Education and schools for expats in Norway | KOCH Moving Logistics

Moving to Norway presents families with many challenges, especially when it comes to their children's education. The Norwegian education system differs in several respects from the German school system – above all through its integrative model with a ten‑year comprehensive school in which there is no early separation by performance level. The focus is strongly on individual development, social learning and teamwork, not on early selection and pressure to perform. The Norwegian education system is centrally organised: the Ministry of Education (Kunnskapsdepartementet) prescribes the national framework curricula, while the municipalities are responsible for implementation on the ground. In this article, we take a look at the Norwegian education system, the best international schools in Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger, as well as the various options for younger children, so that you can emigrate to Norway well‑informed and prepared.

For families moving to Norway, international schools offer an excellent opportunity to provide their children with a familiar education with English‑medium instruction. Norway has a wide selection of international schools, especially in and around Oslo. International schools in Norway follow either a British (IGCSE, A‑Levels), American (High School Diploma, AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or Norwegian curriculum (with enhanced English content). Unlike in Germany, where international schools are often found only in major cities, the offering in Norway is concentrated in a few cities, with Oslo being the centre.

– Oslo International School is the oldest international school in Norway (founded in 1963) and one of the leading IB schools in Scandinavia. It offers an IB programme for children aged 3 to 19 (Pre‑School to IB Diploma). The school is an independent non‑profit school, financed 100 percent through tuition fees. The annual fees for the 2026/27 school year are 288,700 NOK for students from Year 1 to IB2 (about 24,700 euros). By comparison, in Germany, fees for international schools are in a similar range, but vary depending on location.

– The International School of Oslo is the city's leading pure IB school, offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). The school caters to a highly international community, particularly families from the energy sector, the diplomatic corps and international business. Annual fees range between 175,000 and 235,000 NOK (about 15,000 to 20,100 euros).

– Northlights International School Oslo  also offers the IB programme from primary school to the Abitur. Monthly fees are 3,950 NOK over eleven months, so about 43,450 NOK per year in total (approx. 3,700 euros). This option is thus significantly cheaper than the fully privately financed alternatives – a difference from Germany, where state‑subsidised private schools in this form are rarer.

– The British School of Oslo  follows the National Curriculum of England and Wales from early childhood to GCSE and A‑Level. The school is particularly popular with British families and those seeking a familiar English‑speaking environment. Annual fees are about 130,000 to 185,000 NOK (approx. 11,100 to 15,800 euros).

– Lycée Français d’Oslo (René Cassin) – This French international school is part of the AEFE network (Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger) and offers the full French national curriculum from pre‑school to the Baccalauréat. Annual fees range between 25,000 and 55,000 NOK (approx. 2,100 to 4,700 euros) – thus significantly cheaper than the English‑language alternatives. There are also French lycées in Germany, but fees there are sometimes higher.

German‑Norwegian School Oslo (DENOSO) – The German‑Norwegian School Oslo is the only German overseas school in Norway and one of more than 140 German overseas schools worldwide. It offers a continuous educational path from kindergarten to grade 12 (Abitur). A special feature is the bilingual education: students obtain both German and Norwegian school leaving certificates, entitling them to higher education worldwide. The school is funded by Norway and the Federal Republic of Germany and staffed with qualified teaching personnel. It is also an important part of the German strategy of the Norwegian government. Unlike in Germany, where changing between different school types is often fraught with hurdles, DENOSO enables a continuous educational path in a familiar German language of instruction. The school is run by a foundation whose board is elected by the parents. Annual fees are around 20,000 to 50,000 NOK (about 1,700 to 4,300 euros), placing them at the lower end of private school fees in Oslo – a major difference from Germany, where comparable German overseas schools often charge higher fees.

The Norwegian education system is known for its integrative model focused on equal opportunities. Compulsory education in Norway lasts ten years, with children starting school in the year they turn six. The basic structure is divided into several successive levels:

– Pre‑school (early childhood education): The barnehage is intended for children from one year old until school enrolment. Attendance is not compulsory, but is attended by over 90 percent of Norwegian children. The staff‑to‑child ratio is remarkable: for three children under three years, there is one staff member; for children over three, the ratio is 1:6. By comparison, in Germany, one staff member cares for an average of four to five children in crèches, in some federal states even more. Parental fees are capped by law; discounts are available for siblings. Norway thus relies on early childhood education as the foundation for later educational success.

