Education in Norway: the education system, schools and universities

Back in the 20th century, to get education in Europe, many had only to dream. Today, there are more opportunities for this. Among many European countries for education you can choose Norway.

This cold Scandinavian country is mysterious and amazing. First of all, it attracts the fact that the locals are famous for their hospitality and attention to others. In addition, the standard of living in Norway is considered to be one of the highest in the world. Everything that local people do is of high quality. The Norwegian education system is considered one of the best in Europe.

Why is she so good? Where is Norway? What are the requirements for applicants? Can I get a free education in Norway? What does that require? What are the most popular universities in Norway? About everything in order.

Norway - the country of ice and snow

This country is located in Northern Europe. It borders on Russia, Finland and Sweden, is washed by several seas. The climate is very severe, and winters are cold and snowy. But if this does not frighten you, then Norway is one of the most beautiful and fabulous countries in the world.

For most of the year, everything is covered in snow and ice. Mountain peaks, fog rising above the surface of the water, amazing beauty of the sky, sunlight glistening among the winter kingdom - all this brings thoughts to the fairy-tale possessions of the Snow Queen. Tourists around the world attract Norway with their nature. Skiing, winter fishing, trips on reindeer, skating - all for lovers of winter recreation.

Where Norway is, there are forests where the human foot has not walked. Glittering waterfalls with clear water and world famous fjords evoke thoughts that here come to life the tales and legends of trolls and Vikings whose ships conquered the sea.

But not only the amazing beauty of nature attracts attention in this country. Education in Norway also deserves close attention. No wonder students from many countries of the world go here for knowledge. To have a complete idea of what the training in Norway is like, you need to start the conversation with information about the education system. What is it?

Education system in Norway

It consists of several levels:

• Preschool education.
• School education. It is divided into incomplete and complete secondary.
• Folk schools.
• Higher education in Norway.

At the end of the 20th century, the country carried out an educational reform. Its purpose was to increase the knowledge that was taught. Let's consider each level of the education system in more detail.

Preschool education

Children in kindergartens in Norway are accepted at the age of one year. To get there, you need to wait a bit. Usually waiting time takes from a month to six months. Pre-school education in Norway is free of charge. Both in public and private institutions.

Kids play here, sleep, play sports, swim in the pool. Educators conduct classes to develop the speech and thinking of the child. In kindergartens, first of all, they learn the Norwegian language.

Full and incomplete state education

Training in Norwegian schools is completely free. Elementary classes, secondary and senior learn in separate buildings. In Norway, you will not find a school where first-graders and high school students learn together. Compulsory education is divided into full and incomplete.

The last consists of three stages:

• First. Junior primary school: from first to fourth grades.
• Second. Average primary: from the fifth to the seventh.
• The third. Senior: from the eighth to the tenth.

Full education is the upper grades, which are taught from 16 to 19 years.

Children in Norway begin to study at the age of six. First there is an elementary school, the training time in it is seven years. Children with the help of games are taught to write, count and read. Teachers acquaint with the flora and fauna of Norway, classes are held not only in Norwegian, but also in English.

In addition to basic lessons, they study religion and economics. Also each child has the opportunity to choose an additional subject for training. If a child does not cope with the school curriculum, a special commission is created that oversees the child, reveals problems in training, then helps him to cope with them.

When the child moves to the fifth grade, the secondary school begins. New items are added: economics, accounting and ecology. Also, each student has the opportunity to further study a foreign language.

Exams do not give up here. But on how a schoolboy graduates from high school, the possibility of further education in the eldest depends.

In high school subjects are added that help determine the choice of profession in the future. You can independently choose subjects for more in-depth study, in order to continue to enter the higher educational institutions of the country.

Even at school there is an opportunity to obtain a profession, for this in the senior classes are branches of professional skill. Within two years, the students are acquainted with the various working professions by choice: carpenter, carpenter, builder and other specialties. Then there is practice at the enterprises of the city. Only after a two-year practice is issued a diploma of obtaining a profession.

Exams are not all students, but only a certain percentage. He chooses a special council, not having any information about students. Surrenders, as a rule, mathematics, economics, computer science and English. And you can choose from this list only one or two subjects. At the end of studies, the Norwegian and one more elective subject are added to the final exams.

