General admission requirements and admission process – Master of Science

Degree requirements: 

• A successfully completed Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS credits) in the field of business administration, finance or economics 

or 

• A successfully completed Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) with a minimum of 80 ECTS credits within a field of study that is relevant to the specialisation of the MSc degree programme  

Grade requirements: 

• Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.50 (B) on an ECTS scale

Standardised admission tests:
If your bachelor’s degree is from a country other than Norway / the Nordic Area, you must submit your results from one of the tests below and achieve the minimum score indicated below. Please note that we strongly prefer that applicants take the GMAT test if available:

• GMAT – Focus Edition (new for 2023): 555
• GMAT: 600

If an applicant is unable to sit for the GMAT / GMAT Focus, please note the GRE is accepted with the minimum score:

• GRE: 158 (Quantitative). While there is no minimum required score for the verbal reasoning section, the higher the score the better it is for your overall application.

Home editions
If you are prevented from taking the tests above due to test center closures we accept the following home edition tests and corresponding minimum required scores:

• GMAT – Focus Edition (new for 2023): 555
• GMAT Online Exam (600)
• GRE General Test at Home: 158 (Quantitative). There is no minimum requirement for the verbal reasoning score, but the higher the score the better it is for your application.

Please note the GMAT / GRE are tests of business acumen and quantitative skills – they are not tests of English competency. Failure to send verified GMAT / GRE scores along with your application (provided you do not meet the criteria for a waiver) may result in an automatic rejection.

If you send your test results electronically from the test providers’ databases, please note:
GMAT: Please search for BI in the institution search field, there is no institution code. The programme at BI you select is not pertinent, it will come up in our database regardless. NB! Special instructions apply for QTEM-applicants. Please read information on each QTEM-program’s webpage.
GRE: Select BI by using the institution code 0497

A student with a slightly lower GPA than 3,50 on the ECTS grading scale, but no less than 3,30, may still meet the minimum admission requirements provided he/she has attained a strong GMAT-result. We utilize an admission formula that combines a candidate’s GPA with a GMAT-result. Please note that a GPA below 3,3 will not be accepted, no matter how high the GMAT score result. Correspondingly, a GMAT score result below 540 will not be accepted, no matter how high the GPA.

The general admission requirements are a minimum GPA of 3,50 on the ECTS grading scale (or equivalent) combined with a GMAT-score of 600 (for students with a non-Nordic education that does not have a degree from a partner Institution). The standard admission formula for admission is as follows:

Standard admission (3,50 x 200) + 600 GMAT = 1300

Language tests:
If your first language is not English, and you are not from Norway/Nordics, you must demonstrate English competency with by attaining a minimum score or better from one of the following tests listed below*:

• IELTS Academic overall score of 6.5
• TOEFL iBT overall score of 90
• Pearson PTE Academic overall score of 62
• University of Cambridge exams:
  C1 Advanced (Certificate in Advanced English, CAE) overall score of 176
  C2 Proficiency (Certificate of Proficiency in English, CPE) overall score of 180

Home editions
If you are prevented from taking the tests above due to test center closures we accept the following home edition tests:

• TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition test (90)
• IELTS Indicator test (6,5)

BI’s institution code for TOEFL is 0529

*Does not apply to the Master programmes taught in Norwegian: the Master in Accounting and Auditing and the Master in Law and Business.  

Exemptions and waivers
In certain circumstances an exemption from these test requirements may be granted. Read more about Exemptions and Waivers.

For applicants who are close to, but do not meet all the minimum requirements, an individual overall assessment may be conducted. In this process, applicants who can demonstrate that they match our applicant profile, may be given an offer of admission. The assessment will be made on the basis of the transcript of grades, letters of reference from your employer, the motivation letter and the CV. Students may receive a maximum bonus of ,20 points to their GPA calculation – potentially allowing a student with a 3,30 GPA on the ECTS scale to come up to 3,50 and thereby receive an offer of admission. 

The process is conducted and based a on a review by an admission committee. Students with below a 3,30 GPA are not considered for Overall Assessment and will have their applications rejected.

Eligibility for overall assessment

There are two groups of applicants that may be subject of an overall assessment:

Group 1: Applicants with a GPA of 3,30 – 3,499 and at least C in all relevant courses

Group 2*: Applicants with a GPA >= 3,50 and a lower grade than C in one of the courses relevant to the MSc program

*Students with one grade lower than C in a course relevant to the MSc program but an overall GPA above 3,50 may have their application sent to the relevant Associate Dean to render a final decision regarding their admission.

Our master’s degree programmes are looking for candidates who demonstrate the following qualities:

• International mindset: willingness to experience new cultures, languages, and life outside their comfort zone as demonstrated through exchange semesters or study, work or volunteer experiences abroad.
• Professional potential: relevant experience demonstrated through internship (s), relevant work experience or leadership roles in extra-curricular or volunteer activities.
• Academic ability: interest for learning and applying knowledge as demonstrated through strong academic standing or significantly improved academic standing over the course of a programme of academic study.

