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Norwegian Educational System
One of the basic principles of Norwegian educational policy is that all children and young people have an equal right to education and training irrespective of domicile, sex, social or cultural background and aptitude. All public education is free. Education and the development of skills have high political priority. The objective is an educational system that achieves the highest academic standards and includes the largest possible proportion of the population.
The educational system in Norway comprises:
- Primary and lower secondary education (compulsory school), 6- to 16-year-olds, total of 10 years
- Upper secondary education (general education and vocational training), 16- to 19-year-olds, total of 3 years
- Higher education (universities and colleges)
Higher Education
Institutions offering higher education may be divided into two sectors:
- The university sector includes six universities
- The university college sector covers 26 regionally dispersed state colleges - one of which is Vestfold University College.
The decentralization of higher education is part of Norwegian educational policy, and the establishment of university colleges all over the country was a move to make higher education more accessible and to raise the level of qualified expertise in outlying parts of the country. The programmes offered at these colleges are usually shorter and more occupationally oriented than those at the universities. Studies at the state colleges can also provide the basis for fulfilling the entrance requirements for graduate studies at the universities and/or university colleges.
Admission Requirements for Higher Education
To gain access to higher education, an applicant has to have general study competence. The normal qualification is the final upper secondary examination issued upon completion of a total of 13 years education below higher education level.
Foreign applicants should normally fulfill the requirements which admit them to university studies in their home country.
The Degree System
In Norway the following degrees exist, all offered by Vestfold University College:
- Bachelor's - A degree offered after a total of 3 years of study
- Master's - A final diploma or title awarded upon completion of a further 2 years of study
- PhD (in cooperation with other institutions)
Grading system
Grades, for undergraduate and graduate education, are awarded according to international standards on a scale with A as the best. A "pass"/"fail" mark is given for some examinations.
Work-load
University and college programmes are measured in ECTS points. The normal work load for one semester is 30 ECTS points.
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Academic Notes
12.01.2009Norway is one of the leading countries in the application of the guidelines set by the Bologna Process in European higher education. The degree system based on the bachelor's, master's and Ph.d. structure has been successfully implemented, together with the ECTS credits system. By adapting to the ...
Erasmus University Charter
Vestfold University College
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Vestfold University College, Postbox 2243, N-3103 Tønsberg. Telefon: +47 33 03 10 00 Fax: +47 33 03 11 00
E-mail: postmottak@hive.no Web: www.vuc.no