NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

II. Qualifications and diplomas
II.1. Qualifications for admission to
university and non-university
higher education
Admission requirements are normally the same for all institutions of
higher education and presuppose 12 years of school education. This comprises nine years of compulsory school (grunnskole),
i.e. six years
of primary schooling (barneskole) and three years in lower secondary school (ungdomsskole). This is followed by three years
of upper-secondary education (videregående skole). From August 1997, compulsory education has been extended from 9 to 10
years by lowering the school starting age from seven to six.
In the upper-secondary school there are 13 areas of study. General access to higher education is granted to students who have
completed general and economic administrative studies (allmenne og økonomisk-administrative fag), general subjects with
music, dance or drama, general studies with arts, crafts and design or general studies with physical education. Those who have
completed vocational upper-secondary
education may qualify for admission to higher education by taking
additional courses with general subjects of Norwegian, English, social sciences, mathematics and natural sciences.
During the first year of general studies a foundation course is taken; there is no specialisation at this level. Specialisation
begins in the second year and continues into the third. In their final examination students sit for a limited number of national
examinations, both written and oral, in
subjects central to their branch of study.
Admission to higher education may also be given to mature students (above the age of 23) based on an individual evaluation
of previous education and work experience.
Grades are awarded on a scale from six to nought, with six being the highest grade. Grades two and above are passing grades.
The words fullført og bestått (completed and passed) on the certificate (vitnemål) indicate that the candidate has passed the
whole course of study.
The certificate states the number of hours and year grade for each
subject and the national examination grade for a limited number of
subjects.
Certain programmes of higher education require specialisation in certain subjects at the upper-secondary school as general
admission requirements, i.e. dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, engineering, veterinary medicine, arts and crafts studies.
II.2. Undergraduate programmes in higher education
Degrees offered by the universities and other institutions of higher
education may vary from one institution to the next. Questions concerning
degrees, exams and normal time of study are decided by the government. Decisions on subject areas which could be
included in an examination, are taken by the ministry.
II.2.1. Undergraduate non-university programmes