General requirements for admission to universities and colleges

To continue your studies at a university or college, you need to satisfy the admission requirements. Read more about what they are before you apply.

- basic requirements
- admission based on foreign credentials, including language proficiency
- special requirements
- non-formal learning credentials

Click here to see the additional language requirements for admission.

UCAS (The University and College Admission Service; Samordna opptak in Norwegian) process applications for admission to all universities and state colleges, and also to some private institutions. UCAS evaluates whether you satisfy the admission requirements. On the UCAS homepage you can find "Søkerhandboka", a handbook with detailed information on the application process, deadlines, requirements etc. It is only in Norwegian, but a very short summary in English can be found here.
Send one application form to UCAS, listing the courses in order of priority.

Note the following dates:
15 April: Ordinary application deadline (with Norwegian education background)
1 March: Application deadline if you have a foreign educational background or if you are applying based on non-formal learning credentials

The application forms and the paper copy of "Søkerhandboka," the accompanying handbook, are available from mid-January at employment offices (Aetat), upper secondary schools, libraries, colleges and universities. You can also contact UCAS:

Telephone no 815 48 240 (0845 -1500 hrs)
Telephone no 815 49 050 (March-September; automatic information service, in Norwegian only)

Postal address:
Samordna opptak
Postboks 1175
0317 Oslo
e-mail: sokerinfo@so.uio.no, postmottak@so.uio.no
Web: www.samordnaopptak.no

Upper secondary education
The most common "road" into higher education goes through upper secondary school. Completion of 3 years in one of the following branches satisfy the basic admission requirements:

3-year upper secondary school from one of the following programs:
- general studies, economics and administration
- sports and physical education
- music, dance and drama
- arts, crafts and design (the last year in drawing, design and colour)
- agriculture, fishing and forestry (year 3 in land management)
- media and communication (year 3 in media and communication)
- foundation course, year 2 vocational course, plus year 3 general studies

However, there are other roads.

"The 23/5 rule"
If you are 23 years or more and have professional experience lasting for a minimum of 5 years, or a combination of educational and professional experience, the 23/5 rule applies. That means you can satisfy the basic admission requirements by completing the following 6 subjects*:

Norwegian language (bokmål, nynorsk and oral Norwegian) 14 hrs
or
Norwegian as a second langauage 14 hrs
English 5 hrs
Mathematics 5 hrs
Natural sciences 5 hrs
Modern history 4 hrs
Social science 2 hrs

* subjects from the general studies branch

These subjects ("the 6-pack") is offered free of charge at Oslo Vosksenopplæring (Oslo Adult Education centre), or you can pay for courses in Folkeuniversitetet or NKI Fjernundervisning (distance education).

Other secondary school credentials that satisfy the basic admission requirements:

Norwegian upper secondary vocational training (leading to
trade/journeyman's certificate) plus general subjects supplement
Upper secondary school from the Nordic countries that satisfy the basic admission requirements in the home country
International Baccalaureat (Norwegian language requirement may apply)
Rudolf Steiner School (3 years upper secondary)
Technical school

Foreign credentials
If you have a school leaving certificate from outside Norway, you must document that it is equivalent to a Norwegian certificate. Most credentials obtained outside Europe require one, or sometimes two years of higher education in addition to be recognised as equivalent to the Norwegian school leaving certificate. The homepage of the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) lists the requirements for most countries in the world. You can download the list (pdf format) here, and an explanatory attachment here. The credentials are listed in the native language when possible.

UCAS/Samordna Opptak is the right addressee for evaluation of your secondary school leaving credentials. It is a good idea to apply for an evaluation well before the application deadline - then you will have time to complete with extra subjects/courses in case you do not fulfil the requirements. Click here to find the application form (in English or Norwegian). For address, see above.

With foreign educational credentials, you must also document your Norwegian and English language proficiency. Read more about it here.

Special admission requirements
Note that some courses have additional requirements for admission! Engineering will require that you have more than the basic course in mathematics, for medical studies you need in-depth courses in both mathematics, physics and chemistry from upper secondary school. More information on additional requirements can be found in the UCAS website, in Norwegian.

Non-formal learning credentials
From the academic year 2001/2002, admission to higher education institutions can be based on nor-formal credentials (realkompetanse in Norwegian), if documented non-formal learning shows the necessary qualifications for the studies in question. Applicants must be 25 years or older. Exemption from part of the studies can also be granted on the basis of non-formal learning.

The individual higer education institutions have been authorized to decide whether the applicants have the required qualifications for the various courses of study. This means that admission to one institution does not guarantee admission to another.
For more details, contact the school you wish to attend.

Last modified 02/08/2006