Higher education in Norway
Encyclopedia
Higher education in Norway is offered by a range of eight universities
, nine specialised universities, 24 university college
s as well as a range of private university colleges. The national higher education system is in accordance with the Bologna process
, with bachelor's degree
s (first cycle, three years), master's degree
s (second cycle, two years) and doctoral degrees
(third cycle, three years). Acceptance is offered after finishing upper secondary school with general university admissions certification.
Public education is free, with an academic year with two semesters, from August to December and from January to June. The ultimate responsibility for the education lies with the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research
.
. Conversely study competence can be achieved by the so-called 23/5 rule where applicants must be 23 years of age and have a total of five years of upper secondary education and work experience as well as have passed courses in Norwegian, English
, mathematics
, science
, social studies
. To be accepted as certain lines (for instance engineering
) advanced courses in mathematics, physics
and chemistry
must be passed.
Admittance to Bachelor level programs is coordinated through the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service
based on a point scale, with the highest ranking students offered a place. Points are awarded based on average grades from upper secondary school, but additional points are awarded students with secondary two-year course specialization, science specialization, age and fulfilled one year of higher education, military service
or folk high school
. Secondary school grades can be improved to increase points, but 40% of the places are only offered based on original transcripts without age or study points.
, thus creating a 3+2+3 year system in accordance with the Bologna Process.
A further step was taken in 2005 when the Act Relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Private Higher Education Institutions Act were merged into one common Act, the Act relating to universities and university colleges. The common act ensures greater equality between the public and private higher education institutions, thus focusing more on the quality in higher education than ownership. The evaluation of Quality Assurance Systems at and accreditation of both public and private institutions are handled by a national agency for quality assurance, NOKUT.
Some programs (including architecture
, business management at NHH
, engineering
at NTNU
), Master of Dentistry and Master of Laws
are five-year programs (one-tier degrees).
Three types of Master's degrees are offered: Master of Science
(science and business), Master of Philosophy
(humanities and social studies) and Master of Technology (engineering).
Some professional oriented programs have been granted an exemption from the Bologna system. Physicians (cand.med.
), veterinarians (cand.med.vet), psychologist (cand.pshychol) and theologians (cand.theol.
) are therefore still awarded degrees for six years of study.
-system the grading are given according to scale of six grades, ranging from an A to F, with A being the best and E the worst passing grade. F is a fail.
A normal study progression awards 60 credits (stp) per year (30 per semester), most institutions either use a 7.5 or a 10 credit block system.
Examinations are usually held every semester, in December and June, although exceptions occur.
degree supplemented with a Masters or hovedfag lasting 1.5 or 2 years. Total study time was five years within sciences while it was six years within social studies and humanities. Master degrees were named based on the line of study, for instance cand.scient. within science, cand.polit.
in political studies or cand.oecon.
within economics. Certain professional studies, such as medicine, law, and some engineering and business administration courses had professional studies that offered full-length degrees (without issuing cand.mag. titles). The titles awarded were cand.jur. (law, 6 years), cand.med.
(medical doctor, 6 years), cand.psychol. (clinical psychology, 6 years), siviløkonom
(business administration, 4 years) or sivilingeniør
(engineering, 4.5 years). NHH
had a monopoly educating siviløkonoms while NTH
had a monopoly education sivilingeniørs. Doctorate studies were offered on top of the masters.
Grading was performed on a 1.0 to 4.0 system, with 1.0 as the best grade and 4.0 the worst passing grade. A total of 41 different grades could be awarded with the system. Credits (then called vekttall) were issued based on a nominal study of 20 credits per year (or 10 per semester).
(since 1811), Bergen
(1948), Trondheim
(1968) and Tromsø
(1972). Since 2005 any college offering five master programs and four doctoral programs can title themselves a university, leading to the Norwegian College of Agriculture, Stavanger University College and Agder University College
converting to universities.
The public universities of Norway are:
Currently there are no private universities in Norway, although BI Norwegian Business School have tried to advance to a full university.
and the Norwegian College of Agriculture have converted to full universities.
The public specialised universities in Norway are:
The private specialised universities are:
, teaching
, business management, engineering
and information technology
, though most colleges also offer a number of other educations as well.
