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Studies & Degrees in Norwegian Language and Culture (in Universities)

Norwegian Language and Culture is the university study of the Norwegian language together with the literature, history and society of Norway. It is usually taught inside a department of Scandinavian or Nordic studies, where it sits next to Danish, Swedish, Finnish and Icelandic. The subject attracts students with an academic interest in the Nordic countries, students with family roots in Norway, and people who plan to study or work there.

Students begin with the language: grammar, pronunciation, reading, writing and conversation. Later courses cover Norwegian literature and cultural history and wider Scandinavian topics. At the University of Washington, for example, the offer includes a four-year programme in language and literature, a survey of Norwegian literary and cultural history and specialised courses on writers such as Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun; the list of approved courses for the major also includes Scandinavian mythology, folklore, crime fiction and film.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree with a major or minor. In the United States, Norwegian is a major or minor within the bachelor's degree. The Department of Scandinavian Studies of the University of Washington offers both. Its Norwegian major requires 60 credits, of which 30 are first- and second-year language courses and 25 must be at the 300 level or above, and it ends with a five-credit senior capstone project. The major is open to University of Washington students in good academic standing, and credits earned during studies in Norway can be transferred.
  • Master's degree and PhD. Graduate study normally takes place under the wider heading of Scandinavian studies. In Seattle, students continue with Norwegian language, literature, culture and society while working towards the M.A. and the Ph.D. in Scandinavian Studies.
  • University language courses in Norway. The University of Oslo, which is not in our directory, runs Norwegian for Academics (NORA): credit-bearing courses with examinations from beginner level up to CEFR level B2, for example 15 credits at A2, 15 at B1 and 20 at B2. They are given in spring and autumn as daytime and evening classes, and its International Summer School adds intensive six-week courses with an exam. Applicants must meet the basic admission requirements for higher education in Norway, except the Norwegian language requirement. The semester courses are only for applicants living in Norway, the EU or the EEA, and the university states that a student visa cannot be obtained for them.
  • Immersion and short courses. Concordia Language Villages in Minnesota runs Skogfjorden, its Norwegian Language Village, with youth sessions that include four-week credit sessions for grades 9-12, family weekends and programmes for adults.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists six active schools for Norwegian language and culture. Four are in the United States: the University of Washington in Seattle, The University of Chicago, The College of Wooster and Concordia Language Villages. The University of York in the United Kingdom and the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg in Germany complete the list.

Outside Norway, language classes are taught in Norwegian, and literature and culture courses often in the language of the country: English in the United States and the United Kingdom, German in Freiburg. A period in Norway is the usual way to reach a high level, either as an exchange semester or on a university language course. Before applying, ask the school how many years of Norwegian it teaches, whether the language can be a full major or only a minor or elective, and which exchange agreements it has with Norwegian universities.

Careers

Norwegian is rarely a profession in itself; it is a specialism that graduates combine with another field. The University of Washington reports that graduates of its Scandinavian Studies programmes pursue careers in business and nonprofit work, law, academia and STEM. Other common paths are translation, publishing, tourism, teaching, and work for companies and organisations with links to Norway. Higher education in Norway has a Norwegian language requirement for programmes taught in Norwegian, so students who want to take a full degree there need to document their level; university courses such as NORA lead up to level B2.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know Norwegian before I start?

No. University programmes abroad start from beginner level; at the University of Washington half of the 60 credits of the major are first- and second-year language courses. The NORA courses in Oslo also begin at elementary level.

Can I study Norwegian in Norway as an international student?

Yes, but check the conditions. The semester courses of Norwegian for Academics at the University of Oslo are only for applicants living in Norway, the EU or the EEA, and no student visa is issued for them. Exchange students and summer school participants follow other routes.

What level of Norwegian can I reach on a university course?

The NORA courses of the University of Oslo run from beginner level up to CEFR level B2. For programmes outside Norway, ask each school which level its courses reach.

Is Norwegian offered as a full degree outside Norway?

At some universities, yes: the University of Washington has a Norwegian major and minor. Elsewhere it is one language within Scandinavian studies or an elective course, so compare what each school offers.