1 Types of institutions

There are 419 upper secondary schools in Norway (2023–24). 317 are public schools and 102 are privately owned. Institutions offering both general and vocational education sometimes have teaching facilities in separate buildings. The schools specialise and offer full qualifications in different programmes. All the county authorities have to offer most of the educational programmes of the curriculum.

2 Geographical accessibility 

Upper secondary education and training is available all over the country to ensure equal education for all. The equity principle for all primary and secondary education requires equality of access. Within each county, upper secondary courses are also provided in remote areas. The vast majority of 16 to 19-year-olds live at home.

The Education Act Section 9-1 on transport in upper secondary education states that the pupils in upper secondary education who reside more than six kilometers from the school have the right to free transport or full reimbursement of travel expenses. Where necessary, pupils have the right to free boat transport regardless of distance. The county authority shall assist in procuring accommodation for upper secondary pupils who, because their homes are so situated or their journey is too long, cannot make use of the daily transport services to the school. If necessary, the county authority shall build boarding facilities.

3 Admission requirements and choice of school

The main rules for admission to upper secondary education and training are outlined in the Regulations to the Education Act, chapter 4. Also, the county authorities, according to the Regulation to the Education Act section 4-5, may prescribe their own sets of rules of admission and rules for school placements. These may vary from county to county.

The right to upper secondary education is contingent upon the student having completed primary and lower secondary education, but not upon having passed all subjects or exams. 

An applicant has the right to a place on one of three alternative education programmes that he or she has applied for, chosen from the programmes presently available. Admission to specific education programmes can be affected by factors such as the applicant's grades and the programmes offered by the county. However, more than 90% are admitted to the programme and school of their first choice. Applicants with a disability who need individually adapted education have  a preferential right in the admissions process at upper secondary level 1 (year 1), which implies admission to the education programme of the applicant’s first choice. 

If the number of applications exceeds the number of places in the county, applicants  will be assigned an educational programme depending on the pupil's grades from lower secondary school. In some counties, this rule also applies to the assignment of applicants to specific schools. The achievement points are based on grades from compulsory subjects in lower secondary education. Applicants applying for an upper secondary level 1 program (first year) have to fulfil one of the following requirements:

• Completed compulsory education (primary and lower secondary education). It is not necessary to pass all subjects but to have participated in the compulsory education.
• Completed education equivalent to Norwegian compulsory education.
• Granted an exemption from the obligation to undergo Norwegian compulsory education in the case where the pupil has left lower secondary school due to specific circumstances preventing the pupil from taking part in education at that level. 

County authorities can decide to award half of the places in the first year in Music, Dance, and Drama to pupils based on a test or documentation of their specific skills rather than pupils achieved grades.

Chapter 18 in the Education Act regulates education and training for adults. Adults who have completed primary and lower secondary education or equivalent have the right to upper secondary education and training until they have received education that leads to university admissions certification or a vocational qualification until the academic year they turn 24. 

The same section of the Act also states that adults who require primary and lower secondary education have the right to such education unless they have the right to upper secondary education and training.

4 Age levels and grouping of pupils/students

When pupils turn 15, they choose their own further educational path through upper secondary education. Young persons who have completed primary and lower secondary school or equivalent have a statutory right to three years of upper secondary education and training, called Young person’s right. This right is valid until the academic year they turn 24 years of age.

Persons who have completed primary and lower secondary school or the equivalent, have a statutory right to upper secondary education and training until they complete with university admissions qualifications or a vocational qualification and until the academic year they turn 24 years of age. 

5 Organisation of the school year

The organisation of the school year is the responsibility of the county authorities. The national regulations prescribing the distribution of lessons per subject is not per week; only per year.

The school year consists of 190 days or 38 weeks. This is the same as in primary and lower secondary education. Teachers normally work six additional days, according to a negotiated agreement on teachers' working time.

The school year starts in mid/late August and ends in mid-/late June and is divided into two semesters or three terms. There are usually four holidays during the academic year, one week in late September or early October, two weeks at Christmas, one week in February, and one and a half weeks at Easter. The summer holidays last around eight weeks.

6 Organisation of the school day and week

There are no national regulations concerning the organisation of the school day or week in the upper secondary schools. The distribution of hours is decided by the local authorities or the school.