The public university colleges in Norway consist of:
The accredited private university colleges in Norway are:
The private institutions offer primarily programs and courses within popular fields of study where the number of public places is limited or offering accelerated courses.
Most of the private institutions are foundations
, either autonomous (like the Norwegian School of Management
and Campus Kristiania
) or part of various religious societies, like the School of Missions and Theology or Queen Maud's College of Early Childhood Education
.
Students attending private institutions may have to pay school fees equivalent to the entire cost of operating the education, though the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
will grant loans to cover the tuition fees.
Students are also given the opportunity to apply for financial support (a part loan/part grant) from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
. The main requirement for support from Fund is that you are a Norwegian citizen. However, foreign citizens may also be entitled to financial support.
Eligible applicants may be granted financial support (a part loan/part grant) of about NOK
90,000. It is initially given as a full loan, but upon completion of modules in the education around 40 percent of the amount is transferred to a scholarship
/grant
if the modules are passed. There is no interest paid while taking the education.
While studying, all students belong to a student welfare organisation
that takes care of such services as housing, on-campus dining, book stores, kindergartens, advisory services and some health care. Part of this is finances through a student fee, typically at NOK 300-500 per semester. There are a total of 25 such organisations, each covering a geographic area and often consisting of more than one institution. The sole exception is Oslo where there are two.
is only offered at two public institutions, NTNU in Trondheim and the Oslo School of Architecture and Design. In addition the private college Bergen School of Architecture
offers architect education. NTNU accepts students based on grades while the Oslo School accepts students based on a portfolio. Landscape architecture
and area planning is offered at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences at Ås.
Eight institutions offer a Master of Science in Business Administration, also granting the right to use the protected title siviløkonom
. These are Bodø Graduate School of Business
, Trondheim Business School
, Molde University College, the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, the University of Stavanger, the University of Agder, the Norwegian School of Management and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Until the 1980s this level of education was only offered at NHH.
. NTNU offers 14 different programs in engineering.
degree. After school candidates are required 1.5 years of practice before being granted certification. After six additional years of work experience they are awarded specialist certification.
For upper secondary school taking a degree at a university within the appropriate subject is the preferred course of line. After taking a degree, either at Bachelor or Master level, a one year course in pedagogy
is required before teacher certification is granted. To teach a particular subject at the upper secondary level, 60 credits in the appropriate field is required, making most teachers qualified to teach two or three subjects, though these are not absolute requirements.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, nine specialised universities, 24 university college
University college
The term "university college" is used in a number of countries to denote college institutions that provide tertiary education but do not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university...
s as well as a range of private university colleges. The national higher education system is in accordance with the Bologna process
Bologna process
The purpose of the Bologna Process is the creation of the European Higher Education Area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe, in particular under the Lisbon Recognition Convention...
, with bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
s (first cycle, three years), master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
s (second cycle, two years) and doctoral degrees
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
(third cycle, three years). Acceptance is offered after finishing upper secondary school with general university admissions certification.
Public education is free, with an academic year with two semesters, from August to December and from January to June. The ultimate responsibility for the education lies with the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research
Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research
Royal Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research is a Norwegian responsible for education, research and kindergartens. The ministry was established in 1814, and since October 18, 2007 led by Tora Aasland and Kristin Halvorsen in 2009. The department reports to the legislature...
.
Admittance
Acceptance to higher education requires either fulfilled three years of upper secondary school with general university admissions certification. This is awarded non-vocational students or vocational students who choose to not take their apprenticeshipApprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
. Conversely study competence can be achieved by the so-called 23/5 rule where applicants must be 23 years of age and have a total of five years of upper secondary education and work experience as well as have passed courses in Norwegian, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, social studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
. To be accepted as certain lines (for instance engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
) advanced courses in mathematics, physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
must be passed.
Admittance to Bachelor level programs is coordinated through the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service
Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service
The Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service is a Norwegian government agency responsible for application and admission to all public universities and university colleges in Norway for entry level degrees, either Bachelor degrees for liberal studies and some professional studies, as...
based on a point scale, with the highest ranking students offered a place. Points are awarded based on average grades from upper secondary school, but additional points are awarded students with secondary two-year course specialization, science specialization, age and fulfilled one year of higher education, military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
or folk high school
Folk high school
Folk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
. Secondary school grades can be improved to increase points, but 40% of the places are only offered based on original transcripts without age or study points.
