Private Schools

You have the opportunity to attend upper secondary education at a private school. These schools offer education according to public curricula or according to curricula that the Directorate for Education has assessed as equivalent to these. Private schools that are approved under the Private School Act provide grades and issue diplomas.

You can apply to private schools anywhere in the country and are not limited to choosing a school within your own county.

Educational Offers

Most private schools provide education that corresponds to upper secondary education in public schools. The curricula of private schools are either exactly the same as those in public schools or are approved as alternative plans that are considered equivalent to the public school curricula.

Private schools with curricula that are identical to those taught in public schools are available across the country. Educational offers within preparatory study programs are the most common, but there are also offers in programs such as natural resource management, media and communication, health and welfare, and other vocational education programs.

However, some private schools offer one- or two-year vocational education that is not provided in public schools.

Alternative Curricula

Private schools with alternative curricula can be divided into three main categories:

• Schools based on alternative pedagogy. The vast majority of private schools with alternative pedagogy are Steiner schools. You can read more about these schools under the section on Steiner schools.
• Faith-based schools, mainly Christian schools. You can read more about these schools under the section on Christian private schools.
• Schools with elite sports programs. These schools offer upper secondary education combined with elite sports. Read more about these schools under the section on Sports High Schools.

Tuition Fees

Although approved private schools receive state subsidies, students usually have to pay tuition fees. There is a maximum amount that schools can charge in tuition fees, and this amount varies depending on the educational program the school offers.

The principle of free printed and digital learning materials and digital equipment also applies to private schools. The same applies to the equipment grant (administered by the Loan Fund). You can also apply to the Loan Fund for a loan to cover tuition fees.

Private Schools Without Right to State Subsidies

There are also private schools that are not entitled to state subsidies. These schools often offer education according to public curricula but do not provide grades. Students at such schools must take exams as private candidates in all subjects. Since these schools do not receive state subsidies, it can be very expensive to be a student there.

On vilbli.no, you will only find information about private schools that are approved under the Private School Act and thus receive state subsidies.