Schools in Norway, from the very first year of study, are aimed at giving the opportunity to develop the creative and mental potential of each student. One of the main principles is that children should learn how to evaluate their own actions. Every child here learns to believe, first of all, in their abilities and strives to realize them completely. The high level of knowledge of Norwegian schoolchildren is indicated by the fact that almost all of them are enrolled in universities.

Training in schools in Norway

Information about the achievements of students is recorded in a special notebook. This is done at the end of each school day. If there are any comments, the parents write a note.

Classroom meetings are usually held at the beginning of the year. In the future, if necessary, parents are summoned to the school individually. Very tactfully, they say that their child has small problems that can be quickly resolved. Then the success of the student is celebrated. Thus, parents are given to understand that their child did not do anything terrible, you just need to slightly adjust his behavior or pay attention to a certain subject.

The rating system is very interesting, especially for Russian schools. They are accepted to discuss with their parents. Nobody owns this information anymore. All information about the progress is completely confidential. Assessments in schools in Norway begin to exhibit only from the eighth grade.

National schools of Norway

After receiving a full or incomplete secondary education, students are not always determined with the choice of the further path. For those who have not yet decided on the choice of profession, there are folk schools. You can stay here for a year.

The very first popular schools appeared in Denmark in the 20th century. Now there are about four hundred of them all over Scandinavia. In Norway there are more than seventy.

Schools are located far from cities, so that their noise does not interfere with learning. Each of them has its own direction. Sports, pedagogical, stage, musical, etc. After finishing such a school, you can get a job by profession, and you can go to university. Upon admission to higher education institutions, the diploma of the end of the public school gives additional points.

People's schools help determine the choice of future profession and teach to work in a team. Every year students from all over the world come here, including from Russia.

The most famous institutes and universities

Higher education in the country can be obtained in several places. Consider the most famous and famous universities in Norway.

• University of Bergen. It is one of the largest in Europe. Despite the fact that there are not so many faculties in it, only six, more than 10,000 students study here. If you are interested in humanitarian, legal, medical and mathematical education, the University in Bergen will provide you with it. The deadline for submitting documents is the fourth quarter of the year.
• University of Tromsø. Among graduates, a large number of people who have achieved success in different spheres of life. One of them: the creator of the legendary, fantastic world - Narnia, writer James Lewis. Here, scientific research was conducted in various fields of knowledge: space, medicine, mathematics. Several years ago, the government decided to combine two higher education institutions into one: the University of Tromsø and the University College of Finnmark. This was done in order to raise the level of science and education to a higher level. The new university is called the Arctic University.
• Norwegian University of Natural and Technical Sciences. Among his graduates are the Nobel Prize winners. The University takes the second place in terms of the number of students and the prestige of studying among the higher educational institutions of the country. There are a lot of scientific and technical specializations, besides there is archeology and marine technology. Many students receive academic degrees in medicine, architecture, philosophy and other disciplines.
• The University College of Oslo and Akershus was founded by combining two educational institutions in Norwegian cities. There is a very well developed research activity. There are special courses for bachelors and masters.

Each university in Norway has: a hostel, dining rooms, gyms and libraries. The state cares not only about the level of education being high, but also about the rest of students.

Requirements for applicants

Higher education in Norway is available to every resident of the country. For studying in public universities you do not need to pay, they pay mainly for living and food. The main requirements for admission to the country's higher education institutions are:

• The presence of secondary education, supported by a certificate.
• Good grades, they give an opportunity to enter the competition and without exams.
• Knowledge of English at the level of conversation.

16 reasons for studying in Norway

1. Lack of entrance exams.
2. Comparatively low cost of training. Full payment in Norway for the entire period of study is two times lower than in one year in the higher institutions of Moscow.
3. High level of knowledge.
4. Language practice, especially for students from Russia.
5. Acquaintance with one of the most amazing countries not only in Europe but also in the world.
6. The ability to learn the Norwegian language perfectly.
7. The emergence of new friends and acquaintances from almost all over the world.
8. There are many opportunities for scholarships.
9. State universities provide free education. You will have to pay only for textbooks.
10. The state provides loans for training, which in some cases do not even need to be paid.
11. Obtaining a diploma of international standard.
12. Living and studying in a country with a high level of development of life.
13. A large selection of training programs of different focus and complexity.
14. Knowing the Norwegian language or English, education in Norway can be obtained without any problems.
15. There are many opportunities for students to earn money.
16. Each university has a special department that monitors how the student lives and rests.

