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) Note: Some specialized courses may be taught in English
Kindergarten (Barnehage)
Cost
- Maximum price: 13 200 yearly for 2025/2026
- 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: 15 April (2026) 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