Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research is responsible for primary and secondary school, upper secondary and tertiary vocational education and higher education sectors, kindergartens, cultural schools, vocational education and training and adult learning. The Ministry is also responsible for research and integration.

Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training is responsible for the development of kindergarten and primary and secondary education. The Directorate is the executive agency for the Ministry of Education and Research.

The Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills was established on 1 July 2021, under the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. The directorate is the executive agency for the Ministry of Education and Research within the higher education and higher vocational education sectors and is responsible for the national skills policy. 

The Directorate for Higher Education and Skills is a result of the merger of the Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education (Diku), Skills Norway, and Universell, as well as parts of Unit and the Norwegian Centre for Research Data (NSD). The directorate is also expected to be taking over selected tasks for the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT), including tasks related to recognition of foreign qualifications (final decision expected in the course of 2022).

Universities Norway (UHR) is a cooperative body for 33 accredited universities and university colleges.

Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) is a professionally independent government agency that contributes towards quality assurance and enhancement in higher education and tertiary vocational education. NOKUT’s tasks also include recognition of foreign education qualifications in Norway.

Information on the Norwegian education system from the Ministry of Education and Research.

An overview of the Norwegian education system, from kindergarten to higher education, including information on lifelong learning and financial support for education purposes.

Ministry of Education and Research

Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (NUCAS) coordinates the admission to regular undergraduate studies at all the universities, university colleges, state colleges, and some private colleges in Norway.
Programmes for international students are presented at www.studyinnorway.no Individual institutions provide information considering the admission to their postgraduate degrees.

NOKUT is the controlling authority for educational activity at all Norwegian universities, special field universities, university colleges and institutions with single accredited higher education programmes, as well as for all tertiary vocational education.

NOKUT provides accreditation of education institutions and study programmes, revision of previously-granted accreditation, and evaluates the institutions’ quality assurance systems, for more information see NOKUTs website. 

The newest annual report on the state of higher education in Norway Tilstandsrapport for høyere utdanning 2022 has been already published online by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. 

Tertiary vocational education is provided by 'fagskoler', which are considered as tertiary vocational education institutions. Tertiary vocational education is based on upper secondary education and training or equivalent competence and comprises the equivalent of at least one-half and no more than two entire academic years.

See the thematic pages on the website of the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.

The Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) is the controlling authority for all tertiary vocational education. All provisions must be accredited by NOKUT.

There are three categories of institutional accreditation in Norway: Universities, Specialised University Colleges and University Colleges/Universitites of Applied Sciences. An accredited higher education institution is granted the right to offer educational provision, without having to apply to NOKUT for specific (programme) accreditation, in accordance with the powers that its institutional category implies.

University colleges that are not accredited institutions must apply to NOKUT for accreditation of their study programmes at all levels. All institutions with accredited study programmes may call themselves University College.

NOKUT maintains a list of accredited institutions, see the link below.

Recognition of foreign higher education is carried out by Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT). This assessment leads to a general recognition decision that describes the level and scope of the education and if it is equivalent to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD. The recognition does not say anything about the academic content of the education programme. NOKUT’s general recognition of higher education is voluntary, and is intended as an aid for those who wish to enter the Norwegian labour market.

Recognition of foreign tertiary vocational education is carried out by Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT). It includes an assessment of foreign education in comparison to the Norwegian education system, in accordance with Act relating to Tertiary Vocational Education (fagskoleloven), section 7 (in Norwegian). NOKUTs decision provides information on the level and the scope of a qualification, and for what it can be normally used in the country where it was obtained. This recognition scheme does not assess the vocational content of an education.

Recognition of foreign vocational education and training (VET) is carried out by Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT). The recognition decision shows whether foreign qualification is comparable with a Norwegian craft or journeyman’s certificate. NOKUT began with this recognition scheme in 2016 and will gradually expand the scheme for new countries and qualifications. 

NOKUT is the Norwegian assistance centre for the Professional Qualifications Directive, and provides guidance to professionals about the directive, as well as about Norwegian legislation on regulated professions.
NOKUT cooperates with assistance centers in other EU/EEA countries, as well as with Altinn, the Norwegian contact point for the Services in the Internal Market Directive (2006/123/EC). The center can also assist Norwegian citizens who wish to work in a regulated profession in the EU/EEA.Updated lists of regulated professions and their competent authorities in Norway can be found on NOKUT's website.

Academic recognition pursuant to § 3-5 of the Act relating to universities and university colleges includes credit transfers and/or exemptions for parts of study programmes. Academic recognition takes place at the academic institution in question.

Q-Entry: Online Database with the list of the final upper secondary school qualifications and with the qualifications that in the national education system of reference give access to Higher Education.

The general basis for admission to universities and university colleges in Norway is called Higher Education Entrance Qualification. For applicants with foreign education, the requirements are specified in the GSU-list.

The GSU list is managed by NOKUT. However, all questions regarding admission requirements to higher education should be addressed to Samordna opptak (The Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service /NUCAS): sokerinfo@samordnaoppak.no

NUCAS: https://www.samordnaopptak.no/info/english/

Upper secondary final examinations cancelled due to COVID-19:

The Diploma registry is a Norwegian service developed by Unit – The Norwegian Directorate for ICT and Joint Services in Higher Education and Research, commissioned by the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.The Diploma registry has been developed in cooperation with the Erasmus+ project called EMREX.

The Diploma registry allows students to securely share results from their studies, including grade transcripts, diplomas and diploma supplements, with third parties of their choice. The results are collected directly from the databases of almost all universities and university colleges in Norway. Shared results can be downloaded as a digitally signed PDF file. 

Accredited (approved) higher education institutions in Norway, including universities, specialised university institutions and university colleges.

Non-accredited university colleges offering approved first degree programmes.

Tertiary vocational programmes are short programmes of vocational study that build on upper secondary education or equivalent prior learning and work experience.Tertiary vocational programmes must be accredited by NOKUT. 

List of state-owned universities and university colleges on the website of the Ministry of Education and Research.

Online Database with the list of the final upper secondary school qualifications and with the qualifications that in the national education system of reference give access to Higher Education.

Overview of upper secondary education and training, including educational paths, subjects and providers. The page is targeted towards pupils in Norway. 

An overview of university and university college mergers in Norway, including a map visualizing the mergers.

A report describing the pre-Bologna education system of Norway, including examples of diplomas and educational documents. 

Feagles, Shelley M.; Dickey, Karlene N. (1994). Norway: A Study of the Educational System of Norway and a Guide to the Academic Placement of Students in Educational Institutions in the United States. Country Report. PIER World Education Series. American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and NAFSA: Association of International Educators.