Analyzing the Impacts of International Students Fees Implementation on Diverse Master’s Study Programs in Norway

Abstract

The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of the introduction of international tuition fees in the autumn semester 2023/2024 on various master’s programs in Norway. The quantitative analysis conducted in this study explores the broader consequences of this policy change on different study programs and its multi-layered effects for Norwegian society. In addition to Norway, other European countries such as Denmark, Sweden, and Finland are also included in the study to obtain a critical and comprehensive overview of the long-term effects of the introduction of international tuition fees on various degree programs in the region. In particular, the study also uses causal methods to assess the impact of the introduction of fees in Norway, with Austria and Germany serving as a control group. Many federal states in Germany still offer tuition-free study programs. The results using the difference-in-difference method and the synthetic control function method show a reduction of 70 per cent. An interview with an expert from the German Academic Exchange Service reveals a different approach of Germany to the immigration of highly skilled workers, which is seen as positive and as a strategy to mitigate the shortage of skilled labor, particularly in STEM fields.