Norwegian language courses
Learning Norwegian language is important for your daily life in Norway. For some positions it is even mandatory to learn the language and give lectures in Norwegian within three years after your employment starts. It will also help you to understand our culture and to communicate better with your Norwegian colleagues, neighbours, friends and others. A certain level of Norwegian might be required if you are planning on applying to UDI for the permanent residency permit.
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Norwegian language courses at UiB
We offer a range of Norwegian language courses to international students and employees at the University of Bergen, as well as immigrants and refugees. Partners and spouses of international employees at UiB may also apply for admission.
More information can be found at the Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies. For questions about the courses and which level you should take, please contact the course administrators at studynorwegian@uib.no.
Eligibility criteria: 100 % position at UiB for minimum six months, or 50 % position for minimum a year.
External language courses
If you are unable to attend the UiB Norwegian courses, you can get reimbursed for participating in alternative training. To ensure suficient quality for the Norwegian language courses UiB covers, we ask you to choose from the course providers mentioned under "List of Norwegian courses providers" on the right.
Send a short application letter to post@uib.no with:
- Title: Refund Norwegian course
- Explanation (short) of why you cannot attend the courses at UiB
- Documentation for both course attendance and payment
We recommend employees do their utmost to attend the courses offered by UiB. Not only because we know the teachers and the quality are good, but also because it allows you to meet some of your other colleagues and expand your network within UiB.
Other recommendations
We recommend that you practice your Norwegian whenever possible. Red Cross has a Facebook page with information about Norwegian language training that they offer, this inlcudes language café at the Bergen Public Library. In addition, they offer Norwegian training during hikes for levels 2 and 3, which they call "Walk&Talk".
Norwegian level requirement for certain positions at UiB
The Ministery of Education and Research is suggesting a new action plan to increase the Norwegian language level in higher education. The requirement for teaching staff is to reach lever B2 within three years. You can read more about the action plan here.
You will not be deducted work hours for attending Norwegian classes.
Approved Norwegian language course providers
- Nygård skole (Bergen kommune)
- List of approved course providers
We recommend
- Study Bergen - Overview of resources for learning and practising
- NoTe - Online Norwegian courses
- Lingu - Online Norwegian courses
- NTNU LearnNow
Requirements for permanent residency or Norwegian citizenship
At UDI webpages you can check the requirements to apply for a permanent residence permit or the Norwegian citizenship:
