We don’t have to pay to apply here in Norway, and we normally don’t have to pay any tuition fees (most institutions of higher education here are publicly funded). In order to take our exams though we do have to pay a semester fee of about NOK 300-500 (60-80$) each semester, but that fee also grants us membership in local student welfare organisations, which in turn entitles us to benefits like on campus health services, counselling, access to sports facilities and cultural activities, etc. We also pay it to get the official student card that, among other things, gives us reduced fares on most forms of public transport and lower ticket prices to various cultural events. (x)