Structure
In 2003 a national reform, called the Quality reform, was implemented throughout the entire national higher education system. Norway was one of the first countries in Europe to implement the Bologna conventionEuropean Higher Education Area
The European Higher Education Area was launched along with the Bologna Process' decade anniversary, in March 2010, during the Budapest-Vienna Ministerial Conference....
, thus creating a 3+2+3 year system in accordance with the Bologna Process.
A further step was taken in 2005 when the Act Relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Private Higher Education Institutions Act were merged into one common Act, the Act relating to universities and university colleges. The common act ensures greater equality between the public and private higher education institutions, thus focusing more on the quality in higher education than ownership. The evaluation of Quality Assurance Systems at and accreditation of both public and private institutions are handled by a national agency for quality assurance, NOKUT.
First Cycle
Most students that fulfill the requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway are accepted to three-year Bachelor programs.Second Cycle
Entrance to the two-year Master programs are based upon the academic qualifications (grades) from the bachelor level.Some programs (including architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, business management at NHH
NHH
The Norwegian School of Economics or NHH is a public business school situated in Bergen, Norway. Opened in 1936 by King Haakon VII, it is Norway's oldest business school and has since its foundation been the leading Norwegian teaching and research institution in the fields of economics and...
, engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
at NTNU
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology , commonly known as NTNU, is located in Trondheim. NTNU is the second largest of the eight universities in Norway, and, as its name suggests, has the main national responsibility for higher education in engineering and technology...
), Master of Dentistry and Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
are five-year programs (one-tier degrees).
Three types of Master's degrees are offered: Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
(science and business), Master of Philosophy
Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
(humanities and social studies) and Master of Technology (engineering).
Professional Degrees
Some professional oriented programs have been granted an exemption from the Bologna system. Physicians (cand.med.
Cand.med.
Candidate of Medicine , Candidata Medicinae , abbreviated Cand. Med.) is an academic degree awarded in Denmark, Iceland and Norway following a six-year medical school education....
), veterinarians (cand.med.vet), psychologist (cand.pshychol) and theologians (cand.theol.
Cand.theol.
Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...
) are therefore still awarded degrees for six years of study.
Third Cycle
Doctor Philosophae degrees are awarded after three years of research-oriented education. Most programs also include one year of compulsory teaching as part of the education, making the total length of the program four years.System of Grading
According to the ECTSEuropean Credit Transfer and Accumulation System
This page describes ECTS-credits. For information about the ECTS grading system go to ECTS grading scale.European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System is a standard for comparing the study attainment and performance of students of higher education across the European Union and other...
-system the grading are given according to scale of six grades, ranging from an A to F, with A being the best and E the worst passing grade. F is a fail.
A normal study progression awards 60 credits (stp) per year (30 per semester), most institutions either use a 7.5 or a 10 credit block system.
Examinations are usually held every semester, in December and June, although exceptions occur.
Old system
Prior to 2002 the higher education in Norway had a significantly different system of education with roots back to the start of higher education in the country. It was based on a 3.5 or 4 year cand.mag.Cand.mag.
Candidatus magisterii , Candidata magisterii , i.e. Latin Candidate of Arts, abbreviated cand.mag., is an academic degree used in Denmark, and formerly in Norway and Iceland, roughly corresponding to an American Master of Arts and officially translated as such...
degree supplemented with a Masters or hovedfag lasting 1.5 or 2 years. Total study time was five years within sciences while it was six years within social studies and humanities. Master degrees were named based on the line of study, for instance cand.scient. within science, cand.polit.
Cand.polit.
Candidatus rerum politicarum , Candidata rerum politicarum , abbreviated cand.polit., is an academic degree within the fields of social sciences issued under the old education system in Denmark and Norway.-Denmark:...
in political studies or cand.oecon.
Cand.oecon.
Candidatus oeconomices or Candidata oeconomices , often abbreviated cand.oecon. is an academic degree in economics at Danish and Norwegian universities. It is roughly equivalent to a Master of Economics, but it consists of 4+2 years, and was based on a four year cand.mag.. The degree was replaced...
within economics. Certain professional studies, such as medicine, law, and some engineering and business administration courses had professional studies that offered full-length degrees (without issuing cand.mag. titles). The titles awarded were cand.jur. (law, 6 years), cand.med.
Cand.med.
Candidate of Medicine , Candidata Medicinae , abbreviated Cand. Med.) is an academic degree awarded in Denmark, Iceland and Norway following a six-year medical school education....
(medical doctor, 6 years), cand.psychol. (clinical psychology, 6 years), siviløkonom
Siviløkonom
Siviløkonom is an academic degree issued within the field of business administration and economics and a professional title in Norway , obtained after 5 years of studies...
(business administration, 4 years) or sivilingeniør
Sivilingeniør
Sivilingeniør used to be a Norwegian university degree protected by Norwegian law issued to graduates from technical universities. To qualify for the title, you had to follow a structured study programme in technology and natural sciences of 4,5 - 5 years duration at a Norwegian university or...
(engineering, 4.5 years). NHH
NHH
The Norwegian School of Economics or NHH is a public business school situated in Bergen, Norway. Opened in 1936 by King Haakon VII, it is Norway's oldest business school and has since its foundation been the leading Norwegian teaching and research institution in the fields of economics and...
had a monopoly educating siviløkonoms while NTH
Norwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
had a monopoly education sivilingeniørs. Doctorate studies were offered on top of the masters.
Grading was performed on a 1.0 to 4.0 system, with 1.0 as the best grade and 4.0 the worst passing grade. A total of 41 different grades could be awarded with the system. Credits (then called vekttall) were issued based on a nominal study of 20 credits per year (or 10 per semester).
Universities
Traditionally there were only four universities in Norway, located in OsloOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
(since 1811), Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
(1948), Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
(1968) and Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
(1972). Since 2005 any college offering five master programs and four doctoral programs can title themselves a university, leading to the Norwegian College of Agriculture, Stavanger University College and Agder University College
Agder University College
University of Agder is a public university located in both Kristiansand and Grimstad, Norway. The institution was established as a University college in 1994 with the merger of six colleges and was granted its current status as a University in 2007, but its academic activity dates as far back as...
converting to universities.
The public universities of Norway are:
- Norwegian University of Life SciencesNorwegian University of Life SciencesThe Norwegian University of Life Sciences is a public university located in Ås, Norway.It is located at Ås in Akershus, near Oslo, and has around 3800 students...
(Ås) - Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyThe Norwegian University of Science and Technology , commonly known as NTNU, is located in Trondheim. NTNU is the second largest of the eight universities in Norway, and, as its name suggests, has the main national responsibility for higher education in engineering and technology...
(Trondheim) - University of Agder (Kristiansand, Grimstad and Arendal)
- University of BergenUniversity of BergenThe University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
- University of OsloUniversity of OsloThe University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
- University of Nordland
- University of StavangerUniversity of StavangerThe University of Stavanger is located in Stavanger, Norway and has about 8,500 students and 1200 administration, faculty and service staff. It is organised in three faculties, including two national centres of expertise. It includes 107 professors, and more than 150 of the academic staff hold...
- University of TromsøUniversity of TromsøThe University of Tromsø is the world's northernmost university. Located in the city of Tromsø, Norway, it was established in 1968, and opened in 1972. It is one of eight universities in Norway. The University of Tromsø is the largest research and educational institution in northern Norway...
Currently there are no private universities in Norway, although BI Norwegian Business School have tried to advance to a full university.
Specialised universities
There are six public and three private specialised universities in Norway, each functioning as a national competence centre for the field they represent. Six are located in Oslo,one is in Molde, one is in Bergen and one in Stavanger. The Norwegian Institute of TechnologyNorwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
and the Norwegian College of Agriculture have converted to full universities.
The public specialised universities in Norway are:
- Oslo School of Architecture and DesignOslo School of Architecture and DesignThe Oslo School of Architecture and Design, AHO, is one of Norway's three architectural schools.AHO is an autonomous institution within the Norwegian university system. The school was established directly after World War II as a «crisis course» for students of architecture who were unable to finish...
