System of education in Norway

Nowadays Norway is becoming more and more popular. Particularly, it is famous for it’s picturesque nature, fjords coastline and music. Norway is also a native land of hugely influential figures in the spheres of art and culture, and the great example is Edvard Munch, the creator of the famous picture “The Scream”.   Moreover, Norway offers a good selection of universities for international studies.

System of higher education in Norway is divided into universities (8), specialized colleges (9), university colleges (24), private schools (14) and private universities (5). Academic year in Norwegian university normally starts in mid-August and finishes in mid-June. Courses are measured in accordance with the European standards and are rated from A (highest) to F (lowest) marks.

As Norway is a participant of the Bologna process, it’s university studies are divided into bachelor's, master's and PhD degrees. The First cycle (BA) lasts for 3 years, the Second cycle (MA) lasts for 2 years and the Third cycle (PhD) can be completed in 3 more years. You can combine BA and MA degrees into a single program that will last for five years – this is usually offered for business management, law, architecture, engineering and dentistry programs. The Bologna Process also includes the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), which means that after finishing courses or getting degrees at Norwegian universities students will hold diplomas and certificates that are recognized by other countries all over the world.

The first step in higher education is a bachelor program that is also known as The Høgskolekandidat (College candidate). It starts right after finishing school and passing the test. It lasts for 3 or 4 years and available in Norwegian and in English language as well. The second step or so-called "cycle" is a master program. The admission of the applicant is decided by each high school individually on the basis of his academic achievements. The duration of master programs is 2 years. The studies are offered in English language and are available for foreign students from all over the world.  Finally, PhD degree is the last level of higher education. It is usually been completed by those young people who see themselves in the role of scientists in a particular field.

Admission to a high school in Norway is possible on the following conditions: completion of the secondary education at advanced level, passing the exam at the end of the school with getting a high mark for it and offering the selection committee the established certificate of successfully passing the test. For some foreign students it may be necessary to complete at least one year of university studies in their country in addition. It depends on the student’s native country and the differences of education system in it. You may instead apply for Norwegian universities through the law of 23/5 – you must be at least 23 years old, have 5 years of work experience combined with schooling and also you have to pass exams in several key subjects (mathematics, natural sciences, English, Norwegian and social studies), which depends on your course choice.

As a rule, Students should have good knowledge of Norwegian (minimum mark: 3.0) and/or English assessed by IELTS or TOEFL (Minimum score of 5.0 points in IELTS or 500 in TOEFL). When applying for English-taught programs, you should apply directly to each university you are willing to enter. As usual, you’ll need an application form which you can find on the official website of the university.