Grants and loans from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund

Grants

If you are a student in upper secondary school, under 21 years old, and have not previously completed upper secondary education, you can apply for grants from Lånekassen.

All students receive an equipment grant.
Some students may qualify for a housing grant.
Some students may qualify for an income-dependent grant.

You can receive grants for up to ten months per school year.

Loans

You can apply for a loan from Lånekassen if you are over 18 years old and meet one of the following criteria:

You do not live with your parents.
You attend a private upper secondary school where tuition fees are required.
You have children.
You are married.

Remember that loans must be repaid. Once you finish receiving support from Lånekassen, you will start repaying a small amount each month — including interest.

How to apply

Once you have accepted your study place, you can apply for grants and, if needed, loans at lanekassen.no. There is one single application regardless of the type of support you are applying for.

You log in using MinID or BankID — just like when you applied for your school place.
It is recommended to apply as soon as you have received your school placement, preferably before the school year starts.

What is the equipment grant?

The equipment grant is money you can receive to cover the cost of the equipment you need for your educational program. What you need varies greatly, which is why the amount you receive also differs. The grant applies to most upper secondary school students, and applying is simple. You must submit an application to Lånekassen yourself to receive the money.

Rules for students under 21 years old without general or vocational qualifications

You can apply for grants and loans under the rules for ordinary upper secondary education if the following points apply:

You are under 21 years old, meaning you turn 20 or younger during the calendar year when the school year begins.
You do not yet have general university admission certification or vocational qualifications. This means you have not completed and passed a general studies or vocational program. These qualifications are documented through a diploma, trade certificate, or journeyman’s certificate.
You are not taking upper secondary subjects as a private candidate.

Students who are apprentices in a company are not entitled to the equipment grant but may qualify for other loans or grants.

Check Lånekassen’s website to see how much you can receive in equipment grants.

Transitional arrangement for students aged 21 to 24

Will you be between 21 and 24 years old in 2025 and received a grant from Lånekassen during the 2023–2024 school year?
If you did not obtain general or vocational qualifications before the 2025–2026 school year, you may still be eligible for the equipment grant in 2025–2026, even if you are over 21. This is due to new regulations and a transitional arrangement valid until the end of the 2025–2026 school year.

You may be entitled to a housing grant if you must live away from your parents’ home while attending upper secondary school. In addition, at least one of the following requirements must be met:

The distance between your parents’ home and the school is 40 kilometers or more each way.
The total travel time between your parents’ home and the school is three hours or more round trip. The school must confirm this.
Special personal or social circumstances make it impossible for you to live at home.

If you live with your parents but are married or the primary caregiver of a child you live with, you may also qualify for the away-from-home grant.

You may also be entitled to a travel grant if you do not live with your parents.

Check Lånekassen’s website to see what you may receive in an away-from-home grant.

The income-dependent grant is intended to help cover living expenses for students from families with low income. The amount you receive depends, among other things, on the income of both your parents or guardians and the number of siblings you have.

Check Lånekassen’s website to see what you may receive in a means-tested grant.

Under 18 years old?

If you are under 18, one of your parents must sign an agreement on your behalf. They can do this electronically. If your parent has a digital mailbox, they will receive the agreement there and can sign it immediately. If not, they can sign a paper agreement and send it back to Lånekassen.

Read more about digital mailboxes (Digipost or e-Boks) at norge.no.

Application deadlines

Your application must be received by Lånekassen no later than:

15 November for the autumn semester
15 March for the spring semester

If you apply in the autumn, you can apply for the entire school year.