Norway (NO)
Norway is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy in Northern Europe — one of the three Scandinavian nations, occupying the western and northern portions of the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Learning the Language in Norway
Courses, certifications, funding, and online resources to reach fluency.
Norwegian (norsk) has two official written standards: Bokmål (literally "book tongue" — the dominant form, used by ~90% of the population) and Nynorsk ("New Norwegian" — used in some western and rural municipalities). For expats, learning Bokmål is the practical priority. Spoken Norwegian varies significantly in dialect across the country — Østnorsk (Oslo/eastern) is the most standard. Sami languages are co-official in some northern municipalities. Norwegian shares significant vocabulary and grammar with Danish and Swedish — speakers of one Scandinavian language can often understand the others. Norwegian language learning is widely supported by the state for immigrants.
Introduksjonsprogrammet (Introduction Programme)
Newly arrived refugees, those with humanitarian protection, and their family members who have been granted protection. Not available to EU/EEA citizens or most work permit holders.
Free for eligible participants
1–2 years (standard) — up to 3 years in some cases. Full-time programme.
Norwegian language at minimum A2–B1 (Norskprøve), Norwegian society/culture knowledge, and labour market integration. May lead directly to employment or further education.
Referred through IMDi (Integrerings- og mangfoldsdirektoratet) and your local kommunen. Not a self-registration process.
Norskopplæring for innvandrere (Norwegian language training for immigrants)
All immigrants with permanent residence or long-term stay permits have a right (and often an obligation) to complete a specified number of hours of Norwegian language training. The requirement is administered by kommunen (municipality) via voksenopplæringssentre (adult education centres).
Those with permanent residence permits or long-term stay permits. Certain categories are legally obligated to complete 600 hours; others have a right to up to 3,000 hours. EEA workers have the right to attend but typically pay.
Free for those with an obligation or right under Introduksjonsloven. EEA workers and some others may pay NOK 3,000–8,000/course module.
Apply at your local voksenopplæringssenter (adult education centre) or through your kommunen's integration services. In Oslo: Voksenopplæringen Oslo (voksenopplaring.oslo.kommune.no).
Language Levels — What Each Means
Complete beginner. Basic introductions, numbers, simple phrases. Can understand and use very basic expressions.
Required for: First weeks in Norway; basic shopping and greetings
Elementary. Can understand simple texts about everyday topics. Can communicate in routine situations. Useful for basic workplace interactions.
Required for: Basic residency registration documents; minimum for some permanent residence routes
Intermediate. Can handle most situations encountered in Norway. Can describe experiences and events. Can manage at work in Norwegian with effort.
Required for: Norwegian citizenship (oral B1 minimum). Most jobs in Norwegian-speaking environments. Daily life fully manageable.
Upper intermediate. Can communicate fluently on a wide range of topics. Comfortable in Norwegian professional environments.
Required for: Public sector employment. University studies in Norwegian. Full workplace integration.
Advanced. Can express ideas fluently and spontaneously. Can use Norwegian for complex professional and academic purposes.
Required for: Senior public sector roles. Full academic studies in Norwegian. Complete social and professional integration.
Mastery. Near-native Norwegian proficiency in all four skills.
Required for: Translation, interpretation, academic publishing and top-level professional roles in Norwegian.
Courses & Community Learning
Folkeuniversitetet
NOK 3,500–8,000 per moduleAdult education centres (folkehøgskole tradition) with Norwegian courses in most cities. Good quality teaching, flexible scheduling including evenings and weekends. Levels A1–B2.
www.folkeuniversitetet.no ↗Språkkafé (Language Café)
Free or donation-basedInformal conversation groups — meet native speakers for free or low-cost informal Norwegian practice. Often run by local libraries (bibliotek), churches, and community centres. Search for "språkkafé" in your municipality.
DNT (Norwegian Trekking Association) hiking groups
DNT membership: NOK 780/year (2026)Not a language class, but hiking with DNT groups is one of the best ways to practise Norwegian in a natural context with friendly Norwegians who share outdoor interests.
www.turistforeningen.no ↗Bibliotek (Public Library)
FreeNorwegian public libraries are free and offer Norwegian books, audio materials, language learning resources, and often host Norwegian conversation groups. Oslo Deichmanske is world-class.
www.deichman.no ↗Official Certifications
| Certificate | Provider | Levels | When Needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norskprøven (Norwegian Language Test) | Kompetanse Norge (Norwegian Agency for Development of Competence) | A1, A2, B1, B2 (oral and written components separate) | B1 oral minimum for Norwegian citizenship (statsborgerprøven requirement). B2 may be needed for some public sector jobs. A2/B1 for permanent residence (under some routes). | NOK 400–700 per test session (may be subsidised for entitled participants) |
| Bergenstesten | University of Bergen | Advanced Norwegian proficiency (equivalent to B2–C1) | Required for admission to some Norwegian universities for non-native speakers. Valued by some employers for documentation of high-level Norwegian. | NOK 500–1,000 |
| Statsborgerprøven (Civic Knowledge Test) | Kompetanse Norge | Pass/fail — 50 multiple choice questions about Norwegian society, history, and geography | Required for Norwegian citizenship application. Conducted in Norwegian. | NOK 300–500 |
Online Resources
Duolingo Norwegian
FreeNorwegian Bokmål course on Duolingo — one of the most popular courses on the platform. Good for A1–A2 vocabulary and basic grammar. Free to use.
www.duolingo.com ↗NRK TV / NRK Nyheter
FreeNorwegian public broadcasting — watching Norwegian TV (especially NRK Nyheter for news and NRK children's programmes) is one of the most effective immersion tools. All content freely accessible in Norway.
www.nrk.no ↗Norskkurs.no
FreeFree online Norwegian course from the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) and the University of Bergen. Particularly good for beginners.
www.norskkurs.no ↗Loecsen Norwegian
FreeFree online Norwegian phrasebook and audio learning for complete beginners.
www.loecsen.com/no/cours-norvegien ↗Babbel Norwegian
PaidStructured Norwegian Bokmål courses from A1 to B1. Good for building vocabulary systematically.
www.babbel.com ↗UD.no / Norskprøven official preparation
FreeOfficial preparation materials for the Norskprøven exam from Kompetanse Norge.
www.kompetansenorge.no/norskproven ↗Funding Your Language Courses
Immigrants with the right to Norwegian language training under Introduksjonsloven receive it free of charge. Some kommuner and NAV provide financial support for language training for job-seekers and those on integration programmes. EU/EEA workers typically self-fund or get employer support — some Norwegian employers fund Norwegian language training as a benefit. Lånekassen (the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund) may provide support for language studies leading to formal qualifications.
Practical Tips
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Start with Bokmål — it is the form used by ~90% of Norwegians and all national institutions.
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Norwegian is closely related to Danish and Swedish. If you speak one Scandinavian language, Norwegian is significantly easier.
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Immerse yourself immediately — watch NRK news, listen to Norwegian radio (NRK P1, P2), and download Norwegian podcasts.
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Speak Norwegian even when Norwegians switch to English — politely ask them to continue in Norwegian for practice. Most Norwegians will respect this.
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The three key Norwegian sounds for non-native speakers: the å (like English "awe"), the ø (like "ur" in "fur"), and the æ (like "a" in "cat" lengthened). Practise these until natural.
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Dialects vary enormously in Norway — Oslo Østnorsk is the most "standard". Do not worry about dialects initially; learn standard Bokmål first.
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Joining a social club (idrettslag, korps, or other lag) dramatically accelerates language learning by providing regular immersive Norwegian social interaction.
Language Learning
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