Admission

Admission to the 4th year

(Info in English)

The application portal 2026 is now open

Applicants who hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from another institution may apply for admission to start in the 4th year at BAS, with the intention of completing the Master’s degree in Architecture within two years.

The application portal is open. You will find the link below. The application deadline is 15 April at 23:59 (CET). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

The final Diploma Project is completed during the last semester of the 5th year and has a duration of five months. Successful completion of the diploma examination confers the academic title Master of Architecture.
Please note that BAS offers a professional degree programme and does not award Bachelor’s degrees after three years of study.

Important: Primarily architectural education qualifies applicants for admission to BAS. Applicants with a different academic background are welcome to apply, and their application materials will be individually assessed to determine whether they meet the admission requirements.

Language of instruction:
The 4th and 5th years at BAS are taught entirely in English.

Important information for students from countries outside the EU/EEA/EFTA

The Norwegian government has introduced higher tuition fees for students from countries outside the EU/EEA/EFTA.

For applicants from countries outside the EU/EEA/EFTA who apply for a degree programme at BAS, the tuition fee for the academic year 2026–2027 is NOK 325,292 per full academic year. This corresponds to approximately USD 32,000 or EUR 27,300, based on current exchange rates.
Tuition fees are adjusted annually in accordance with index regulation.

Tuition Fee Exemptions

Applicants who fall into one of the exemption categories listed below will pay the standard tuition fee, which for the academic year 2026–2027 is NOK 43,008 per full academic year (approximately EUR 3,600 / USD 4,200, based on current exchange rates).

In addition, all students are required to pay:

• a mandatory fee to the Student Welfare Organization in Bergen (Sammen): NOK 690, and
• a copyright fee of approximately NOK 307 per semester.

Exchange students are always exempt from paying tuition fees.

Exemption Categories

You may be eligible for the standard tuition fee if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland
• You hold a permanent residence permit in Norway
• You hold a residence permit based on protection (asylum)
• You hold a residence permit as a family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen
• You hold a residence permit based on family immigration
• You are cohabiting with, and have children with, a Norwegian citizen
• You are married to a Norwegian citizen
• You have worked full-time in Norway for at least two years
• You are a UK citizen who moved to Norway before 1 January 2021
• You have completed at least three years of full-time study in Norway

Documentation Requirements

Please note that if you are admitted to BAS, you will be required to submit official documentation confirming which exemption category you belong to. For detailed and up-to-date information regarding documentation requirements for each category, please refer to the University of Bergen’s webpage on tuition fee exemptions

Online Submission: Applications must be submitted via our online application portal.

Important:
Please make sure to read the section “Application – Step by Step” carefully before starting the online application process.

Application – Step by Step

After carefully reading the information below, proceed to the online application portal.
The application portal for admission in 2026 will open mid-January. The link will be published here.

Create an account
Enter your email address and create a password.
Please remember your password. If you forget it, you can request a new one through the system at any time.

Prepare your application in advance
We strongly recommend that you prepare all documents to be uploaded, as well as the information that must be entered manually, before starting the application process.

Please note that your application will not be saved until it is submitted at the final step of the process. This means: You cannot partially complete the application and return later. If you log out before submitting, all entered information will be lost.

Submitting and editing your application
Once your application has been submitted, you may log in again and make changes up until the application deadline.

The Different Parts of the Application (Preparation Guide)

Below is an overview of the different sections of the online application. We recommend reviewing this information carefully and preparing all required materials before starting your application.

Personal Information

Please complete the following fields:

• Email address
  Confirm your email address. Important: Do not add a space after the last character, as the system will not accept the address.
• National Identification Number
  If you do not have a Norwegian national identity number, enter your date of birth in the format DDMMYY and check the box “I do not have a Norwegian NIN”.
• Name
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Citizenship
• Country of educational background
  The country where you obtained your Bachelor’s degree.
• Qualification background
  Select Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Place of employment
  Not applicable.
• Phone number
  Use digits only, with no spaces.
  Example (including country code): 004755363880
  Minimum 11 digits.

Bachelor’s Degree

• Name of institution
• Start and end dates of your Bachelor’s degree
  (month/year to month/year)

English Proficiency

Self-evaluation of your English proficiency level
Select the level that best reflects your skills.

Please note:
You do not need to submit official language test results. By applying to a programme taught in English, you confirm that you have sufficient language skills.

Tuition Fee Exemption (Non-EU/EEA/EFTA Applicants)

Indicate whether you are exempt from paying the non-EU/EEA/EFTA tuition fee

Select the exemption category that applies to you. If admitted to BAS, you will be required to submit official documentation confirming your exemption status.

Declarations (for Admitted Students)

The following sections apply if you are admitted and begin your studies at BAS:

• Documentation and publication
  Select the appropriate option regarding documentation and publication as a student at BAS.
• Use of official communication channels
  Select Yes, I agree.

Please note:
You must check all required boxes in this section in order to proceed with your application.

