Preparatory education for adults and upper secondary education

Primary/lower secondary education for adults

Education at the level below upper secondary is called preparatory education for adults (FOV). It was previously called primary/lower secondary education for adults. The education is free and adapted to your needs. 

Who has the right to primary/lower secondary education for adults?

You are entitled to preparatory adult education if you:

• are over the compulsory school age (16 years)
• have legal residency in Norway
• have not completed primary school
• or need further education

What form does upper secondary education for adults take?

FOV education is organised in modules (levels). The curricula are adapted to adults, and there is a separate curriculum in Norwegian for language minorities. An overview of the modules is provided below.  

In order to determine which module you should start with, you usually  have to be assessed first. If it fits with the school’s schedule, you may be able to do courses in different modules (levels). It is also possible to take FOV on a part-time basis and only take one or a couple of subjects.

You get a certificate when you have passed module four. A FOV certificate will enable you to apply for a place in upper secondary education.

How to apply

The adult education centre in the municipality runs FOV. There are no application deadlines, and you can apply all year round. Contact your local adult education centre for more information.

More information

You can read more about preparatory education for adults on the website of the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills.

Upper secondary education for adults (VOV)

Upper secondary education for adults is the level of education after preparatory education, which enables you to take a higher education qualification or vocational qualification.

The county authority is responsible for upper secondary education for adults, and the education is free.

Who has the right to take education?

You may be entitled to take upper secondary education for adults if you

• have completed primary and lower secondary education in Norway.
• have corresponding education from another country. 
• have completed upper secondary education in another country, but it is not recognised as a higher education entrance qualification or vocational qualification in Norway.  

After the age of 24, you have the right to take upper secondary education for adults. If you are aged between 19 and 24, you can choose whether you want to take education as a student (youth), or as an adult. 

When you have the right to take education for adults, you also have the right to have your prior learning assessed and documented. This means that you can get previous experience and education approved as part of the education.

What form does upper secondary education for adults take?

Upper secondary education for adults is organised in separate programmes. You can choose between general studies and vocational programmes:  

• General studies qualifies you to go on to study at universities and university colleges (higher education entrance qualification)
• Vocational education qualifies you to enter the world of work (vocational qualification)

There are also other ways of achieving a trade or journeyman's certificate, which do not follow the conventional pathway through upper secondary school. More information about the various pathways to a trade certificate is available on the utdanning.no website.

How to apply

The county authority organises upper secondary education for adults. Please note that the education programmes may vary from county to county. You must apply yourself for a place in upper secondary education.

The application deadline for adults is set by the county authority, and may vary depending on which programme you wish to apply for.

More information

Visit your county authority’s website to find information about the education available to adults and the applicable application deadlines.