A guide to education & international schools in Norway

Jump right in:

• Education system in Norway
• Daycare & kindergarten
• Primary & secondary schools
• International schools
• Higher education
• Language schools

The public education system in the country is one of the best in the world. Norway has a higher level of general education than the European average. It's well-structured, fully state-supported, and accessible to all.

Education facts about Norway

• School is compulsory between the ages of 6–16.
• Classes are taught in Norwegian with the exception of foreign language classes.
• Students only begin receiving grades in school once they enter lower secondary school.
• The entire education system in Norway is state-supported, including higher education.
• Public primary and lower secondary schools are free, including textbooks and learning materials.

Should my child attend public or private school

Most expat families lean towards private schools, while local Norwegians typically stick to public ones. There are also very little private schools in the country in comparison to public ones. This could be because private school in Norway was illegal up until 2005.

School ages in Norway

It is important to know what grade level your child will be entering dependent on their age. The school system in Norway can be divided into the following three levels:

Grading system in Norway

For secondary and upper secondary school, the following number scale is used:

• 6—Outstanding competence
• 5—Very good competence
• 4—Good competence
• 3—Fairly good competence
• 2—Low level of competence
• 1—Very low level of competence/fail

Universities and university colleges grade in the following way:

• A – Excellent
• B – Very Good
• C – Good
• D – Satisfactory
• E – Sufficient
• F – Fail

What is the school year in Norway like

The school year runs from mid-August to late June, split into two terms by a Christmas break in mid-December through early January. School hours are fairly short, starting at 8:00 hours and finishing between 1:00 hours with a lunch break and two recesses during the day.

After school care

If you're a working parent, you'll be glad to know Norway offers after-school care called SFO (Skolefritidsordning). It's available for children in grades 1–4 and runs after school hours until around 17:00 hours. It's not free, but fees are subsidized and vary by municipality

Daycare, childcare, preschool, and kindergarten all refer to the same thing in Norway. It is known as barnehage and it is completely voluntary. If a parent/guardian wishes to enroll their child in barnehage, they will need to pay. However, a large portion of the costs is subsidized by the government.

School is only compulsory starting at the age of 6 (Grade One). However, most Norwegian children attend barnehage before starting school.

Educational approach

Norwegian (barnehage) follows a holistic and play-based approach to early childhood education. Children learn through play, social interaction, and creative activities rather than formal academic lessons. There is also a strong emphasis on outdoor play, and many centers spend a large part of the day outside, regardless of the weather. The goal is to support children’s well-being, curiosity, creativity, and early language development.

Daycare/childcare and kindergarten fees

The Norwegian government sets a maximum monthly fee for barnehage. In recent years, this cap has been around 2,000–2,300 NOK (approx. 207-210 USD) per month. This does not include food costs which can be 400–500 NOK (approx. 40–50 USD) extra per month. Some daycare centers offer part-time spots (20%, 40%, 50%, 60%, or 80%), and fees are adjusted accordingly.

For a full-time nanny in Norway (Mondays—Fridays for eight hours a day), depending on the arrangement, costs may range from around 7,000 to 30,000 NOK per month or more. If you only need your child to look after on occasion, you can consider hiring a babysitter which usually charges around 100 — 300 NOK (approx. 11 –32 USD) per hour. To book and request you can use babysits website.

Public primary and lower secondary education in Norway are free of charge, including textbooks and most learning materials.

Primary school

Primary school, known as elementary school in other countries, is where compulsory education begins in Norway. Children must enroll when they turn six years old. Education at this level is a right for all children living in Norway.

Lower secondary school

Lower secondary school in Norway is the middle phase of compulsory education, covering grades 8 to 10, for students aged 13 to 16 and is often taught in the same campus as primary school and is compulsory and right too. A typical schedule at both the primary and lower secondary school levels includes the following school subjects:

• Norwegian
• mathematics
• social science
• Christianity, religion, philosophy of life, and ethics
• art and crafts
• natural science
• English (compulsory foreign language starting in grade one)
• foreign language / in-depth study of a language
• food and health
• music
• physical education
• student council work
• optional program subject Students begin receiving official grades during lower secondary school, and these grades are used when applying for upper secondary programs. Schools also provide career guidance to help students decide between academic studies and vocational training.

Upper secondary school

Following the completion of lower secondary school, students are able to attend three years of upper secondary school (known as high school in some countries), although it is not compulsory, the majority of students in Norway continue their education at this level. Pupils can also choose between vocational training or general studies. Programs for vocational education include:

• buildings and construction
• design, arts, and crafts
• electricity and electronics
• health and social care
• media and communication
• agriculture, fishing, and forestry
• restaurant and food processing
• service and transport
• technical and industrial production

These programs often combine classroom learning with practical training, and many students later complete apprenticeships in companies. These vocational programs can also give access university if they complete additional courses or the “påbygg” year, which gives them the same general admissions certification.

