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FAQ

FAQ

If you are interested in applying for AHO:

Which study programmes are offered in English and what are the requirements for admission?

Only AHOs master level programmes have English as the medium of instruction. Please find more information about the full-time Master studies, requirements and admission process here:

Master of Architecture
Master of Design
Master of Landscape

AHO also offers an Executive Master of System Oriented Design, where the medium of instruction is English.

Please find all our study programmes here.

When can I apply for admission to Master level?

The application portal, Søknadsweb, opens for new applications in December. The application deadline is 1 February each year. 

Do you offer a bachelor degree?

AHO does not offer any Bachelor’s degrees. In order to be admitted to the undergraduate level of our integrated Master’s degrees, you have to meet the Norwegian language requirements. Read more about this here.

If you obtain a relevant Bachelor's degree elsewhere, you are welcome to apply for our master programs, where the medium of instruction is English.

What are the requirements for the undergraduate level of the 5 and 5,5 integrated Master programme’s?

Applicants have to meet the general admission requirements and document proficiency in the Norwegian language in order to be eligible for admission. You can find general admission requirements on the GSU-list. Read more about this here.

To find more information on our undergraduate admission requirements and admission process, please read here (this page is in Norwegain due to the language requirement). 

How much does it cost to study at AHO?

There is no tuition fee for applicants from EU/EEA or Switzerland, Exchange students or existing students at AHO.

Students outside of EU/EEA or Switzerland must pay a tuition fee each semester. The tuition fee at AHO is set to 363 550 NOK per academic year. (Autumn + Spring). 

More information about costs and living.

Can I apply for admission to the Master programme before I have completed my bachelor degree?

As long as you complete your Bachelor degree before study start in August, you may apply for our Master level programmes. If this applies to you, please make sure to include your transcripts of records in your application, in addition to a confirmation on your student status before the deadline 1 February.

It is important to complete the application by sending the Bachelor diploma as soon as you receive it, and if you are admitted you will be asked to bring it for Undergraduate diploma inspection in August before study start.

How does my local credits correspond with ECTS credits?

The credit system may vary from country to country and institution to institution. You need to inform us how your institution calculates credits and how that correlates to the ECTS system. In Norway, one year of fulltime studies are 60 ECTS, a bachelor’s degree is 180.

According to Higher Education Entrance Qualification for Persons with Foreign Education (GSU), you may have other requirements due to different credit systems. Please read more here.

You may try to contact the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education for recognition of your degree. 


If you have applied to AHO:

When will I get the result of my application to the Master programme?

The first round of results will be sent by email on 1 April, normally.

If you are placed on the waitlist for a study programme, you may get an offer for admission later. We send out new offers to our applicants according to the prioritized waitlists until study start, as long as there are available spots.

Why did I not get admission to AHO?

Unfortunately, due to the high number of applicants, we do not give written explanations to applicants who are not admitted. Admission is based on a complete application, and a portfolio review by an admission committee.

When is semester start?

For the master studies: Mid-August.
For the exchange studies: Mid-August and mid-January.

What is the background of my result?

Offer for Admission:
If you have received an offer of admission, you will recieve a Letter of Admission from AHO. Please mind that you will have to accept or decline the offer within the stated deadline. Log in to Søknadweb and electronically submit your response.

Waiting list:
Only approximately 20 applicants are listed in the Waiting list. If you have been placed on a waiting list, please mind that you must accept your spot in the waiting list within the given deadline to keep it. Log in to Søknadweb and electronically submit your response.

Applicants will not be informed of their number in line. If a place becomes available, and you are next on the waiting list, you will receive an offer of admission. Such offers may arrive up until start of classes.

Admission not granted:
This results indicates that AHO have found you formally qualified, but the Assessment Committee has not ranked your portfolio among the top candidates. 

Our study programs has many applicants for a limited number of study spaces. Competition is strong and the performance level is high.

AHO does not accept appeals regarding admission decisions, but unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply next year. Many highly skilled designers, architects and landscape architects did not succeed in their first attempt, and we encourage continuous work towards achievement of goals.

Not qualified:
Not qualified is the same as a rejection. This result indicates that we cannot see that you fulfill our admission requirements. Either you have not uploaded all the required documentation, or the documentation you have uploaded fail to show that you are formally qualified for the programme.


Exchange studies 

Admission, requirements and deadline for application for Exchange study at AHO

To apply for exchange to AHO you must be nominated by your home university. The application deadlines are April 1st for the fall and October 1st for the spring. Students from learning institutions which do not have any agreement with AHO have to apply as a visiting student.

Exchange studies
Visiting studies

More information for admitted Exchange students:

Practical Information for new International Students.


Information for International students

Do I need VISA to enter Norway?

As part of the preparation for your studies in Norway, you need to either: 1. Register with the Police, or 2. apply for a student residence permit, depending on your nationality. Read more here.

How do I apply for housing?

You apply for housing through Student welfare organization of Oslo and Akershus (SiO). All international students under the age of 35 are guaranteed housing as long as they apply by the deadlines June 1st for the fall and November 1st for the spring.

How to apply for a residence permit deposit account

If you are a student outside EU/EEA you have to apply for a residence permit/visa. There are several requirements.
Read here for a complete checklist.
Read here to see guide for residence permit deposit account

Semester fee

All regular students at AHO must pay the semester fee each semester. You find the invoice in Studentweb. Please note that it may take 3-5 days before the payment is registrered.
Exchange students are exempt from paying the semester fee.  

Undergraduate diploma inspection

All applicants admitted to AHO must present their original diploma with transcript of records from undergraduate studies for inspection upon arrival at AHO.

More information for new International students:

Practical Information for new International Students