Student Loses Aid for Internship Abroad, Citing Outdated Rules

A Norwegian student pursuing a master's degree in Portugal found herself stripped of her student aid for accepting a study-relevant internship in Copenhagen. The Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen) revoked her support for the upcoming semester, citing a regulation that requires students to be physically present at their place of study.

The student, who is completing her master's thesis and paying tuition fees in Portugal, accepted an internship in Copenhagen that is encouraged by her university and relevant to her future career. She remains a full-time student and is following her program as usual, with the only difference being her physical location.

Lånekassen's decision, based on a rule ensuring aid recipients genuinely study at their stated location, has led to the student losing not only her financial aid but also the interest-free status on her existing loan. She argues this policy punishes students for taking initiative and gaining practical experience, even when it aligns with academic goals and future employment prospects.

The student contends that this situation highlights a structural problem within Norway's education policy. While the government increasingly promotes internationalization and practical, career-oriented learning, the financial support system remains rigid, failing to accommodate students who gain experience abroad. She believes the system unfairly penalizes her compared to Norwegian peers who remain in their study city or complete their thesis at a Norwegian university, despite her actively pursuing her studies and gaining additional valuable experience.

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Det holder for Lånekassen. I avslaget viser de til paragraf 25 i forskriften om tildeling av utdanningsstøtte: Retten til støtte forutsetter at man oppholder seg på studiestedet.