What is the labour market like in Norway?
Do I need to know Norwegian to be able to work in Norway?
Where can I find out about vacancies for scientists?
How do I find other types of jobs?
Where can I get advice about job seeking?
Where and what can I study in Norway?
How does the admission process to higher education work in Norway?
Can I start my own business in Norway?
I am planning to stay at home with the children.

The Norwegian labour market 
 

The labour market in Norway is characterised by its sizeable public sector, which employs people of different backgrounds, both skilled and unskilled, and is a major employer of highly-educated professionals. The unemployment rate is lowest among people with higher education; it is also low among skilled workers generally. More information about the labour market can be obtained from Export Norway.

Norway has what is considered to be a family-friendly labour market. Relatively generous child and parental benefits and childcare provision make it easier to combine career and children.

Moreover, employers and colleagues are normally understanding when you have to leave work early to pick up your child or when you have to stay at home with a sick child. At the same time, childcare centres and teachers expect parents to play an active role in their children’s learning.

Language

It is often possible to carry out your work in Norway without acquiring knowledge of Norwegian. English is often the working language, especially at research institutions. However, you may find that learning Norwegian will help you to integrate more easily and in some positions and types of work you do have to speak Norwegian. Read more about language and language courses.

Vacancies for researchers

The Norwegian Welfare and Labour Administration (NAV)
There are employment services centres located throughout Norway that provide assistance to job seekers. These public employment services centres are known collectively as NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration).
See a list of vacancies in English on the NAV website.

European Employment Services (EURES)
At some NAV centres you can also find EURES Public Employment Services, which specialises in recruiting staff from abroad. EURES advisers and EURES employment officers can provide information about employment and living conditions in European countries. EURES advisers also provide advice and guidance throughout the job-seeking process. See a list of vacancies.

Online search engines

• StepStone: www.stepstone.no
• Norway Export, Career in Norway: www.careernorway.com
• CareerJET (in Norwegian): www.careerjet.no
• Finn.no (in Norwegian): www.finn.no

Newspapers
Most newspapers advertise vacancies. Aftenposten is the main newspaper in south-eastern Norway and the Sunday edition has a separate jobs supplement which lists all the advertisements placed during the previous week. Bergens Tidende in the Bergen area, Adresseavisa in the Trondheim area and Nordlys in the Tromsø area are other alternatives.

Recruitment agencies

• Manpower: www.manpower.no
• Adecco (in Norwegian): www.adecco.no
• Proffice (in Norwegian): www.proffice.no
• Jobzone: www.jobzone.no
• Jobb Norge: www.jobbnorge.no

 

Higher education in Norway

Norway is one of the countries that has made most progress in implementing the Bologna Process reforms in European higher education. The degree system based on the bachelor's, master’s and doctoral degree structure has been successfully implemented, together with the ECTS credits system (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System).

 

• There are no tuition fees at public higher education institutions in Norway.
• There are more than 200 master’s programmes taught in English and some of the institutions also offer English-taught programmes at bachelor level.
• There are about 70 public and private higher education institutions located throughout Norway, from Kristiansand in the south to Svalbard in the north.

What can I study and where?
To find information about programmes taught in English you can use the Study in Norway search engine.
See also a list of institutions.

Admission to a bachelor’s programme
The Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service, NUCAS (Samordna opptak) coordinates admission to regular undergraduate studies at all universities, university colleges, state colleges, and some private colleges in Norway. Read about the admissions and application process on the NUCAS website.

Admission to a master’s programme
For admission to a master’s programme you apply directly to the higher education institution. For most programmes, the minimum requirement is 180 ECTS at undergraduate level with an average grade of C. You normally also have to pass an English language test for English-taught programmes or a Norwegian language test for programmes taught in Norwegian. Please contact the individual institutions for more information.

Financial support for foreign students

Financial support from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen), is primarily available to Norwegian citizens. However, some foreign citizens may be eligible for support. Read more.

Recognition of qualifications

If you are going to work or study in Norway, it may be necessary to get your qualifications recognised in Norway. Some professions require authorisation from a corresponding authority in Norway. Read more about recognition of qualifications.

Starting your own business

 

• You will find answers to frequently asked questions about starting and running your own business in Norway on www.spor-oss.no (in Norwegian).
• Innovation Norway also provides useful information on their website. Some written materials, including forms and brochures, are also available free of charge (Norwegian-language only)

Staying at home with children

Some couples choose to stay at home with their children. You may be entitled to child and parental benefits in Norway. Read more about benefits and living with children in Norway.

See also: Study in Norway The Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund The Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service, NUCAS (Samordna opptak) The Norwegian Welfare and Labour Administration (NAV) EURES (European Employment Services) Innovation Norway