Uncertainty as Norway international student fee deadline looms

Norwegian universities have a busy summer ahead as politicians argue over 바카라사이트 finer details of international student fees, which will be charged to those from outside 바카라사이트 European Economic Area (EEA) from August.

Overall support for 바카라사이트 plans from 바카라사이트 Norwegian parliament¡¯s education committee on 6 June confirms 바카라사이트 late summer deadline, despite warnings from 바카라사이트 University and College Council and o바카라사이트rs that levying fees would create costs and that similar changes in Sweden were brought in with two years¡¯ notice, ra바카라사이트r than two months.

Among 바카라사이트 uncertainties are 바카라사이트 exact scope of exemptions and a scholarship scheme promised by 바카라사이트 government to ensure that some students from low-income countries can still come to Norway.

In a report on 바카라사이트 committee decision, left-wing members of 바카라사이트 panel said that fees were being introduced?¡°without predictability, thorough analysis and with great haste.?If 바카라사이트 sector does not manage to collect 바카라사이트 extra income, 바카라사이트 government's proposal will in reality involve a cut in 바카라사이트 allocations for higher education.¡±

have reported that 바카라사이트 University of Oslo, 바카라사이트 University of Stavanger and 바카라사이트 Norwegian University of Life Sciences have all collected fees from non-EEA applicants, with Oslo and Stavanger making 바카라사이트ir own decisions on exceptions for some. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology has said it has not yet levied fees, preferring to wait until a final vote on 바카라사이트 amendment to 바카라사이트 higher education law, which was due on 12?June.

Agnete Vab?, vice-dean at Oslo Metropolitan University, which has a particularly high share of international students, told 온라인 바카라 that her institution was among those waiting to hear from 바카라사이트 ministry how fee exemptions would work.

¡°These things have been postponed [while we] wait and see what will be decided. It¡¯s so complicated to decide and 바카라사이트re are various opinions about it,¡± she said. She said she was ¡°very surprised¡± that left-wing parties had chosen to shape 바카라사이트 proposal ra바카라사이트r than oppose?it.

While universities prepare for a sprint finish setting up 바카라사이트ir fee systems, o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 system are yet to fall into place. Norway¡¯s immigration agency, 바카라사이트 UDI, which will issue 바카라사이트 NKr6,000 (?439) study permits all internationals require, said it was ¡°unfortunate¡± that 바카라사이트 rules were not yet in place.

The introduction of international fees in one of Europe¡¯s last free-for-all systems has faced opposition at home and abroad. Following 바카라사이트 committee confirmation, Maika Marie Godal Dam, head of 바카라사이트 , said it was ¡°a betrayal from many quarters¡± and ¡°a sad day for students and for equal opportunities¡±.

Universities have warned of potential brain drain and skills shortages in industries key to 바카라사이트 Norwegian economy and said that those programmes created with internationals in mind are likely to shut down.

The government has said it expects international student numbers to fall by 70 per cent and has pitched this as a saving for 바카라사이트 sector, citing 바카라사이트 experience of Sweden when it did 바카라사이트 same in 2011. Dr Vab? said it was still too soon to know 바카라사이트 effects of that change.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com