UPLOADS

Portfolio: Upload your portfolio (maximum 5 MB)

• File name format: Last name, First name – Portfolio
• Your portfolio is a very important part of your application. It should include academic projects and may also include other architectural or artistic work that demonstrates your skills and interests.
• If your portfolio exceeds 5 MB and must be submitted via other means (e.g. Issuu, WeTransfer, Google Drive, etc.): Check the box “My portfolio exceeds 5MB. I will provide this by other means.”
• It is your responsibility to ensure that BAS receives your portfolio.
• BAS will not contact applicants if a portfolio is missing.
• If you wish to confirm receipt, please contact adm@bas.org after submission.

Motivation Letter: Your motivation letter should explain:

• Why you wish to apply to BAS
• What background, interests, and experiences you actively engage with in your encounter with architecture
• Aspects of practice, fields of interest, and personal expressions that give architecture meaning to you
• Upload your motivation letter as a Word or PDF file.
  File name format: Last name, First name – Motivation

Educational Documentation

• Upload your Bachelor’s diploma/certificate
• If you have not yet completed your final exams, upload an official transcript showing completed credits to date

Admission Process and Decision

All applications are evaluated by an admission committee. Approximately 10 students are admitted directly into the 4th year.
The number of admitted students may vary from year to year due to capacity limitations at the school.

You can expect to receive a decision no later than 15 May.
All applicants will be contacted via their registered email address.

General Information about the Master’s Programme at BAS

The Master’s programme at the Bergen School of Architecture (BAS) comprises the final two years of study and is structured as follows:

Programme Structure

Three semester courses
These are integrated course packages combining architecture, design, art, theory, and construction.
A Master’s course at BAS is not divided into smaller modules. Each semester course awards 30 ECTS, resulting in 60 ECTS per academic year.

One semester Diploma Thesis
The programme concludes with a self-programmed diploma project, supported by tutorials and reviews offered by the school.
The diploma project is assessed by external examiners during the diploma examination.

Upon successful completion of the diploma examination, students will have earned a total of 120 ECTS and will be awarded a Diploma from BAS conferring the degree Master of Architecture.
Please note that this is a regular Master’s degree, not a PhD programme.

Semester Course Categories

• Semester courses at BAS may fall within the following categories:
• Restructuring of urban settlements
• Restructuring of rural settlements
• Complex buildings
• Architecture in another cultural context
• Construction, where architectural design is the main foundation
• Exchange studies (one semester exchange is possible for external applicants)
• Other thematic or experimental courses

Academic Regulations

• Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) prior to admission. This is recognised as the first three years of study at BAS.
• Students must successfully complete three semester courses before starting the diploma semester.
• Students are granted a maximum of two attempts to complete the diploma examination.
• BAS uses Pass / Fail grading only.
• If a student fails a semester course, they must complete a new full semester course the following semester.

Study Load and Tuition Fees

• The programme is a full-time course of study.
• Students are required to pay regular tuition fees per semester (see previous information).
• Tuition fees must be paid within the stated deadlines in order to continue to the next semester.
• BAS does not offer scholarships.
• Students are expected to take full responsibility for their own practical, financial, and academic situation.
• BAS offers the same conditions, expectations, and academic standards to all students, including international students.

Academic Year and Calendar

Exact dates will be confirmed upon admission. The academic year generally follows this structure:

• Autumn semester: starts mid-August and ends around 20 December
• Spring semester: starts around 4 January and concludes at the end of May or during the first week of June
• Diploma examination: held between 27–30 June
• Public diploma exhibition and graduation celebration: held in August

Governmental and Formal Regulations (Non-EU/EEA Citizens)

If you are admitted to BAS and are a non-EU/EEA citizen, please note the following:

You must apply for a student residence permit in order to study in Norway.
Information is available on the UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) website.
In most cases, the application must be submitted from your country of origin.

Upon admission, BAS will provide you with an official letter of admission, required for your residence permit application.

You must document housing in Norway.
BAS cannot provide accommodation but may assist you in reserving student housing through the Student Welfare Organization in Bergen (Sammen). Further information will be provided after admission.
Please note that finding accommodation is ultimately your own responsibility.

You must also provide documentation of sufficient financial means (subsistence).
This must correspond to the full funding rate of the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund.
For the academic year 2026–2027, this amount is NOK 166,859, in addition to tuition fees.
BAS will provide an account for depositing this amount, as required by UDI.

You may download a general information folder about BAS.

If you have further questions, please contact the administration at adm@bas.org.

Exchange study at BAS

Here you can download a general information folder about BAS. If you require more information, please contact adm@bas.org

For the Erasmus program, BAS has agreed on some principles, and these can be read at the BAS ERASMUS EXTENDED UNIVERSITY CHARTER.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.

Visiting student

Students from institutions that do not have an exchange agreement with BAS, or other interested, have the opportunity to apply as visiting student.

Regulations for  Visiting Student  at BAS 

This letter is to inform you about the possibility of becoming – Visiting student (free mover, not part of exchange program)

The main issue for applying as visiting student at BAS, is your motivation and dedication, and wanting to learn something new. It could be that you have started an education in your country, and want to get some new impulses, or that you have worked for a while and want to get a new perspective on things.

