Norwegian Language and Culture

Learn Norwegian and experience the nature and culture of Norway.

Bergen is located on the west coast of Norway in the heart of the fjords. Bergen has the ideal combination of nature, culture, and exciting urban life all year around.

Every year, many international students attend folk high school in Norway. Some come because they want to learn the Norwegian language and immerse themselves in the culture, some see it as a first step to settling in Norway, and some want to experience the unique teaching approach of folk high schools.

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Language - Friendship - Culture

At Fana folkehøgskule you can gain fluency in Norwegian, make lifelong **friendships**, and explore the Norwegian **culture**.
You will learn about Norwegian culture, history, geography, and society by **travelling and experiencing Norway** firsthand.

Norwegian experiences

- Trips along the coastline, the fjords and in the mountains
-Canoeing, mountain hiking and cross-country skiing

Norwegian language as a major subject or as an elective

Most classes are taught in Norwegian. However, all staff members and students speak English.

After a year at Fana folkehøgskule, you can expect to speak and understand Norwegian reasonably well. Your level of proficiency will depend on your own efforts, but living in a Norwegian-speaking environment gives you a great advantage when learning the language.

You can select Norwegian language as a major subject or as an elective. Students who select Norwegian language as a major subject follow the course Norwegian Language and Culture. Students who select Norwegian language as an elective, can follow any of the other courses at the school as their major subject.

Norwegian culture

Visit the home of Edvard Grieg
Exhibitions, concerts and theatre performances
Experience the music scene in the hometown of Alan Walker and Kygo
Street Art in Bergen

Norwegian history and society

Introduction to Norwegian history and historical places
Sustainability and environmental protection
Norwegian society and politics

Field trips in and around Bergen

Troldhaugen, the home of the composer Edvard Grieg, and other attractions in Bergen
Voss, one of the top outdoors destinations i Norway
Museums in Bergen
Historical city walks in the town centre
The music and art scene in Bergen
Theater performances and concerts
The coast line around Bergen
The famous Seven Mountains around Bergen
Hiking, camping trips and outdoor activities

Who is this course suitable for?

During your stay in Bergen as an international student, you'll make friends, learn some Norwegian, and explore Norwegian culture and society. We have many international students - some come to learn Norwegian, while others simply want a year at a folk high school in Norway.

The course "Norwegian Language and Culture" is suitable for young people who would like to learn Norwegian and explore the Norwegian culture. Most of our students are from 18-25 years old.

The Norwegian course is suitable for beginners with little previous knowledge of the language

150-hour language course
learn to speak Norwegian
learn basic grammar, vocabulary and use of everyday language

Be a part of a Norwegian and international student environment

Discover Norwegian culture and traditions
Speak Norwegian with fellow students
Visit interesting places in Norway

The weekly schedule

This is what the schedual for a week might look like:

Monday: We start the week with an all-school meeting where students and staff meet to get the latest information on the coming week. Next the students meet in their course groups. After lunch it is time for electives

Tuesday: We start the day with a morning assembly. This is a community-building time shared between teachers and students at the start of the day. Common morning assembly activities includes singing, a short student talk on a feely chosen subject, news and announcements. The rest of the day is dedicated to course work. Most of the classes go on different excursions in Bergen, like visiting exhibitions, collaborating with external organizations or spending time outdoors on Tuesdays.

Wednesday: The day starts off with a morning assembly, followed by course classes. After lunch it is time for the students to clean their rooms and the dorms. The last item on the schedule is a subject focusing on life skills.

Thursday: We start the day off by having house meetings in the dorms followed by course classes. After lunch we have the semester long electives. For international students who follow other courses than Norwegian Language and Culture it is recommended that you choose this elective in the first semester to make sure you have a basic knowledge of the Norwegian language

Friday: After the morning assembly we have electives. After lunch all students meet up for a sing-along, followed by an update on the news, often with an uplifting and positive take on both local and international news.

