What are Vg1, Vg2 and Vg3?

Vg1

The education takes place in school and consists of both common core subjects (such as Norwegian, mathematics and English) and programme subjects from your education programme.  

General studies 

Vocational

• The education is mostly theoretical.
• Most of the school lessons are used for common core subjects.
• You have two or three programme subjects (does not apply to specialization in generalstudies), and in some of the education programmes you may choose programme subjects at Vg1.

• Vg1 is to give you a basic education in work processes, techniques and tools that are typical for your education programme.
• Most of the lessons are used for programme subjects.
• You also have the subject vocational specialization with the opportunity to try out relevant recognized trades in training establishments.

Vg2

At Vg2 you choose between the programme areas that are to be found within the education programme you chose at Vg1.

General studies

Vocational

• In addition to the common core subjects, you choose between different programme subjects according to certain rules.
• The education takes place in school.

• You choose a programme area and therefore get the opportunity to specialize more.
• For most pupils, the education takes place in school.
• You have more hours for the subject vocational specialization than at Vg1.
• There are also some special paths where you get training in an enterprise (year 3) after Vg1.

Vg3 / training in an enterprise

Vg3 builds on the Vg2 you attended, and takes place either in school or in an enterprise.

General studies

• You continue with the programme area you chose at Vg2, and choose more specialization in programme subjects or new programme subjects in accordance with certain rules.
• The education takes place in school.
• With an approved certificate from Vg3, you can apply to higher education at university colleges and university.

• You choose between programme areas that build on the Vg2 you went to, and now you specialize further.
• Most programme areas at Vg3 are recognized trades. You then receive the training as an apprentice in an enterprise, and the apprenticeship takes 2 years.
• Some programme areas are given at Vg3 as 1 year’s education in school.
• A few vocational paths have Vg3 in school before they finish with 1.5 or 2 years’ apprenticeship in an enterprise.