Do you want to combine elite sports with higher education? As an elite sports student at NTNU, we give you the opportunity to tailor and adapt your educational plan so that your studies can be more easily combined with your focus on elite sports.

How to apply for elite sports student status at NTNU

Fill out the form by clicking the application form button below. 

Feel free to attach documentation of your status as an elite athlete from federations, teams/clubs, or Olympiatoppen, or contact information for the sports manager/development manager.

You can apply for elite sports student status once you have confirmed your admission to a study program. There is no deadline for applying, but if you need external exam arrangements, the application must be received by April 1st/October 1st. The elite sports counsellor at NTNU will contact you regarding the status of your application. Note that during periods of high demand, this may take some time. Upon approval of the initial application for status, it is mandatory to watch an information film (or have a conversation with the elite sports counsellor). It is also strongly recommended that you contact the study advisor at your study program.

Application Form
 

Who can obtain elite sports student status?

Athletes applying for elite sports student status at NTNU must be able to document a particular need for adaptation of studies parallel to their sports career. The athlete must be at a level that requires significant travel and absence due to training camps and competitions nationally and/or internationally.

Olympiatoppen's definition of elite athletes and tomorrow's elite athletes (pdf - in Norrwegian) applies to the possibility of obtaining elite sports status at NTNU.

Documentation Requirements

Documentation of elite sports level is required through confirmation from the sports manager or development manager in federations, teams/clubs, or from Olympiatoppen. If you have a certificate from your federation, team/club, or from Olympiatoppen, you can attach it to the application. Note that we conduct random checks of documentation. Attempts to falsify documentation and provide incorrect information will result in permanent loss of the opportunity for elite sports status.

Elite sports student status is granted for a period of 2 years at a time. As the period approaches its end, new documentation of sufficient sports level and continued necessity for study adaptation will be required to retain the status.

Adaptations

Adaptations at NTNU can include:

• Flexibility in the study program
• Flexibility in mandatory activities (exercises, practice, skill training, etc.)
• Extension of the study period
• Adaptation of mid-semester tests and exams (such as possibility for external exam arrangements)

Beyond this, students with elite sports status have the same duties and rights as regular students. This means that as an elite sports student, you do not get:

• Exemption from mandatory activities (exercises, practice, skill training, etc.)
• Changed exam dates
   

NTNU Offers

• Guidance and advice on how you can combine studies at NTNU and focus on sports.
• Information to the athletes' coaches/support staff on how to adapt so that elite athletes can combine studies and sports. NTNU collaborates with Olympiatoppen and the special federations in the Norwegian Sports Federation.

Important Tips:

• Think about your ambitions and how you plan to combine education and elite sports.
• Make a plan and be structured, both in studies and sports.
• Have a good dialogue with the study advisor and subject teachers.
• The study advisor handles questions about your study, subject teachers are responsible for the academic content, and the elite sports counsellor can be a neutral advisor or sparring partner.
• Check information from relevant platforms, e.g., student mail, Innsida, and the learning platform used.
• Adhere to deadlines. It is your responsibility!
• If you have any questions, just contact the elite sports counsellors. Good luck with combining studies and elite sports.

External Exam Arrangement

If, for a sports-related reason (championship, match, camps, etc.), it is not possible or practical to take the exam at the exam location, you can apply for external exam arrangements with elite sports student status. The selection must be documented in the application. It is only possible to apply for external exam arrangements for exams with digital submission and that do not use third-party software.

Application Form for External Exam - Elite Sports

Deadline April 1st / October 1st

If, for a sports-related reason, it is not possible for you to take the exam, you can apply for legitimate absence. The form for legitimate absence can be found here: Elite Sports - Application Form for Valid Absence​.​​​​​​

The deadline for applying for legitimate absence is no later than one week after the exam date.