General Requirements 

Undergraduate and graduate students may list up to 20 preferred schools in their application. Graduate students may apply for an exchange semester during the fall (HAUST) and/or spring (VÅR) term.

• Requirements for all students

  Requirements for all students

  • Withdrawal from the undergraduate exchange program does not affect your graduate exchange application.
  • Students on sabbatical leave during their undergraduate or graduate studies are not eligible to apply for the exchange program.
  • You must have active student status at NHH in order to apply for the exchange program.
  • As a general rule, students may not participate in an exchange program in a country of which they are citizens.
  • Students may go on exchange only during the regular study period.

• BEDS Requirements

  BEDS Requirements

  Qualification Requirements 

  • You may participate in an exchange program only during your fourth semester.
  • You must have completed at least 52 ECTS credits before applying for the exchange program.

  Progression 

  • Students are considered to have standard academic progress if they have completed 60 or more ECTS credits within one academic year. This updated requirement applies to students submitting applications by June 1, 2026.
  • Approved or recognized courses will count toward the progression requirement.
  • Students with standard academic progression will be given higher priority in the ranking process.

  Fewer than 52 ECTS

  • If you have documented medical reasons for earning fewer than 52 ECTS credits, you must submit the relevant documentation together with your application. The medical certificate must clearly specify the nature and period of the condition.
  • If you have fewer than 45 ECTS credits, you do not fulfill the prerequisites to apply for the exchange program.

• MSc Requirements

  MSc Requirements

  Qualification Requirements 

  • Graduate students planning to participate in an exchange program must have completed at least 15 ECTS credits at NHH during their first semester before applying.
  • Graduate students may not combine an exchange semester with a minor in a subject area other than their major at NHH.
  • If you are scheduled to participate in the Innovation School, GSM, CEMS or Double Degree programs, you will not be eligible for the exchange program.

  Exchange Semester

  • MSc and MRR students may participate in an exchange program during the third or fourth semester; however, participation in the third semester is recommended.

  Academic Progression 

  • Students are considered to have normal academic progress if they have completed 22.5 or more ECTS credits within one academic year.
  • Approved or recognized courses will count toward the progression requirement.
  • Students with normal academic progression will be given higher priority in the ranking process.
  • You may apply to participate in an exchange program even if you have only 22.5 ECTS credits; however, your total number of credits will be lower than that of your peers, as you will not have normal academic progression.

  Fewer than 15 ECTS

  • If you have documented medical reasons for earning fewer than 15 ECTS credits, you must submit the relevant documentation together with your application. The medical certificate must clearly specify the nature and duration of the condition.

• Résumé and Motivation Letter

  Résumé and Motivation Letter

  You do not need to submit a résumé or motivation letter. The only exceptions are as follows:

  • If you are applying to Rikkyo University, you must include your résumé and a motivation letter explaining your interest in completing an internship in Japan.
  • If you are applying for admission to an MBA program, you must include a résumé outlining your work experience.
  • If you are applying to an institution with specific language requirements, you must include proof of language proficiency.
  • If you have taken a leave of absence due to illness or other circumstances, you must provide the relevant documentation.

• Free Movers

  Free Movers

  • You may participate in an exchange program as a “free mover” if you wish to attend a university with which NHH does not have a partnership agreement, or if you did not receive a placement in the regular exchange program. 
  • You must apply directly to the university and are responsible for all communication with and information provided by the host institution, including deadlines and qualification requirements.
  • You will not receive a “Statement of English Proficiency” from NHH and are not eligible to apply for pre-approval of courses.
  • You must apply for academic recognition of your completed courses upon returning to NHH. 

• Application Result

  Application Result

  • Undergraduate students will receive their application results at the end of August or the beginning of September.
  • Graduate students will receive their application results at the end of February or the beginning of March.

Exchange Destinations 

Are you unsure where you would like to participate in an exchange program? Please refer to our Inspiration Page for guidance.

• Exchange Partners

  Exchange Partners

  • NHH will not send students on exchange to Russia or Israel during the 2026-2027 academic year.  The lists of undergraduate and graduate exchange partners institutions are regularly updated.
  • Students are encouraged to review information about their preferred host universities. We also recommend consulting student exchange reports available on Canvas. 

• Host University

  Host University

  • Conduct thorough research to identify host universities that align with your academic interests and personal or financial circumstances. 
  • Some universities offer specialized courses, while others provide courses across a broad range of disciplines. Ensure that the universities to which you apply offer courses in which you are genuinely interested.

• Student Reports

  Student Reports

  • Review student reports from previous exchanges, available in the "International Opportunities" group on Canvas.

• Academic Dates

  Academic Dates

  • Ensure that the host university’s academic calendar aligns with your personal schedule and study plans. 
  • The academic dates for your preferred host university can be found on its official website; if not immediately visible, search for “academic calendar” or “semester dates.”

• Visa

  Visa

  • Direct any questions regarding student visa applications to the host university. We also recommend consulting the Norwegian Foreign Ministry's travel information website (available in Norwegian only). 

Language 

If two languages of instruction are listed on our website (for example, English and French), there are sufficient courses offered in English to allow you to take only English-language courses.

• English Requirements

  English Requirements

  • Some host universities require an official IELTS or TOEFL test. If such a test is required, you must complete it before applying to the host university, but after submitting your application to the exchange program at NHH.

• Spanish, French or German Requirements

  Spanish, French or German Requirements

  • If the host university has Spanish, French, or German language requirements, you must complete a language course at a certified CEFR level.
  • Such a course may be taken through Folkeuniversitetet or any other recognized institution. If the language is your mother tongue, you may be required to provide proof of citizenship.
  • Attach any documented proof of language proficiency when submitting your application to the exchange program.

GPA

All students, regardless of their GPA, are eligible to apply for the exchange program. Some host universities may impose specific GPA requirements. In cases where there is competition for available placements, GPA will be used to determine which students are offered a place.

• GPA from High School

  GPA from High School

  • You are not required to submit your high school GPA with your exchange application unless you completed high school (vidaregåande) abroad or participated in the IB program.
  • You may be required to upload a copy of your high school transcript when applying directly to the host university.

• Previous Averages

  Previous Averages

  • NHH does not share previous GPA with specific universities due to privacy concerns.

• Grade Averages

  Grade Averages

  • Your grade average is calculated from all grades you have received at NHH.
  • Letter grades are converted to numbers as follows: A = 5, B = 4, C = 3, D = 2, and E = 1. Only grades on the A–E scale are included.
  • Pass/fail grades are not included in the GPA but do count toward your academic progression.

• GPA Requirements

  GPA Requirements

  • Any specific GPA requirements can be found in the lists of undergraduate and graduate exchange partner institutions.

• Progression and GPA

  Progression and GPA

  • If you meet the progression requirements, an additional 10 credits will be added in the system. For example, an A-average of 5 will be recorded as 15 with progression.
  • Grades recognized from other universities are not included in the GPA but do count toward progression.

• Complaints

  Complaints

  • The GPA is calculated on a specific date, known as “opptaksdagen.” This date varies from year to year and will be announced during the information meeting prior to the application deadline.
  • If you have appealed one or more of your grades but have not yet received a revised grade, it will not be included in your GPA or progression. Legally, the grade is considered not to exist while the appeal is pending.