General studies programs are:

• specialization in general studies
• sports and physical education
• music, dance, and drama

Completing the general studies program gives students general university admissions certification (generell studiekompetanse), which allows them to apply to universities and colleges in Norway.

How to access university

Requirements for higher education include:

• three years of upper secondary school education
• proficiency in English or Norwegian
• general study completion certificate
• minimum grade point average (varies between university/college)
• student visa (if applicable)

There are several scholarships and grants for international students wishing to go to university in Norway. These include:

• Erasmus+
• NORAM
• Norwegian-Russian Scholarship Scheme
• Norwegian Quota Scholarship Scheme
• High North Fellowship Program
• Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
• UiT Marie Sklodowska Curie Individual Fellowship for International Students in Norway

Norway has a growing number of international schools, offering education from preschool to upper secondary levels. Many schools follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, and there are currently over 40 IB schools in Norway. International schools are particularly popular with expat families, diplomats, and children of multinational employees, providing a familiar curriculum in English or other foreign languages.

Top international schools in Norway

• Alesund International School (AaIS)
• Arendal International School (AIS)
• International School of Bergen (ISB)
• Children’s International School
• Gjøvik International School (GIS)

Other schools in Norway for international students include the following British, French, and German schools.

• British International School of Stavanger (Stavanger): English-language, IB and British curriculum, after-school clubs, bus service
• Lycée Français René Cassin d’Oslo (Oslo): French-language, AEFE-supported, preschool to high school
• Lycée Français de Stavanger (Stavanger): French-language, AEFE-supported, preschool to high school
• Deutsche Schule Oslo—Max Tau (DSO) (Oslo): German-language, kindergarten to upper secondary, students earn the Abitur

International school tuition fees

Tuition tends to be expensive for international schools in the country, but they often come with better facilities, higher standards of learning, and smaller class sizes. Below are some examples of school costs.

Per year:

• Ålesund International School (AaIS)—24,720 NOK (approx. 2,690 USD)
• Arnedal International School (AIS)—26,000 NOK (approx. 2,710 USD)
• British International School of Stavanger— 150,000 NOK (approx. 15,620 USD)

Per month:

• Children’s International School—3600 NOK (approx. 375 USD)
• Gjøvik International School (GIS)—3175 NOK (approx. 330 USD)

If you are interested in studying in Europe, or maybe your child is nearing university age, Norway is an excellent country to consider for high education. Many programs are taught in English. The country follows the Bologna Declaration, which means final degrees correspond to levels in other European countries. Bachelor’s degrees require three years of study while masters require five. Professional studies like psychology, medicine, and law also require five years of study.

Types of higher education in Norway

There are different types of higher education institutions in Norway.

• Universities—Offer bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs in arts, humanities, sciences, and professional fields (law, medicine, pharmacy, psychology).
• University colleges—Offer bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs with smaller classes and a stronger focus on practical and professional studies such as teaching and nursing.
• Specialized universities—These are known as national competence centers for the field they concentrate in.
• Private institutions—The offer popular subjects that tend to fill up fast at public universities such as business management, marketing, or fine arts.

Higher education is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Research.

Top universities and popular programs in Norway

• University of Oslo (law, medicine, political science)
• University of Bergen (marine biology, climate and environmental studies, life sciences)
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) (engineering, natural science, architecture)
• UIT the Artic University of Norway (marine studies, environmental science)
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences (agriculture, biotechnology)

These universities are also considered the best universities for international students in Norway.

What does it cost to study in Norway

EU/EEA students usually don’t pay tuition, only a small semester fee (approx. 600–1,000 NOK). This fee typically gives you access to student union memberships, health services, counseling, sports facilities, and your official student card. Non‑EU/EEA students generally pay tuition, which can range from 130,000–400,000 NOK per year, depending on the program.

How to apply

The Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (NUCAS) coordinate the admission to undergraduate study programs at all universities, state university colleges and some private university colleges in Norway.

To apply for higher education in Norway, you can do so through Samordna opptak. Even if you do not have a Norwegian national identity number, you should still apply via this website. The last day for applications is April 15. For some institutions and programs, such as a master’s program, you may need to apply directly via the school’s website. You will get your admission decision on July 20 and you must go online to see your results. This is where you will accept and confirm your place at the school as well. Studies typically begin on August 10, but this date may vary between universities.

Alternative to higher education

Tertiary vocational education is an alternative to higher education for those students who do not wish to attend university. The Higher Education Entrance Qualification is not required for this. Programs last between half a year to two years.

Many expats in Norway choose to attend language schools to learn Norwegian quickly or improve English skills. Classes are available for all levels, from beginner (A1) to advanced, and focus on speaking, reading, writing, and practical communication skills. Language schools in Norway include the following institutions in the following main areas:

• Lingu
• Alfaskolen
• Berlitz Language Services
• Lenoo
• New2norway

Language courses in Norway vary depending on the school, level, and program. Monthly fees usually range from 1,500 to 4,500 NOK (approx. 154 – 463 USD). Course durations can be flexible from a few weeks for intensive programs to several months for standard part-time classes.