list, which the official pages do not support.
"fixed rate travel stipend and fixed rate residence stipend"
| Claim you may see online | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| "Fully funded" | Fixed-rate travel and residence stipends only. No tuition, no housing arranged. |
| Open to any Norway-related research (history, society, Nordic studies) | Thesis topic must be in the Norwegian language, literature, or culture. |
| Open to all nationalities and all students abroad | Open to Master's and PhD students outside Norway, but your home institution should have a Nordic or Scandinavian studies department. |
| Deadline "open" or rolling | One annual call through Espresso. Official page showed no active application. |
If a source gives you a deadline, amount, or subject list that differs from the official page, follow the official page and the current guidelines PDF.
Who Is Eligible?
You must be a Master's or PhD student at a higher education institution outside Norway. Your thesis must focus on the Norwegian language, literature, or culture. The official page expects a student at a department for Nordic or Scandinavian studies, with a limited exception.
- Level: Master's or PhD. Bachelor students may not apply, according to the 2023 guidelines.
- Topic: Norwegian language, Norwegian literature, or Norwegian culture. The application needs an extensive project description.
- Department: a student of a Nordic or Scandinavian studies department. Students outside such a department may still be considered if the thesis has a clear focus on these topics, but that assessment depends on available funds.
- Home supervisor: you must name a supervisor at your home university who writes a recommendation letter.
"Student specialising in Norwegian language and literature will be prioritized"
The 2025-2026 guidelines also list two groups that appear to be excluded: students with Norwegian citizenship studying abroad, and students who have already submitted their thesis. Confirm both points in the current PDF before you invest time.
Eligibility Decision Table
Use this table for a fast self-check. It reflects the official wording, so a "Check first" result means the sources allow it only under conditions.
| Your situation | Likely result |
|---|---|
| Master's or PhD, Nordic studies department abroad, thesis on Norwegian language or literature | Best fit, and the priority group |
| Master's or PhD, Nordic studies department, thesis on Norwegian culture | Eligible |
| Master's or PhD in another department, thesis clearly on Norwegian language, literature or culture | Check first: considered only if funds are available |
| Thesis on Nordic history, politics, economics or society without a Norwegian culture focus | Unlikely to qualify under the official wording |
| Bachelor student | Not eligible |
| Norwegian citizen studying abroad, or thesis already submitted | Check first: listed in the guidelines as not eligible |
What Does the Grant Cover?
The grant is a fixed-rate contribution to travel and living costs for the fieldwork period. It is not a full cost-of-living guarantee. You arrange your own housing, and HK-dir does not provide accommodation.
- Travel stipend (2025-2026): NOK 3,000 from Europe, NOK 4,500 from Moscow and St. Petersburg, NOK 6,000 from other Russian cities, other Eurasian countries, and countries outside Europe.
- Residence stipend: follows the basic support rate of the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund. The official page prints NOK 12,500 per month.
- Length: one, two, or three months.
The page prints the monthly rate with an older academic-year label. Check the current call and guidelines for the exact rate that applies to your fieldwork period.
How Much Could You Receive? A Cost Example
The grant equals one travel stipend plus the monthly stipend multiplied by your months in Norway. The table below uses the printed rates as assumptions. It is an illustration, not a promised award.
| Scenario | Travel | Residence | Total (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe, 1 month | 3,000 | 12,500 | 15,500 |
| Europe, 3 months | 3,000 | 37,500 | 40,500 |
| Outside Europe, 3 months | 6,000 | 37,500 | 43,500 |
Assumptions: 2025-2026 travel rates, NOK 12,500 per month, no deductions, no other income. Norway is an expensive country, so many applicants will need additional funds. Compare the total with your own housing and food budget before you choose a stay length.
What Documents Do You Need?
The official page lists three mandatory attachments: a recommendation letter from your home institution tutor, a personal invitation letter from the Norwegian host institution, and a copy of your passport. You also upload a project description inside the form.
Recommendation letter
From your home supervisor, on institutional letterhead.