Distinctive features of the Norwegian education system

• Training is usually conducted with small groups of students.
• Unofficial atmosphere reigns in the classroom. Communication between the teacher and students does not stop even after classes.
• Each student is given a lot of attention.
• For students there is a large number of discounts: for medical care, transportation, visits to theaters, museums and exhibition halls.

Education in Norway for Russians

Many people for permanent residence choose this harsh, but beautiful country. The high standard of living of the population and the state's constant concern for its residents are worthy of increased attention. One way to stay here is to come to Norway for higher education. It is quite easy to do this.

If you live in Russia and dream of getting higher education in Norway, you will need the following information:

1. First of all, you need to decide on the university or institute, in which you plan to enter. To study the information about him, to find out if there is a specialization or discipline that you need to study.
2. Since Norwegians, like most Europeans, study for 12 years, then full school education is not enough for Russians seeking higher education. It is necessary to have at least one year of study at the university.
3. It is good to know English and have documents confirming this fact.
4. Write a resume that should contain basic information about your education and skills. The document must be written in English.
5. If you want to enroll in a university, where they teach only in Norwegian, then you will need to take training courses.
6. In order for you to be admitted to any university or institute in Norway, you need to write an application there. Approximately six months before the start of studies.
7. If you enroll in a state university in Norway, then the training will be free for you. But it will be necessary to pay for passing exams and tests.
8. To get to the country, you will need to obtain a visa to enter. One of the conditions - on your account there must be a certain amount of money in euros.
9. All documents must be translated into English or Norwegian, sometimes Swedish. Must be notarized.
10. You must provide a medical certificate that you have no health problems.
11. A hostel for students from Russia and other countries is not provided. Therefore it is necessary to find a house or hotel room in advance. It will also be necessary to provide information about this.
12. There is an opportunity to receive a scholarship, and it is better to search for information on all the opportunities for obtaining it on educational websites.

Despite the fact that officially the Norwegian authorities prohibit foreign students from working, there are still opportunities for additional work.

Interesting facts about studying in Norway

• Complete secondary education is not for eleven years, as in many countries in the world, but for thirteen.
• In schools, students are given a free or for a small fee equipment: tablets, laptops.
• Children with disabilities can study with everyone, or they can attend special departments.
• In high school Norway has two departments: academic and professional skills.
• One of the oldest universities in the country was opened in the early 19th century.
• In the schools of Norway begin to learn from the middle of August.
• There are a lot of colleges in the country. Their total number is about a hundred.
• Foreign teachers are provided with a teacher who teaches them the Norwegian language.
• Parents buy school bags only portfolios, everything else is provided by the state.
• In all universities and institutes in Norway, after graduation, students, in addition to defending a diploma, take another exam in philosophy.
• There are state programs for exchanging students with different countries of the world. With the help of them, free training of foreign students in Norwegian higher educational institutions is possible.

Testimonials of students

Among the merits, which are noted by foreign students studying in Norway, is free education. The amount that is spent on food and living, really make money. There are illegal opportunities for students to earn money. With this money, you can live and study very well in Norway.

The ability to independently choose subjects for study also attracts the attention of numerous foreign students. After graduation, most of the students studying have the opportunity to find a good job and stay to live in Norway.

Moreover, all conditions for comfortable living here are created. The country pays much attention to the appearance of streets. Here, clean and comfortable, passers-by are always friendly and friendly. Vendors in stores are always correct and attentive, especially to small children.

A large number of students note that most of the time spent on training is of a practical nature. The theory is given very little time. Teachers prefer to give students the opportunity to discuss new information in the form of debates and discussions. Everyone can express their opinion and not be afraid that they will ridicule him, even if he does not understand something. It's very nice that the opinion of another person here is very respectful, even if it does not coincide with yours.

Conclusion

Thanks to the fact that education in Norway is free and accessible not only to any resident of the country, but also to foreigners, it is very prestigious to study here. A huge number of students from all over the world are dreaming of entering Scandinavian universities. This is not so easy to do, because the competition is very high. But if you're lucky, you've been waiting for months of interesting, intense, but hard studying.

The most important thing that gives education in Norway, in addition to a high level of knowledge, is the ability to live and work with those who are close.