Graduate Dental Education in Norway for Students from Developing Countries

569 I wish to inform readers of the Journal of Dental Education about a type of international dental education available in Norway. The universities of Bergen and Oslo offer research training programs leading to a master’s of philosophy in dentistry. This program is coordinated by Norway’s Center of International Health (CIH). The emphasis in research training is the field of public health. The objective of these programs is to help students from developing countries attain master’s degrees, which will be beneficial in stimulating research and teaching careers in public health in the students’ home countries. Financial assistance is provided to these students through the Norwegian Quota Stipend Scheme for the M.Phil. but not the Ph.D. program. Until a few years ago, these programs were available to students from all developing countries, but, of late, both Norwegian universities have formed collaborative partnerships in selected African and Asian countries, mainly with universities in Sudan, Ethiopia, and China. The universities have now established policies to admit only students from developing countries who are affiliated with their collaborative partners. They no longer enroll students from noncollaborative universities, even those with academic merit. It is sad that students with higher academic merit are denied admission simply on the grounds that they aren’t students from partner universities. The only consolation these Norwegian universities offer to students from noncollaborative universities is to allow a few of them to enroll as “Guest Students.” It would be ideal if these universities followed the U.S. system of education by admitting students solely on their academic merit, so that deserving students from all developing countries could benefit from these programs.