Syria tops list of applications for recognition for foreign higher education

NOKUT received a total of 8613 applications for recognition of foreign higher education in 2017, an increase of 12 per cent from 2016. The top three countries were Syria, Poland and the United Kingdom.

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Largest increase in applications from Syria and the UK

The number of applications from Syria and the United Kingdom both increased by 25 per cent from 2016 to 2017.

‘Although the large flow of refugees from Syria has declined, it takes time before the refugees seek recognition, and this explains why Syria now tops the list. We also see an increase in the number of applicants from traditional labour migration countries to Norway and countries with a high number of Norwegian students. This is for instance the case with the United Kingdom and the United States’, says Director of Foreign Education Stig Arne Skjerven.

NOKUT expects further growth in the number of applications in 2018. Current projections estimate that the number of applications from Syria will remain on par with 2017, with a further increase in the number of applicants from traditional labour migration countries such as Poland, the UK and Lithuania.

Largest share of applications for European education

More than 60 per cent of the applicants are from Europe and Eastern and Central European countries dominate. ‘The main reason is labour migration’, says Skjerven. ‘Typical refugee-producing countries such as Syria, Iraq, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Iran account for about 20 per cent of the applications.’

Top 10 applicant countries*

  1. Syria: 1 093
  2. Poland: 1 038
  3. United Kingdom: 684
  4. Lithuania: 554
  5. Serbia: 547
  6. India: 515
  7. Philippines: 480
  8. USA: 374
  9. Russia: 291
  10. Ukraine: 270

* The country where the education was obtained.

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