Norway's overarching goal is to provide high-quality education to both Norwegian and international students. The country's academic year is divided into two semesters, from August to December and January to June. The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research is the institution in charge of the country's educational system.
Norway has a very inclusive education system with statutory rights, so people of any age group can attend school. The Norwegian education system promotes lifelong learning, where the education sector and labor market work hand in hand. Unlike other countries, Norway is very inclusive of women when it comes to providing education. More and more Norwegian women take on higher studies every day.
Higher Education System In Norway
Higher education in Norway is also known as tertiary education, and it has a three-year structure (bachelor's, master's, and doctorate). None of the tertiary levels of education are compulsory and have no age limit, as Norway promotes statutory rights and has a very inclusive education system.
Let us take a look at the higher education system of Norway in detail:
Bachelor’s Level
The bachelor's level of education in Norway is a 3-year course of study that consists of 60 ECTS credits per year (180 in total). A bachelor's degree has no age limitations in Norway.
Programs have a fixed structure. However, some of the programs would allow students to choose between different programs after completing the first year of the program. A student must have completed a higher level of education to be eligible to go for a bachelor's degree.
Master’s Level
A master’s degree consists of a 2-year study plan that accounts for 60 ECTS credits each year (120 in total). A master’s degree is an academic specialization of a student’s bachelor's degree course.
It consists of independent work and is based on academic specialization in the bachelor’s programs. So, a student must have completed a bachelor's degree to be eligible to go for a master’s degree.
Doctorate Degree
After completing a master’s degree, students willing to go for an even higher level of education can sign up for a doctorate degree. A doctorate degree is based on a master’s degree and independent research conducted under the supervision of other researchers.