When Amir Suljevic finishes studying medicine in Gdansk, his debts will be higher than planned. This also applies to many of those who want to travel on exchange in the autumn. The reason why the debt is higher is that the rules for how much students abroad get as a grant, and how much they get as a loan, have changed. – A much greater burden Before, between 50 and 70 per cent of school fees up to NOK 72,000 were covered, but from autumn this will drop to 40 per cent. This is the change in student aid. Students who study in countries outside the Nordic countries are entitled to loans and grants to cover school fees. Of the first NOK 72,729 they pay in school fees, part of the support is given as a grant and the rest as a loan. Previously, it was the case that students who took a bachelor’s degree, a longer language course or vocational school education and students who took further vocational training received 50 per cent as a scholarship. Students who took a master’s degree, PhD degree or exchange as part of a university or college education received 70 per cent as a scholarship. The government has now changed the proportion of scholarships to cover school fees to 40 per cent for all pupils and students from and including the academic year 2023–2024. The proposal does not change how much students and pupils are paid out in support of school fees, but leads to them having higher debts when they have finished their education. Source: Lånekassen – Financially, I will have a much greater burden than I already have, when I finish my education and have to pay back my loan, says Suljevic. At many of the study institutions, the application deadline is approaching for those who want to go on exchange in the autumn. Amir Suljevic thinks it means fewer foreign students. Photo: Sissel Rikheim / news The deadlines vary from institution to institution, but for many it is around 1 February. When news meets Benedicte Carlsen, vice-rector for research and international relations at the University of Bergen (UiB), it is just before the “kickoff” for the international week. She fears that fewer people will travel on exchange because of the change. – It is likely that the financing will get worse. – It’s too expensive Attaullah Kakar has chosen to study economics at home in Norway, but a semester abroad is tempting. Attauhlla Kakar thinks it will be too expensive for him to travel on exchange. Photo: news / news – I would have liked to have done it, but I think it is too expensive, says Kakar. He thinks he will stay at home. Study mate Martin Solheim has also caught on to the change. He still thinks he will take a semester abroad. – I don’t think I will leave because of this change, but I think it is quite sad that they are making it more difficult for people to travel on exchange, says Solheim. Martin Solheim thinks he will travel on exchange, even if it could be more expensive. Photo: news / news Carlsen at UiB foresees that there will be a change in which countries students apply to. She thinks more people will apply to EU countries and countries where the university has special agreements with the exception of school fees. – The international aspect is very important for a university like ours. We have a lot to learn from the fact that our students travel around the world and come home with different skills, she says. Anna Handal Hellesnes is president of ANSA, the association for Norwegian students abroad. She tells about reactions from both students and parents. – I have been contacted by several people who are already on the edge of pain over what financial burdens they can take on for education abroad. Anna Handal Hellesnes, president of ANSA, tells about reactions from both students and parents. Photo: ANSA – Not unreasonable State Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Oddmund Løkensgard Hoel, tells news that he does not think fewer people will want to study abroad in the future. – We still have very good support schemes for those who want to travel abroad, and the amount of support is the same as before, he says. In addition, he points out that there are many study cities, especially in Europe, where you do not have to pay for the study place. He therefore believes that there are good opportunities for studying abroad, regardless of the parents’ finances. State Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Oddmund Løkensgard Hoel. Photo: Ragne B. Lysaker – But if you decide to travel to a study city with high school fees, it is in that case a choice you make yourself, and then it is not unreasonable that you take a little more of the bill. The state expects to save around NOK 119 million a year. For the students, there can be a few thousand extra in loans each year. The debt will be higher For Sulevic in Poland, the change will only have consequences for the last of six academic years. He thinks it’s crazy that those who come after him don’t get the same opportunities that he had. – There is something special about studying abroad. You get to know many different cultures and you get to take part in a lot of different things. At the University of Bergen, Vice-Chancellor Carlsen is concerned that not all students think carefully enough. – I’m afraid that someone doesn’t think as far ahead as when they have to pay back the student loan. This arrangement means that they get money with them, but it will be less as a stipend. Read the full response from the Ministry of Education and Science here news has sent questions to the Ministry of Education and State Secretary Oddmund Løkensgard Hoel by e-mail. Do they expect exchange search numbers to drop this year? “It is difficult to predict anything for sure about this, but the government certainly wants more Norwegian students to travel abroad and gain international experience. I don’t think fewer people will choose exchange or study abroad in the future.” What is the reason for the cut in this part of the student grant? “In this state budget, it has been absolutely necessary to tighten and use the money more efficiently. This is a move we are taking to keep price inflation and interest rates down, which is absolutely fundamental to improving the economy for everyone. I am therefore pleased that even within these limits we are increasing the budgets for research and education. In 2023, student aid increases more over a single budget than during the past 15 years. “The overall amount of support for students who pay school fees will not change either. Everyone will be paid the same amount as before, but the grant portion will be lower for some. Norway has a good education support scheme for Norwegian students abroad, especially compared to the education support in a number of other countries.” Why should students, who already have tight finances, take their share of the “noise” for “everything becoming more expensive”? “We still have very good support schemes for those who want to travel abroad, and the amount of support is the same as before. What we have proposed is to adjust the grant share so that it is the same for students at bachelor’s and master’s level. There are many places of study, especially in Europe, where you do not have to pay tuition fees. In addition, Norwegian universities and colleges have exchange agreements around the world, where students can travel without having to pay for the study place. Students can also have school fees covered and support for living expenses through the Erasmus+ programme. There are therefore very good opportunities for studying abroad, regardless of the parents’ finances. But if you choose to go to a place of study with high tuition fees, in that case it is a choice you make yourself, and then it is also not unreasonable that you take a little more of the bill.” “In addition, the government aims for more students to go on exchange to non-English-speaking countries. From autumn 2022, we have introduced an additional monthly grant for students who choose to travel on exchange to our priority non-English-speaking partner countries, such as Germany, France and Japan.” “With this change, students who travel abroad receive the same level of support as those who study in Norway. Then it is worth reminding that students who attend private education in Norway only receive support for school fees as a loan.” Is it desirable from the government’s side that fewer people travel on exchange/study abroad? Why/why not? “We obviously want students to continue to gain important international experience and travel abroad to study if they want to. This is an adaptation we are making in a new economic reality. We have to tighten up and use the money more efficiently.”
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More loans and fewer grants make exchange more expensive – news Vestland
