The Norwegian educational system
On this page you will find an overview of the educational system in Norway, right from primary and secondary education to higher education. Click on each link for more information.
Compulsory primary and secondary education in Norway takes ten years to complete, and is divided into primary schooling (grades 1-7, age 6-13) and lower secondary schooling (grades 8-10, age 13-16). Students who complete their primary and lower secondary education are entitled to three years’ education and training at upper secondary level.
In upper secondary education and training, you have the choice between pursuing vocational education and training (yrkesfaglig opplæring) and the programme for general studies (studieforberedende opplæring).
- Vocational education and training leads to a vocational trade or profession and confers vocational qualifications (yrkeskompetanse).
- The programme for general studies gives students higher education entrance qualifications and thus the opportunity to continue studying at a university college or university.
You can attain higher education entrance qualifications after at least 13 years of primary, secondary and upper secondary education in Norway.
Vocational school education and training (fagskoleutdanning) is a short course at tertiary level that provides a vocational alternative to higher education. This kind of course can provide qualifications for working in many different occupations, from clerical/administration to alternative medicine, technical subjects and health administration, just to mention a few.
There are in total seven universities, nine specialised university institutions and 36 university colleges that are accredited in Norway. The universities and most of the university colleges are state-owned and run. The tuition offered at these institutions is free of charge. Private higher education institutions charge tuition fees.
Bachelor’s and master’s degrees and doctoral degrees
The structure of higher education followed in Norway since 2003 consists of three-year bachelor’s degrees, two-year master’s degrees and three-year doctoral degrees. This means that you can study at bachelor’s level (also called a first degree or undergraduate degree), and at master’s level and doctoral level (post-graduate degrees).
Professional education
Some programmes of study are not split into bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes (i.e. first degree and post-graduate degree). These are known as professional education programmes, and are fixed programmes of study bestowing specific professional qualifications. Most courses of study in the professions take five years to complete and lead to a master’s degree. After graduation, you will be awarded a specific and frequently protected professional title or authorisation. In Norway, these courses of study include medicine, law, pharmacy, dental hygiene, teaching (with a full university degree), psychology, dentistry, economics and aqua medicine.