Summer Scholarships in Norway

for UW-Madison students

Each summer, the BVO sends UW-Madison students on scholarship to the International Summer School (ISS) in Oslo, Norway.

All scholarships are designed to cover housing, tuition/program fees, roundtrip flights to Scandinavia, insurance, and a generous living and travel stipend. Scholars travel together around the Nordic countries to visit Viking alumni and celebrate cultural holidays.

All our scholars become lifelong members of our alumni network consisting of around 500 scholarship recipients from the last seven decades. Our alumni serve as a valuable support system for our scholars while they are abroad and can provide connections for academic and professional opportunities during and after the scholarship period has ended. The people you meet might become your lifelong friends, and the social, academic, and professional contacts you gain make the Brittingham Viking Organization unique.

The International Summer School

The International Summer School at the University of Oslo has been hosting bright students from all over the world since 1947. The program includes housing and a meal plan along with a series of excursions and is a valuable academic experience no matter your major. Available classes at ISS cover broad topics such as international politics, social change, and human rights. Visit the ISS website to learn more about course offerings.

ISS is available to 2026-27 freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Accepted Viking scholars will also need to apply for the ISS program through UW-Madison's Study Abroad office; applications typically close in February of the scholarship year.

Important Notes

Scholarship funds are deposited into the recipient’s student account. Scholars may be asked to pay some costs prior to arriving in Scandinavia but will be able to reimburse themselves after receiving scholarship funds. Scholars assume responsibility for additional study abroad expenses outside of the scholarship budget (e.g., entertainment, personal travels, clothing, etc.).

Scholarship requires student availability from early June through August 2027, including a weekend in late August 2027 to attend the annual Brittingham Viking Organization Convention in Helsinki.

Scholars must be planning to return to the Madison area for one full academic year after scholarship, either to study or for employment. We expect that returning scholars will be involved in welcoming new Scandinavian scholars to Madison in September 2027 and selecting the next group of American BVO scholars in winter 2027 and spring 2028.

Applicants must be US Citizens. This scholarship is open to Wisconsin residents, Minnesota residents, and out-of-state students. It is designed to cover tuition and fees at any of these levels.

Instructions for Applying

To apply, first download the written application Word Document below. Respond to each question thoroughly, then save your application as a PDF as instructed, and submit it below.

Download Application as MS Word File

Open Application
in Google Docs

Submit Application

Summer 2027 Application Timeline:

November 8 at 11:59 PM — applications due
November 14 — all applicants are notified via email of their interview status
November 21 — first interview for selected applicants (virtual)
December 5 — second interview for selected applicants (in Madison, WI)
December 5 evening — celebratory dinner for selected scholarship recipients

Click here to learn more about our spring semester opportunities.

Any questions about the scholarship or the application should be directed to us.scholarships@brittinghamvikings.org with the email subject “Application Question.” A member of the selection committee will get back to you as soon as possible.