The regular study at BAS has duration of 5 years, divided into two parts; 3 years in first part, and 2 years in second part. The first part is concluded with an examination. Passing this exam gives the right to continue to the second part. The main exam/Diploma is included in the last term and counts 5 months. Passing the Diploma gives the right to the academic title Master in Architecture. Please note that we do not offer a Bachelor degree, we have professional degree with duration of 5 years.

For visiting students from institutions which are not part of exchange program, it is possible to study for one or two terms in the second part/master level.(maximum 1 year)  As a minimum, you will normally have to have completed 3 years of architectural study before you apply to BAS. (if you have a different background, contact us to hear if you are eligible. A regular school fee applies for this category. (for the academic year 25/26 NOK 20 757,- per term  plus a fee to the Students Welfare Organisation in Bergen of NOK 690,-, and a smaller copyright fee of ca NOK 300,-.) The tuition fee will be price adjusted annually according to the consumer price index. Tuition fee paid in due time is requirement in order to continue to the next semester. BAS does not have any scholarships available. The tuition fee will cover the teaching, it does not include expenses for materials nor the mandatory field trips.

Important information for students from countries outside the EU/EEA/EFTA

The Norwegian government has decided to introduce tuition fees for students from countries outside the EU/EEA/EFTA, effective from autumn semester 2023. BAS has to follow this regulation, and for applicants from countries outside the EU/EEA/EFTA, applying for a degree or as visiting student at BAS , the tuition fee will for 2025/26 be a total of NOK 313 988,- for one full academic year, NOK 156 994,- for one semester. In addition comes the fee to the Students Welfare Organisation in Bergen of NOK 690,-, plus a smaller copyright fee of ca NOK 300,- per semester.
IMPORTANT: If you fulfill a specific requirements, you may be exempt from paying the higher tuition fees. Documentation for exemption must be submitted in case you are accepted as a student at BAS. We refer to an external web page at the university of Bergen with a good general overview of what can qualify for exemption: https://www.uib.no/en/education/163681/exemptions-paying-tuition-fees

If you are Non EU/EEA/EFTA, please note that you will also have to apply for residence permit to study in Norway, and then there is a requirement that you document subsistence. Meaning an amount of NOK 151 690,- per year (for 2025-26) that comes in addition to the tuition fee. This is to prove that you have enough money to provide for yourself while studying in Norway. For more info: https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/studies/

This does not apply to exchange students from partner universities, or to students from the EU/EEA/EFTA.

Application visiting student: You need to apply via our online application portal by 15. April CET  (for studies in the fall) and 1. October (for studies in the spring).   The application portal can be found HERE.

Applications that arrive after the deadline will not be considered. The master level at BAS is always taught in English.

Very important to read the text below APPLICATION STEP BY STEP FOR VISITING STUDENTS before you start the online application process. 

APPLICATION STEP BY STEP FOR VISITING STUDENTS

After you have read the text below, enter the link to the online application portal

First you need to enter your e-mail and create a password. Try to remember your password, in case you forget the next time you log in, you can always ask for a new one in the system.

We strongly recommend that you in advance prepare the documents to be uploaded and the parts that need to be filled in manually. The reason for this is that your application will not be saved until you submit the application in the end of the application process. That means you cannot do half of it and return later.  If you log out, you lose what you have added.

Once you have submitted the application, you can log in and change it up until the application deadline has expired.

THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE APPLICATION (for preparation)  

Personal information
e-mail, name, address, date of birth, gender, educational background (high school level), citizenship, phone.

Mandatory documents to be uploaded:  

• Portfolio –Upload your portfolio (max 5MB) We do not want paperback versions of portfolios. Your portfolio is very important part of your application, it should contain your school projects, but also may include other architectural and artistic projects to show your skills and interest. If you deliver your portfolio in ANY other way, (issu, wetransfer, google drive etc) it is YOUR responsibility to make sure we have received it. Contact us at adm@bas.org once you have sent it. BAS will not contact the applicants in case the portfolio is missing.
• Photo–upload a photo of yourself, the type you would use in a passport/Id card.
•  Education: Certificate/transcript–your certified/original Bachelor certificate, or if you are not yet done with your final exams, upload your transcript of your courses so far.
•  Motivation letter-We inquire into why you want to be a visiting student at BAS. Upload your motivation letter as word or pdf.

Parts to be filled in manually:  (please note that there is a maximum of 4000 characters in each answer)

• Your intended period of study at BAS (scroll down to select)
• Bachelor degree in Architecture: From which school?
• When did you start and end your Bachelor degree? Month/year – Month/year
• Your status in relation to tuition fee
• Next of Kin: Who to contact in case of emergency; family, partner, etc. Voluntary but strongly recommended.

We advise you to check the possibilities you have for financing your studies in Norway. Have a look at the website for Lånekassen (Norwegian State Education Loan Fund).

Here you will find an  information folder about BAS.
Contact adm@bas.org if you have further questions.