International mindset
International mindset: willingness to experience new cultures, languages, and life outside their comfort zone as demonstrated through exchange semesters or study, work or volunteer experiences abroad.

Examples of activities that can generate 0,1 points:
- Exchange semester (university level, at least one semester)
- Work experience abroad of at least 4 months
- Volunteer experience abroad that corresponds to approximately 4 months full time effort

Examples of activities that does not generate points:
- Tourism, backpacking or other trips/periods of living abroad without a clear work-, study- or volunteer related purpose

Professional potential
Relevant experience demonstrated through internship(s), relevant work experience or leadership roles in extra-curricular or volunteer activities.

Examples of activities that can generate 0,1 points:
- Internship(s) relevant for the particular MSc program of at least 2 months full time employment (or the equivalent in part time internship)
- Work experience considered relevant for the particular MSc program of at least 5 months full time employment (or the equivalent in part time employment)
- Leadership roles in extra-curricular or volunteer activities (for example student organizations) corresponding to at least 4 months fulltime work.

Examples of activities that does not generate points:
- Work experience in general – the experience must be relevant to the MSc program

Academic ability
Interest for learning and applying knowledge as demonstrated through strong academic standing or significantly improved academic standing over the course of a programme of academic study.

Examples of activities that should generate 0,1 points:
- Significantly improved GPA (comparison between 1st– year and 3rd– year GPA.)
- Significantly improved grades in subjects of particular relevance to the MSc programme.

Applicants can only receive 0,10 extra points per category (and only in two categories maximum). Examples: Two exchange semesters do not generate 2 * 0,10 points. And a shorter work experience than the minimum listed cannot result in 0,05 points.

Work experience should be proved by the submission of a letter of reference from the employer. The letter must include start and end date, workload, and a brief description of the applicant´s tasks.

Applications received by 1 March will be given priority. BI Norwegian Business School will continue to accept applications until 1 August. No applications will be accepted after this date. Offers of admission will be made based on availability of seats in the programmes. Applicants from outside the EU who do not currently reside in Norway must apply by 15 June to allow time for securing a student residence visa.

As you go through the steps in our application portal, you will be asked to upload the following documents:  

• Official university/college transcripts and diplomas: Submit copies of transcripts and degrees (diplomas) and include an official explanation of the grade scale used. If you have not completed your undergraduate education when applying, use a copy of your most recent transcript. Also include a list of courses you are taking in your final semester. Academic records must be accompanied by a certified English translation if the originals are not in English or a Scandinavian language.
• Motivation letter: Describe your dreams and ambitions, and how they relate to your choice of MSc programme at BI. Why do you want to take this master’s programme, what have you done in your life that have prepared you for this, and how will the MSc programme help you achieve your career and personal goals? How do you match BI’s applicant profile? The letter, written in English, should not exceed one page.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Upload a one-page CV including relevant education, work and volunteer experience, and any academic, sport, or leadership achievements. Your CV should be written in English if you are applying to our English language programmes.
• GMAT/GRE test score: This is mandatory if your bachelor’s degree is from a country outside Norway/Nordics. These standardised tests are used by business schools around the world to test your readiness for master-level studies. Ask that your test results be forwarded directly to BI from the test centre, or upload a copy of the score report to your online application. Applicants from our partner schools or from business schools that have international accreditations may request a waiver for this requirement.
  GMAT Institution Code: Please search for BI in the institution search field
  GRE Institution Code: 0497
• TOEFL/IELTS test score: If you have a native language other than English, and you are not from Norway or the Nordic area, you must demonstrate English competency by completing a test of the English language. Ask that your test results be forwarded directly to BI Norwegian Business School from the test centre or upload a copy of the score report to your online application. If you are a Native English speaker or you have completed two or more academic years of study where the language of instruction was English, you may request a waiver for this requirement.
  TOEFL Institution Code: 0529
  IELTS copies are accepted if the TRF number is visible

NB! If you are applying to a Master Programme that is taught in Norwegian, your CV and motivation letter must be written in Norwegian. Please note the programme specific admission requirements (links at the bottom of this page).

International applicants must also include the following documents in their application: 

• A financial declaration. As part of the process to secure a study visa, students from outside the EU will be required by the Norwegian government to provide a deposit covering tuition and one year of living expenses. They will be required to do this for both years in the master’s programme.

  We ask for a general overview of how you intend to finance your degree and living expenses. Please use our financial declaration template. 

• Passport: Submit a copy of the identification page with your photo and legal name in your passport.

• To help you in the application process, we have made a Checklist.
• Learn how we evaluate your transcript here.
• Information about enrolment, deadlines, deposit and fees.