Education & Qualification Recognition Guide

The Norwegian Education System

Structure

• Barnehage (kindergarten): Age 1–6
• Grunnskole (primary & lower secondary): Age 6–16 (10 years, mandatory)
• Videregående skole (upper secondary): Age 16–19 (3 years)
• Høyere utdanning (higher education): University/college

Language of Instruction

• All public schools teach in Norwegian
• Some international schools teach in English (private, fees apply)

Kindergarten (Barnehage)

Cost

• Maximum price: 3,315 kr per month (2025)
• Reduced price available for low-income families
• Free core hours for 2–5 year olds in low-income families

How to Apply

• Apply through your municipality
• Main intake: August each year
• Apply early – waiting lists can be long

Primary & Secondary School

Enrolling Your Child

• Contact your local municipality
• Children must start school the year they turn 6
• Free for all residents

Norwegian Language Support

• Schools must offer Norwegian language support for children who need it
• Ask your municipality about available support

Higher Education

Tuition Fees

• Most public universities are free for all students
• Private institutions charge tuition fees

Top Universities

• University of Oslo (UiO)
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
• University of Bergen (UiB)
• University of Tromsø (UiT)

Applying

• Apply through samordnaopptak.no for most bachelor programmes
• Deadline: 1 April for most programmes
• Some programmes have earlier deadlines

Student Loans & Grants

• Available through Lånekassen (State Educational Loan Fund)
• Open to Norwegian citizens and some foreign students
• Combination of loan and grant

Recognising Foreign Qualifications

NOKUT (Higher Education)

• Recognises foreign university degrees
• Apply at nokut.no
• Processing time: Up to 4 months
• Fee applies

HK-dir (Vocational Qualifications)

• Recognises foreign vocational qualifications (trades, crafts)
• Apply at hkdir.no
• Processing time: Varies

Regulated Professions

Some professions require special authorisation in Norway:

• Doctors: Helsedirektoratet
• Nurses: Helsedirektoratet
• Teachers: Udir.no
• Lawyers: Tilsynsrådet for advokatvirksomhet
• Engineers: NOKUT

Tips

• Start the recognition process early – it can take several months
• Some employers accept foreign qualifications without formal recognition
• Check if your profession is regulated before applying

Learning Norwegian

Free Norwegian Classes

• If you have a residence permit, you may be entitled to free Norwegian classes
• Contact your municipality for details

Where to Learn

• Folkeuniversitetet – courses nationwide
• Voksenopplæring – adult education centres (municipal)
• Online: Duolingo, NRK's language resources

Language Levels Required

• Permanent residence: A2 spoken
• Citizenship: A2 written and spoken
• Many jobs require B2 or higher