, or Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo (official site) - Molde University CollegeMolde University CollegeMolde University College - Specialized University in Logistics is a Norwegian specialized university located in Molde. The university offers higher education in business administration, transport economics, logistics, information technology, and health sciences.Degrees are offered both at...
, or Høgskolen i Molde (official site) - Norwegian School of Economics, or Norges handelshøgskole (official site)
- Norwegian School of Sport SciencesNorwegian School of Sport SciencesThe Norwegian School of Sport Sciences is a public university located at Sognsvann in Oslo, Norway. It has the national responsibility for education and research related within sport sciences. It provides education at Bachelor, Master and Doctorate level....
, or Norges idrettshøgskole (official site) - Norwegian Academy of MusicNorwegian Academy of MusicThe Norwegian Academy of Music is a music conservatory located in Oslo, Norway, in the neighbourhood of Majorstuen, Frogner. It is the largest music academy in Norway and offers the country's highest level of music education. As a university college, it offers both undergraduate and postgraduate...
, or Norges musikkhøgskole (official site) - Norwegian School of Veterinary ScienceNorwegian School of Veterinary ScienceNorwegian School of Veterinary Science or NVH is a public university located at Adamstuen in Oslo, that educates veterinarians and veterinary nurses as well as research within aquatic medicine, food safety, comparative medicine and mammalian diseases, health and welfare. The institution has about...
, or Norges vetrinærhøgskole (official site)
The private specialised universities are:
- BI Norwegian Business School, or Handelshøyskolen BI (official site)
- MF Norwegian School of TheologyMF Norwegian School of TheologyThe Norwegian School of Theology , is a private, independent, accredited Norwegian specialised university...
, or Det teologiske Menighetsfakultet ( official site) - School of Mission and Theology in Stavanger, or Misjonshøgskolen (official site)
University colleges
The 23 university colleges in Norway are responsible for regional education of primarily bachelor level education within the fields of nursingNursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
, teaching
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, business management, engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
, though most colleges also offer a number of other educations as well.
The public university colleges in Norway consist of:
- Bergen National Academy of the ArtsBergen National Academy of the ArtsBergen National Academy of the Arts or KHiB is one of the two independent institutions of higher learning in the visual arts and design in Norway. It is located in Bergen, Norway.-History:...
, or Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen (official site) - Bergen University CollegeBergen University CollegeBergen University College is a Norwegian public institution of higher education, established in August 1994 by the merging of six former independent colleges in Bergen, Norway.The College is organised in 3 faculties:*Faculty of Education...
, or Høgskolen i Bergen (official site) - Bodø University CollegeBodø University CollegeThe University of Nordland , previously Bodø University College, is a public university located is located in Bodø, Norway. The university is located 10 km outside the city centre...
, or Høgskolen i Bodø (official site) - Buskerud University CollegeBuskerud University CollegeBuskerud University College is a høgskole, a Norwegian state institution of higher education established August 1, 1994 and situated in the county of Buskerud, Norway....
, or Høgskolen i Buskerud (official site) - Finnmark University CollegeFinnmark University CollegeFinnmark University College is a university college with three campuses throughout Finnmark, Norway. The Faculty of Education and Liberal Arts and the Faculty of Business and Social Work is located in Alta, while the Faculty of Nursing is located in Hammerfest. The Barents International School,...
, or Høgskolen i Finnmark (official site) - Gjøvik University CollegeGjøvik University CollegeGjøvik University College is a høgskole, a Norwegian state institution of higher education, in the town of Gjøvik, Norway. It was established August 1, 1994, and has approximately 2600 students and 280 employees....
, or Høgskolen i Gjøvik (official site) - Harstad University CollegeHarstad University CollegeHarstad University College is a høgskole, a Norwegian state institution of higher education, in the city of Harstad, Norway. It was established August 1, 1994, as a result of the restructuring of an existing høgskole in Harstad, a 1983 establishment, and has about 1100 students and 110...
, or Høgskolen i Harstad (official site) - Hedmark University CollegeHedmark University CollegeHedmark University College is a høgskole, a Norwegian state institution of higher education, in the county of Hedmark, Norway. The college's four campuses are located in Hamar, Elverum, Åmot and Stor-Elvdal...