Invitation letter
Personal letter from the Norwegian host institution, on its letterhead.
Passport copy
A clear copy of your passport.
Project description
An extensive description of your thesis project and why the fieldwork matters. Write it in English or Norwegian.
Need help with the project text? Read our guide on how to write a winning motivation letter and check your length with the motivation letter word counter.
The sources I reviewed state that the application can be in English or Norwegian and do not mention a language test score. Re-verify any language requirement on the official website right before applying, including requirements from your host institution.
How to Apply, Step by Step
You apply online through HK-dir's Espresso portal after the annual call opens. Email applications are not assessed. Start your preparation before the call opens, because the invitation letter from a Norwegian host takes time to arrange.
Download the English or Norwegian PDF from the official page.
Explain your topic, your questions and what you cannot do without being in Norway.
Find a lecturer or researcher in your subject area who may guide you during your stay.
Ask your home supervisor for the recommendation letter and the Norwegian host for the invitation letter.
Fill in the form, attach all mandatory files and submit before the deadline.
HK-dir informs all applicants of the outcome by email.
Portal: Espresso application portal. Questions go to norgeskunnskap@hkdir.no.
How Are Applications Assessed?
HK-dir assesses applications internally and the Program Committee for Norwegian Studies Abroad processes them. Assessment looks at the relevance, design and implementation of your project. The 2025-2026 guidelines also ask how much the fieldwork in Norway adds value to the project.
- Relevance: is the topic really Norwegian language, literature or culture?
- Design: are your questions, sources and method clear?
- Implementation: is the stay realistic, with a host and a plan for the weeks?
- Added value: why can the work not be done from home?
"The grant must be used for fieldwork in Norway in connection with the dissertation."
What Is the 2027 Deadline?
No 2027 deadline has been published on the official page. Earlier calls used one annual deadline, and the 2025-2026 form was due to open in January 2025. Third-party sites report late-March deadlines in earlier years, but those are not official confirmations for 2027.
Several sites list March dates from past cycles. Treat them only as a planning hint. Apply only when the official call shows a date.
Past third-party reports describe a midday Norwegian-time cut-off. If a similar cut-off appears in the 2027 call, this table shows how a 12:00 Norwegian time deadline in winter converts. It is an illustration, not a published deadline.
| Zone | Equivalent time |
|---|---|
| Norway (CET) | 12:00 |
| Pakistan (PKT) | 16:00 |
| US Eastern (EST) | 06:00 |
| US Pacific (PST) | 03:00 |
| UTC | 11:00 |
Recalculate if the deadline falls after Norway moves to summer time, which changes the offset by one hour.
Visa and Housing in Norway
You must organize your own housing. If you need a visa, apply as early as possible, because HK-dir cannot pay the grant if your visa is rejected. Check entry rules for your nationality with the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
Do not book non-refundable flights or housing before you hold both a grant decision and a visa decision, unless you accept the risk.
Guidance for International Applicants
The official text restricts eligibility by study level, location of your institution and thesis topic, not by a published nationality list. Still, the department requirement and topic rule remove most applicants. Check these points before you spend time on the application.
- Your home university must be outside Norway.
- Your department should be Nordic or Scandinavian studies.
- Your thesis must be on Norwegian language, literature or culture.
- You need a named host in Norway who is willing to invite you.
Do not assume that your country's visa, fee or qualification rules match another applicant's. The visa process depends on your passport.
For U.S. Applicants
U.S. applicants should confirm that their graduate program sits in a Nordic or Scandinavian studies department, or that their dissertation has a clear Norwegian focus. Your travel stipend falls in the "outside Europe" band, which was NOK 6,000 for 2025-2026. Check visa-free stay rules with UDI for the length you plan.
For Pakistani Applicants
The main hurdle for Pakistani applicants is the department and topic rule, not nationality. Students in unrelated fields such as engineering or business do not fit this grant. If your Master's or PhD does focus on Norwegian language, literature or culture, expect to need a visa, so start the process as soon as you have a host letter. Your travel stipend falls in the "outside Europe" band.
