Welfare system in Norway
This is an overview of the Norwegian welfare model and some of the main public services you will have access to as an employee at UiB.
Main content
1. Universal Healthcare
All residents in Norway have access to public healthcare services, including the General Practitioner (GP) scheme and hospital treatment. Most people do not need private health insurance in addition to the public system.
Key points:
Children up to 16 years of age receive free healthcare at GPs, specialists, and school health services.
Individuals over 16 have a small co-pay with the GP.
Dental care for children up to 18 years is free; from 19-28 years, there is a 25% co-pay.
Dental care for adults is generally not covered by the healthcare system.
Hospitalization has no co-pay and no upper limit for treatment costs.
Note: Private hospitals and doctors are not included in the universal healthcare system.
2. National Insurance Scheme (NIS)
Everyone who lives and works in Norway is a member of the NIS. Membership gives you access to benefits such as sick pay, unemployment benefits, and retirement pensions.
3. Sick Leave
As a UiB employee, you can receive full salary during sick leave for up to 52 weeks, depending on your NIS membership status.
4. Parental Leave
Parents are entitled to paid leave in connection with childbirth and adoption, depending on membership in the NIS. This helps balance work and family life. UiB has a service team to assist employees with parental leave applications.
5. Child Benefits and Daycare
Families receive child benefits for each child under 18, and there are subsidized daycare places available for young children. As a UiB employee, you have priority for daycare applications at Fagertun barnehage.
6. Education
Education is free from primary school to university, including adult education and continuing education.
7. Pension
As a UiB employee, you are a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK). This scheme offers one of the best pension plans in Norway, providing financial security in retirement, as well as in cases of illness or injury. Your family is also entitled to financial support upon your passing. Additionally, the mortgage scheme offers housing loans with low interest rates, and occupational injury insurance for state employees is handled through SPK.
8. Language Courses
UiB offers free Norwegian language courses for you and your partner. These courses are held during both the autumn and spring semesters and meet the language requirements for permanent residency in Norway.
We hope this gives you a comprehensive overview of the welfare benefits available to you as an employee at the University of Bergen. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to reach out!