This book is part of a series of in-depth studies on the functioning of government-sponsored student support schemes. The study describes and analyzes the development of the Norwegian student finance system since 1947. The Norwegian case is of interest in that the government redistributes more private income through public funding than in most other countries, and it has long been considered that parents cannot be expected to pay for their children's higher education. Although most countries are not in a position to offer this kind of generous support, the development of the system and the societal choices involved should be of wide interest. Moreover, the study emphasizes questions that have to be addressed in most systems, regardless of the level of subsidy.