If this grant does not match your field, see the funding options in section Other Nordic Funding and track open calls on our deadline tracker.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most failed applications miss the topic rule or arrive without a host. Avoid the mistakes below to keep your application inside the stated rules.
- Applying with a general Nordic or Norway topic that is not Norwegian language, literature or culture.
- Applying without an invitation letter from a Norwegian institution.
- Sending the application by email instead of Espresso.
- Relying on a blog's deadline instead of the official call.
- Planning travel before the grant and visa are confirmed.
- Expecting the grant to cover all costs in Norway.
Other Nordic Funding if You Do Not Qualify
If your field falls outside this grant, look at degree scholarships at Nordic universities. These are different programs with their own rules, so read each guide before applying.
- Umeรฅ University scholarships 2027 in Sweden
- SDU Danish Government Scholarship 2027 in Denmark
- University of Copenhagen scholarship 2027 in Denmark
Verification Note
On 1 November 2026 I reviewed the official studyinnorway.no page and the HK-dir guidelines PDFs for 2023 and 2025-2026. The page text still referred to the 2025-2026 cycle and showed no active application. Third-party sites disagreed with it on funding level, subject range and deadline, so this guide follows the official text.
- Conflict: aggregators say "fully funded", the official page describes fixed-rate stipends.
- Unverified: the 2027 deadline, the 2027 stipend rates and the exact cut-off time.
- Not confirmed: whether a post-fieldwork report is required in the current cycle. Earlier call texts mentioned one, so check the current guidelines.
FAQ
What is the Norway Mobility Scholarship 2027?
It is the Mobility Grant for Norwegian Language, Literature and Culture, run by HK-dir. It gives fixed-rate travel and residence stipends for one to three months of thesis fieldwork in Norway to Master's and PhD students at institutions outside Norway.
Is the Norway Mobility Scholarship fully funded?
No. The official page describes a fixed-rate travel stipend and a fixed-rate residence stipend, which contribute to costs. Housing is not provided, so the grant is partial funding rather than a full scholarship.
Who can apply for the Norway Mobility Scholarship?
Master's and PhD students at institutions outside Norway can apply if their thesis is about Norwegian language, literature or culture. The home institution should have a Nordic or Scandinavian studies department, with a limited exception for a clearly focused thesis.
What is the deadline for the Norway Mobility Scholarship 2027?
No 2027 deadline has been published. The official page showed no active application when checked on 1 November 2026. Earlier calls had one annual deadline, so watch the official page and the Espresso portal for the next call.
How much money does the grant provide?
For 2025-2026 the travel stipend was NOK 3,000 from Europe and NOK 6,000 from most other countries. The official page prints NOK 12,500 per month for residence. Check the current call for the exact rates before planning.
Which documents are required?
You must attach a recommendation letter from your home supervisor, a personal invitation letter from the Norwegian host institution, and a copy of your passport. You also submit a project description in the online form, in English or Norwegian.
Can I apply for the Norway Mobility Scholarship by email?
No. All applications must be submitted online through HK-dir's Espresso portal. The official page states that applications sent by email will not be assessed, so use only the digital application form.
Can Pakistani students apply for the Norway Mobility Scholarship?
Yes, if they study at a university outside Norway and their Master's or PhD thesis is about Norwegian language, literature or culture. The grant is not for unrelated fields, and a visa is likely needed, which HK-dir cannot cover if it is refused.
Official Sources
- Study in Norway: Mobility Grant for Norwegian Language, Literature and Culture
- HK-dir guidelines for the mobility grant 2025-2026 (PDF)
- HK-dir retningslinjer for mobilitetsstipend 2025-2026 (Norwegian PDF)
- HK-dir guidelines 2023 (PDF, hosted copy)
- Espresso application portal
- Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)
Contact: norgeskunnskap@hkdir.no
Disclaimer
This guide is for information only. Study Abroad with Arbaz is not affiliated with HK-dir or any Norwegian institution. Rates, rules and dates can change, so confirm everything on the official website before you apply. See our disclaimer page and editorial policy.
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