– Primary school (barneskole, grades 1‑7): All children complete the first seven school years together in the barneskole. A major difference from Germany: during these seven years, there are no grades, only detailed verbal assessments. The focus is on social learning, teamwork and individual development, not on pressure to perform. Class sizes are manageable, with an average of 20 pupils.

– Lower secondary school (ungdomsskole, grades 8‑10): : The three years of lower secondary school are also part of the ten‑year compulsory education. Pupils only receive grades from grade 8 onwards – on a scale from 1 (lowest grade) to 6 (highest grade). The passing grade is 2. Unlike in Germany, where grades are already given in primary school and often determine the future educational path, Norway relies on significantly later grading. From grade 8 onwards, pupils learn a second foreign language (often Spanish, German or French).

– Upper secondary school (videregående skole, grades 11‑13): Upper secondary school is not compulsory, but is attended by the vast majority of pupils. It lasts three years and is divided into academic (studieforberedende) and vocational (yrkesfaglige) programmes. The academic upper secondary school prepares for higher education, while the vocational programme prepares for a trade. Unlike in Germany, where vocational training is dominated by the dual system (company plus vocational school), vocational education in Norway takes place predominantly at school, supplemented by company internships.

Compared to Germany, some differences are particularly noticeable:

– INTEGRATIVE COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL WITHOUT EARLY SELECTION: Norway consistently relies on the ten‑year grunnskole as a comprehensive school where all children learn together. There is no separation into Hauptschule, Realschule and Gymnasium as in Germany. The decision about the further educational path is only made at age 16 after grade 10 – a major difference from the German practice of streaming as early as after the fourth grade. Norway was the first country to introduce a five‑year and, in 1920, a seven‑year public comprehensive primary school for all children.

– NO GRADES IN THE FIRST SEVEN SCHOOL YEARS: While grades are already given in primary school in Germany, often determining the future educational path, Norwegian pupils only receive grades from grade 8 onwards. The first seven years are accompanied by detailed verbal assessments describing each child's individual development. This significantly reduces performance pressure in the early school years.

– DIFFERENT VOCATIONAL TRAINING SYSTEM: While the dual system (company plus vocational school) dominates in Germany, vocational training in Norway takes place primarily at school (videregående skole, yrkesfaglig), supplemented by company internships. The Norwegian model is more school‑centred, while the German system is based on close cooperation between companies and vocational schools.

– LATER SCHOOL ENROLMENT: : Norwegian children start school in the year they turn six – so they start about a year later than in Germany (where enrolment is usually at age six, though cut‑off date regulations vary). The Norwegian school system has a long tradition: compulsory schooling was introduced as early as 1739 – by comparison, general compulsory schooling in Germany came into force between 1717 and 1871, depending on the region.

Early childhood education is well developed in Norway. Unlike in Germany, there is no distinction between crèche and kindergarten – all age groups from 0 to 6 years are cared for together in the barnehage. The pedagogical philosophy also differs: Norwegian kindergartens work less project‑oriented and more everyday‑oriented. A trip to the forest has no fixed learning objective – the children discover their surroundings playfully. This principle of independence and connection to nature runs through the entire Norwegian education system. Parental fees are capped by law: the maximum monthly fee is set by the state, and there are discounts for low‑income earners. For the third child and subsequent children, kindergarten is free.

Moving to Norway requires careful planning of the school transition. It is important to find out about the various options early on – depending on the region and the individual needs of your family. The Norwegian education system offers many advantages: an integrative structure with ten years of compulsory schooling together without early selection, grading only from grade 8 onwards, a relaxed learning atmosphere and a high level of educational quality, especially at the excellent international and German schools in Oslo. The decentralised organisation of the education system allows municipalities to respond to local characteristics, while the national Ministry of Education ensures basic quality standards. Whether public grunnskole, private institution, international school or the German‑Norwegian School Oslo – with the right preparation and support, every family will find the right educational path for their children in Norway. KOCH Moving Logistics stands by your side as an experienced partner to make your move to Norway smooth.