, or Høgskolen i Hedmark (official site) - Lillehammer University CollegeLillehammer University CollegeLillehammer University College is a Norwegian state-run university college located at Storhove in Lillehammer. It was established in 1971 as Oppland College and took its current form in 1995. It is located in the television and radio center built for the 1994 Winter Olympic Games...
, or Høgskolen i Lillehammer (official site) - Narvik University CollegeNarvik University CollegeNarvik University College is a state owned University College in the town of Narvik, Norway. It was established August 1 1994, and has approximately 1300 students and 170 employees....
, or Høgskolen i Narvik (official site) - Nesna University CollegeNesna University CollegeNesna University College is a høgskole, a Norwegian state institution of higher education, in the municipality of Nesna, Norway. It was established August 1, 1994, and has approximately 1200 students and 130 employees....
, or Høgskolen i Nesna (official site) - Nord-Trøndelag University CollegeNord-Trøndelag University CollegeNord-Trøndelag University College or HiNT is a Norwegian university college located throughout the county of Nord-Trøndelag...
, or Høgskolen i Nord-Trøndelag (official site) - Norwegian Police University CollegeNorwegian Police University CollegeThe Norwegian Police University College is a public university college located in Oslo, Kongsvinger, Stavern and Bodø, Norway. It offers education for the police force of Norway, including a three-year basic education and a possible expansion with a Master's degree. 720 students are accepted at...
, or Politihøgskolen (official site) - Oslo National Academy of the ArtsOslo National Academy of the ArtsThe Oslo National Academy of the Arts is a university college in Oslo, Norway, that provides education in visual arts, design and performing arts...
, or Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo (official site) - Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied SciencesOslo and Akershus University College of Applied SciencesOslo and Akershus University College , Norwegian: Høgskolen i Oslo og Akershus is the largest state university college in Norway, with more than 16,000 students and approx. 1600 employees...
, or Høgskolen i Oslo og Akershus (official site) - Sámi University CollegeSámi University CollegeSámi University College was established in 1989 and has about 150 students and 52 faculty, technical and administrative staff. It is one of 25 Norwegian state university colleges and located in Kautokeino....
, or Samisk høgskole (official site) - Sogn og Fjordane University CollegeSogn og Fjordane University CollegeSogn og Fjordane University College is a høgskole, a Norwegian state institution of higher education, in the county of Sogn og Fjordane. The university college's campuses are located in Sogndal, Førde and Sandane...
, or Høgskolen i Sogn of Fjordane (official site) - Stord/Haugesund University CollegeStord/Haugesund University CollegeStord/Haugesund University College , Norwegian: Høgskolen Stord/Haugesund) is a medium sized state university college in Norway, with around 2700 students and 260 employees...
, or Høgskolen i Stord/Haugesund (official site) - Sør-Trøndelag University CollegeSør-Trøndelag University CollegeSør-Trøndelag University College or HiST is a Norwegian university college located in Trondheim. The school offers higher education within nursing, teaching, economics, food science, engineering and information technology...
, or Høgskolen i Sør-Trøndelag (official site) - Telemark University CollegeTelemark University CollegeTelemark University College is the fourth largest university college in Norway. The University College has about 5000 students. It is split between four different locations. The campuses are located in Bø, Notodden, Porsgrunn and Rauland.-Hierarchy:The university college is organised into four...
, or Høgskolen i Telemark (official site) - Tromsø University CollegeTromsø University CollegeTromsø University College was a university college located in Tromsø, Norway with programs within health care, engineering, business administration, teaching and music, dance and drama...
, or Høgskolen i Tromsø (official site) - Vestfold University CollegeVestfold University CollegeVestfold University College is a university college, a Norwegian state institution of higher education, in the county of Vestfold, Norway. The university college's campuses were formerly located in Borre and Eik. From 2010 the whole university college was colocated at Campus Bakkenteigen in Horten...
, or Høgskolen i Vestfold (official site) - Volda University CollegeVolda University CollegeVolda University College is a høgskole, a Norwegian state institution of higher education, in the village of Volda in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It was established on 1 August 1994, when the Møre og Romsdal regional college and the Volda Teachers College were merged together...
, or Høgskolen i Volda (official site) - Østfold University CollegeØstfold University CollegeØstfold University College is a further and higher education institution in south-eastern Norway. It has campuses in Fredrikstad and Halden. Enrollment is approximately 4,000 students ; and 480 staff...
, or Høgskolen i Østfold (official site) - Ålesund University CollegeÅlesund University CollegeAalesund University College is a medium sized institution of higher education in Norway with more than 2000 students and approximately 150 employees....
, or Høgskolen i Ålesund (official site)
The accredited private university colleges in Norway are:
- Diakonhjemmet University College, or Diakonhjemmet Høgskole (official site)
- The Norwegian School of Information TechnologyNorwegian School of Information TechnologyNorwegian School of Information Technology is a Norwegian information technology university college located in Oslo, Norway.It previously had schools located in Bergen, Stavanger and Bærum, but these were later shut down....
, or Norges Informasjonsteknologiske Høyskole (official site) - NLA School of Religion, Education and Intercultural Studies, or Norsk Lærerakademi Bachelor- og masterstudier (official site)
Private institutions
There are a number of private higher education institutions in Norway, although the public institution cover more than ninety per cent of the student population in the country, meaning that less than ten per cent of students attend private institutions.The private institutions offer primarily programs and courses within popular fields of study where the number of public places is limited or offering accelerated courses.
Most of the private institutions are foundations
Stiftelse
Stiftelse, the Norwegian Foundation is an independent juridical entity that has assets at its disposal, given by will, gift, or other juridical disposition to the foundation for a given purpose; that might be for idealistic, humanitarian, cultureal, social, educational, economic or other purpose...
, either autonomous (like the Norwegian School of Management
Norwegian School of Management
BI Norwegian Business School former name BI Norwegian School of Management is the largest business school in Norway and the second largest in all of Europe. BI has in total 6 campuses with the main one located in Oslo.-History:...
and Campus Kristiania
Campus Kristiania
Campus Kristiania is the name of an education center including Oslo School of Management, Norwegian School of Creative Studies, Oslo School of Marketing and the NKS online learning. The Education center is owned by the Ernst G. Mortensen foundation and is among one of the largest contributors in...
) or part of various religious societies, like the School of Missions and Theology or Queen Maud's College of Early Childhood Education
Queen Maud's College of Early Childhood Education
Queen Maud's College of Early Childhood Education is a private college for preschool teachers located in Trondheim, Norway...
.
Students attending private institutions may have to pay school fees equivalent to the entire cost of operating the education, though the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
The Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund is a government agency that provides loans and grants to Norwegian and certain foreign students for their education...
will grant loans to cover the tuition fees.
Student welfare and economics
There are no tuition fees for attending public higher education in Norway, as all the costs are covered by the Ministry of Education and Research.Students are also given the opportunity to apply for financial support (a part loan/part grant) from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund
The Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund is a government agency that provides loans and grants to Norwegian and certain foreign students for their education...
. The main requirement for support from Fund is that you are a Norwegian citizen. However, foreign citizens may also be entitled to financial support.
Eligible applicants may be granted financial support (a part loan/part grant) of about NOK
Norwegian krone
The krone is the currency of Norway and its dependent territories. The plural form is kroner . It is subdivided into 100 øre. The ISO 4217 code is NOK, although the common local abbreviation is kr. The name translates into English as "crown"...
90,000. It is initially given as a full loan, but upon completion of modules in the education around 40 percent of the amount is transferred to a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
/grant
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
if the modules are passed. There is no interest paid while taking the education.
While studying, all students belong to a student welfare organisation
Student welfare organisation
Student Welfare Organisation is a legal entity responsible for the welfare of students of universities, university colleges, scientific universities and other colleges in Norway...
that takes care of such services as housing, on-campus dining, book stores, kindergartens, advisory services and some health care. Part of this is finances through a student fee, typically at NOK 300-500 per semester. There are a total of 25 such organisations, each covering a geographic area and often consisting of more than one institution. The sole exception is Oslo where there are two.
