According to an opinion poll carried out by Sentio–Norstat for NSU (The Norwegian Students’ Union) and Universitas, 48.7% of the Norwegian population are of the view that not enough is invested in the higher education. 61% of Høyre (Conservative) voters are dissatisfied with the government’s investment in the higher education sector. The Conservative Minister for Education Kristin Clemet has held her post for three years. Her spokesman Bjørn Haugstad says he is not surprised that his party’s voters want more for higher education. He notes that politicians are there to set different priorities, and that education has been prioritized very highly compared to other sectors during the last few years.

While students at the universities of Bergen and Trondheim have regular access to their reading rooms during the exam period, Oslo students have had to study in halls and corridors. The reason is that the reading rooms are being used to hold exams. Renting premises outside of the University costs money, and the University has therefore decided to economise by using existing premises, depriving students of study space when they most need it, namely during examinations.

The travel grant, which was under threat in this year’s national budget negotiations, will not disappear entirely. NOK 30 of the current NOK 70 million have been preserved, making it possible to continue to scheme, favouring those students who live the farthest away. The number of journeys will be reduced from three to two, and the students’ share has risen to NOK 2001.