Norwegian as a Second Language for students and for Refugees and immigrants

Who may apply

Cat. 1: Employees at the University of Bergen and their spouses:Must contact the Department of Human Resources (POA) to obtain the application form and information.

Cat. 2: Agreement and programme students and degree students: All applicants in the category agreement (Erasmus, Nordplus, bilateral exchange students) and programme students  and degree students' are entitled to one Norwegian course during their stay at the University of Bergen.

Cat. 3: Refugees and immigrants; A fixed number of places per semester are reserved for refugees and immigrants with a permanent residence permit and who fulfill the basic general entrance requirements for post-secondary studies in Norway. The places for this category applicants are allocated at level 3 (NOR-U3B). Applicants with an academic background will be given priority.

Please note: Applicants in other categories are not qualified for admission to Norwegian courses at the University of Bergen. Health personnel who need proficiency in Norwegian language in order to qualify for authorisation, asylum seekers, au-pairs, applicants with a temporary residence permit or EU/EEA residence permit  and applicants on a tourist visa will not be considered for admission.

Admission

Educational background equal to the minimum entrance requirements must be documented for refugees and immigrants.

If the application is granted, admission will be valid for one semester only. It is not  possible to delay or defer admission to a future semester.

Applicants are responsible for submitting the application within the deadline.

Admission is granted for one semester only.

Placement Test:Applicants who have not completed a Norwegian course at the university previously and wish to start at a level higher than level 1, must take a placement test. The test is used to determinate the course level for which the applicant is qualified for admission. The test is for use in applicant placement only. The placement test is not graded and no certificate is issued. 

The placement test is only for applicant s who have not attended Norwegian courses at the University of Bergen previously.  It is not open for applicants attending Norwegian courses at the University of Bergen, who wish to replace the final Norwegian course exam with the placement test.

The placement test for admission to courses in the spring semester 2013 will be arranged the 5 November..
All applicants will be notified in writing if it is necessary to take the placement test. The test is not graded and no certificate is issued. The test is for use in applicant placement only*.

Applicants who have passed a Norwegian course at one of the other Norwegian universities may not have to sit for the placement test.

*Please note: Applicants who do not attend the test will not be considered for admission as we do not have the capacity to arrange individual placement tests.

What can I apply for

Courses are offered at different levels and with either regular or intensive progression.

Regular progression: Are offered at level 1,2,3 and 4. These courses may be attended along with other studies or as part of the regular study programme for non-degree students and cover one level in one semester.

Refugees and immigrants are offered courses during daytime (level 3B).

Level NOR-U01  Level NOR-U1  Level NOR-U2  Level NOR-U3

Level NOR-U4 - Higher level. Applicants must have a grade of C or better in order to be qualified for this course.

*Please note that level 4 will be offered in the spring semester  only if there are enough applicants for the course.

Intensive courses: Are offered at level 1/2 and 2/3. The intensive courses require considerably more work than the regular courses and cover two levels in one semester.
Students with some basic knowledge of  the language or students with Germanic language background, may choose the intensive courses.

Please note that master students are not given admission to the intensive courses with a full semester workload.

Level NOR-U 1/2

Level NOR-U2/3

Please note that the Nor-U2/3 course has a limited number of seats. Applicants must have a grade of C or better in order to be qualified for this course..

For more information e-mail: anastudent@uib.no

How do I apply

All applicats must submit an application by the stipulated deadline.

Deadline: 15 October for the Spring semester and 15 May for the autumn semester.

All information given on the application form must be documented. It is the applicant's responsability to provide the necessary documentation.

Information for first time exchange programme/short term student only:

First time exchange programme/short term students, must apply for Norwegian courses through the online application form for admission to the University of Bergen*.

*This does not apply to students admitted through the Erasmus Mundus program.

The placement test for first time exchange programme/short term students applying for courses at higher level (2, 3 or 4),  will be arranged during the introductory program. The test will take place the 9 January. 

Applicants who need to take a test will be informed upon arrival.The test is not graded and no certificate is issued. The test is for use in applicant placement only*.

*Please note: Applicants who do not attend the test will not be considered for admission as we do not have the capacity to arrange individual placement tests.

Application form

Cat. 1: Employees at the University of Bergen and their spouses.  Contact The Department of Human Resources (POA) to obtain information about deadline and application form.

Category 2 and 3: The application form is available on the right side of this page. 

Please note that, first time exchange programme /short term students (erasmus, nordplus and bilateral agreement students), must apply for Norwegian courses through the online application form for admission to the University of Bergen. Here you will find a separate section for Norwegian courses. You do not have to send a separate application or  copy of the letter of acceptance*.

*This does not apply to students admitted through the Erasmus Mundus program.

Detailed information about Norwegian courses will be send to all student with granted admission.

Applications that are incomplete and applications submitted after the deadline will not be processed!

Documentation

Students

• Certified copy of letter of acceptance

Students with confirmed admission to the University of Bergen (Quota, masters and exchange students), applying for the first time, do not have to attach any documentation to the application.

Please note that Erasmus Mundus students MUST attach a copy of their letter of acceptance to the Norwegian courses application.

Refugees and immigrants

• Certified copy of educational background/utdanningsbakgrunn
• Certified copy of valid residence permit (passport/marriage licence)
• Other relevant documentation
• Please note that only certified copies of education will be considered

Please note that copies of relevant documents must be officially certified as true copies of the originals. An official stamp with date and signature is required.

Additional documentation must be received by 1 November/ 1 June at the latest.

Contact Information

Division of Students Affairs
Langesgt.1- 3, P.O. BOX 7800, 5020 Bergen - Norway
Phone: 55589419 / Fax.5558 8821,
e-mail: norskkurs@uib.no