Programs
The four main universities in Bergen, Oslo, Trondheim and Tromsø all offer a wide selection of courses within most fields, while certain minor fields have been left to the specialised universities (including among others veterinary studies and sports). Many educations are left to the regional colleges.Architecture
ArchitectureArchitecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
is only offered at two public institutions, NTNU in Trondheim and the Oslo School of Architecture and Design. In addition the private college Bergen School of Architecture
Bergen School of Architecture
Bergen School of Architecture or BAS is a private and academically independent school which trains architects, located in Bergen, Norway....
offers architect education. NTNU accepts students based on grades while the Oslo School accepts students based on a portfolio. Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
and area planning is offered at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences at Ås.
Business administration
Most business administrators are educated at the regional colleges throughout the country, with Bachelor programs offered in Alta, Tromsø, Narvik, Bodø, Steinkjer, Trondheim, Molde, Ålesund, Sogndal, Bergen, Haugesund, Stavanger, Kristiansand, Kongsberg, Oslo, Ås, Halden, Lillehammer, Gjøvik and Hamar. In addition NHH in Bergen is the specialised college offering the highest level of education within the field. Business administration is also offered at some private colleges, most notably the BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo.Eight institutions offer a Master of Science in Business Administration, also granting the right to use the protected title siviløkonom
Siviløkonom
Siviløkonom is an academic degree issued within the field of business administration and economics and a professional title in Norway , obtained after 5 years of studies...
. These are Bodø Graduate School of Business
Bodø Graduate School of Business
Bodø Graduate School of Business or HHB is a business school and faculty of University of Nordland located at Mørkved in Bodø, Norway...
, Trondheim Business School
Trondheim Business School
Trondheim Business School or TØH is a faculty of Sør-Trøndelag University College in Trondheim, Norway that provides economics and business management education. The school was founded in 1967 as an independent university college, but in 1994 it and seven other university colleges in Trondheim...
, Molde University College, the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, the University of Stavanger, the University of Agder, the Norwegian School of Management and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Until the 1980s this level of education was only offered at NHH.
Engineering
In general three year Bachelor degrees in engineering are offered throughout the country at the regional colleges, most dominantly within the fields of construction, chemistry, electronics and informatics, though many others also exist. Five year Master of Technology degrees are offered as well, primarily at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, though also at some other institutions to a lesser degree. Candidates with three years of education can apply to attend the last two years at NTNU to complete a Master's study. All Master engineers can use the protected title sivilingeniørSivilingeniør
Sivilingeniør used to be a Norwegian university degree protected by Norwegian law issued to graduates from technical universities. To qualify for the title, you had to follow a structured study programme in technology and natural sciences of 4,5 - 5 years duration at a Norwegian university or...
. NTNU offers 14 different programs in engineering.
Law
Juridical education is offered at the universities in Oslo, Bergen and Tromsø. Education lasts five years, and after that you are given the title "jurist", meaning a legal skilled person. For becoming a lawyer you need to work as lawyer apprentice (advokatfullmektig) for at least two years and have had five cases before a judge.Medicine
Medicine is offered at the four major universities in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø, who have close cooperation with the university hospitals in the cities. Medical education takes six years and still grants the old cand.med.Cand.med.
Candidate of Medicine , Candidata Medicinae , abbreviated Cand. Med.) is an academic degree awarded in Denmark, Iceland and Norway following a six-year medical school education....
degree. After school candidates are required 1.5 years of practice before being granted certification. After six additional years of work experience they are awarded specialist certification.
Teaching
There are two ways to become a qualified teacher in Norway. For primary and lower secondary levels a four year general teacher education is offered at most regional colleges in the country. This education qualifies the teachers to teach all subjects offered in the lower levels of education in Norway, though it allows students to specialize in subjects. Preschool teaching is offered at some of the regional colleges too.For upper secondary school taking a degree at a university within the appropriate subject is the preferred course of line. After taking a degree, either at Bachelor or Master level, a one year course in pedagogy
Pedagogy
Pedagogy is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction....
is required before teacher certification is granted. To teach a particular subject at the upper secondary level, 60 credits in the appropriate field is required, making most teachers qualified to teach two or three subjects, though these are not absolute requirements.