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Norway Approves 2,000 Student‑Housing Grants and Revises Loan Means‑Testing

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Government Allocates 1.3 bn NOK for 2,000 Housing Grants The Ministry of Education announced a 1.3 billion‑kroner programme that funds 2,000 new or renovated student‑housing projects, primarily in Oslo and Bergen. 1,623 grants support new builds or major remodels while 377 (30 %) target rehabilitation of existing dormitories[1][13]. The funding aims to improve affordability and stability for students across Norway[4].

Means‑Testing Reform Removes Compensation Penalties from Stipends The government will revise Lånekassen’s means‑testing so that compensation for serious illness or injury no longer reduces student stipends, with the change applied retroactively[1][11]. Officials say the reform protects vulnerable students from losing financial support during recovery[1]. The policy shift is part of a broader effort to make student aid more equitable[11].

Full‑Time Students Report Significant Pandemic Learning Loss University of Inland/Innlandet survey of 448 students found two‑fifths experienced poorer learning outcomes during COVID‑19, with 70 % of full‑time learners attributing the decline to reduced peer and lecturer contact[1][9]. Part‑time students reported unchanged or improved results, highlighting a disparity between study modes[6]. Researchers Trine Løvold Syversen and Gunhild Wedum emphasized the unexpected magnitude of the loss[12].

Iranian Campuses Host Largest Student Protests Since January Verified BBC footage showed thousands of demonstrators marching at Tehran’s Sharif University and other campuses, marking the biggest anti‑government actions since the January crackdown[1][13]. Protesters honored the thousands killed earlier in the year and confronted regime supporters[5]. The unrest spread across multiple universities, drawing international media attention[10].

Art Prize Winners, Polar Board Membership, and US Shooting Highlight Global Campus News The Association of Norwegian Students Abroad awarded Karsten Krogh‑Hansen (NOK 25 000) and Mina Stokke (NOK 10 000) the 2026 Juvenarte art prizes for projects abroad[1][9]. The Norwegian Polar Institute became a full member of the European Polar Board, gaining an independent vote in European polar research strategy[1][13]. Meanwhile, a shooting at South Carolina State University’s student‑housing building left two dead and one injured, echoing a similar incident in October 2025[3][13].

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Timeline

Jan 2025 – Iranian authorities crack down on university protests, arresting hundreds and killing demonstrators, which later fuels the largest student demonstrations since that month. [2][3]

Oct 2025 – A gunman opens fire in a student‑housing building at South Carolina State University, killing one and injuring another, marking the first campus shooting at the institution. [2][3]

Dec 22, 2025 – Historian Edgar Hovland dies at age 87, ending a career that shaped Norwegian economic and maritime history and mentored over 100 graduate students. [18]

Autumn 2025 – Ukrainian enrolments in Norwegian higher education rise to 665 full‑time students, up from 520 in 2024, with Oslo University leading the intake. [10]

Jan 2026 – The Norwegian Polar Institute joins the European Polar Board as a full voting member, giving Norway an independent voice in Arctic and Antarctic research strategy. “It marks a new chapter for the institute,” says director Camilla Brekke. [1][6][15][18]

Jan 20, 2026 – Education Minister Sigrun Aasland urges 19‑21‑year‑old students to return to campus, stating they “miss something if not on campus” and highlighting teamwork and mental‑health benefits. [4]

Jan 2026 – The government announces reforms to Lånekassen’s means‑testing so that compensation for serious illness or injury no longer reduces student stipends, with retroactive application. [1][8][17]

Jan 2026 – Professors Guttorm Schjelderup and Petter Bjerksund file a formal warning against colleagues over wealth‑tax debate comments, invoking “normal scientific norms.” [17]

Jan 2026 – The University of Oslo’s Viking Age museum faces a 200 million‑kroner funding gap that could force closure after its planned opening on 1 Nov 2027. [6][7]

Feb 13, 2026 – A second shooting at South Carolina State University’s student‑housing building kills two and wounds one, echoing the October 2025 incident. [9]

Feb 17, 2026 – The Ministry of Education allocates 1.3 billion NOK for 2,000 student‑housing projects, primarily new builds in Oslo and Bergen, to improve affordable accommodation. [8][6][7]

Feb 17, 2026 – The same package includes 2 billion NOK for new or upgraded student bus shelters, aiming to enhance daily safety and mobility for commuters. [7]

Feb 17, 2026 – The 2026 national budget reforms Lånekassen’s stipend assessment, excluding compensation for illness from income calculations and allowing affected students to apply retroactively. [8][17]

Feb 20, 2026 – The Association of Norwegian Students Abroad awards its 2026 Juvenarte art prize to Karsten Krogh‑Hansen (first, 25 000 NOK) and Mina Stokke (second, 10 000 NOK), supporting Norwegian art students abroad. [5][8][14][16]

Feb 23, 2026 – Iranian university campuses host the biggest anti‑government protests since the January crackdown, with thousands marching at Sharif University and confronting regime supporters. [2][3][9][13][16][18]

Feb 24, 2026 – The government formally approves 2,000 student‑housing grants worth 1.3 billion NOK, designating 1,623 for new builds or major renovations and 377 for rehabilitation, mainly in Oslo and Bergen. [1]

Feb 24, 2026 – The Lånekassen reform takes effect, ensuring that compensation for serious illness or injury no longer lowers students’ need‑based stipends, and the change applies retroactively to past cases. [1]

Feb 2026 (planned) – NTNU launches the 50‑million‑kroner Secure Anti‑Fraud Excellence (SAFE) centre in Gjøvik, a five‑year project to develop digital fraud‑detection tools in response to rising cyber‑crime losses. [15][13]

Nov 1, 2027 (planned) – The University of Oslo’s Viking Age museum is scheduled to open, though its future remains uncertain due to the unresolved 200 million‑kroner funding shortfall. [6][7]

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