Saturday: Most Saturdays we have seminars where both our staff and inspiring guests are invited to have lectures and workshops.

Sunday: This is your day off, so you can either spend it with your friends at the folk high school or go exploring in Bergen

The Norwegian language – language courses and teaching language

Our language courses are designed for both beginners and those with some prior knowledge of Norwegian. If you are a total beginner, we recommend the course Norwegian Language and Culture. Students with some prior knowledge of the Norwegian Language can apply to one of the other courses, and take the 30-hour long A short introduction to Norwegian language course as an elective in the first semester

Most of our teaching is in Norwegian, but we offer some translation to English when needed.

There are slightly different language requirements for the diPerent courses, so check the course descriptions, or send us an e-mail, for more information about the requirements for each course.

Beginners course or intermediate language course?

Beginners course

The language course included in Norwegian Language and Culture is suitable for beginners with little or no previous knowledge of the Norwegian language

The 150-hour language course
- Language lessons two to three days a week
- learn to speak Norwegian
- learn basic grammar, vocabulary and use of everyday language
- get firsthand practice speaking Norwegian to with fellow students

Intermediate course

Students with some previous knowledge of the Norwegian language, can apply to one of the other courses that the school offers, and take the 30-hour elective "A short introduction to the Norwegian language" in the first semester.

The 30-hour elective Norwegian Language Course
- Language lessons once a week
- learn to speak better Norwegian
- improve your grammar and vocabulary
- everyday use of the language
- get firsthand practice speaking Norwegian to with fellow students

The 30-hour elective is only given in the first semester and has a faster progression than the 150-hour language course. It requires some effort, and the students expected to do some individual work between lessons.

General information about Fana Folk Highschool

The school is a liberal folk high school. In general, liberal folk high schools are not founded on a particular faith or worldview. The schools’ core values are tied to established values common in Norwegian culture, like tolerance and equality, and in human rights.

Around 90 students between the age of 18 and 25 years old, attend the school. The school is in Bergen, the second largest city in Norway. Bergen is in the western part of Norway.

Fana Folk High School offers you the chance to combine personal growth, creative development, and international influences in the heart of Bergen.

Here, you will meet young people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and together you will create a vibrant environment marked by openness and curiosity. With students from all over the world, we see language diversity and cultural diPerences among the students as an asset.

At Fana, there is room for you to be social, explore new interests, and have fun. In a safe environment, you can be yourself, build friendships, and develop your social skills.

This is a year where you invest in both your academic and personal growth.

Get to Know Bergen

As a student at Fana Folk High School, you'll experience all that Bergen has to oPer. In the city, you can enjoy theater, concerts, and exhibitions. Bergen also hosts a variety of festivals. During the school year, there are international film festivals, theater festivals, and several music festivals in the city.

When you have some free time, you can explore the city on your own—hike up Fløyen, grab a coffee at one of the cozy cafés, or simply enjoy life in our vibrant city.

Creative Courses and Exciting Electives

We offer a wide range of courses that create a diverse and creative environment at the school.

The courses offered at the school includes Analogue Photography, Visual Arts, Music, Psychology, Game Development and Norwegian Language and Culture.

In addition to your main courses, you can choose from many 6-week long electives, giving you the chance to try something new and develop new skills. Some of the most popular electives includes Skateboarding, Arts and Crafts, Redesign and Upcycling, and Popular Movies.

We also offer 30-hour semester-long electives. These electives include Theatre, Pixel Animation, Street Art, Music, Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Redesign, and A short introduction to the Norwegian language for for international students

General information on Norwegian Folk High Schools

Every year, many international students attend folk high school in Norway. Some come because they want to learn the Norwegian language and immerse themselves in the culture, some see it as a first step to settling in Norway, and some want to experience the unique pedagogical approach of folk high schools.

Folk high schools have a big presence in the Nordic countries but are relatively unknown in the rest of the world.

The pedagogical focus is on the students’ motivation, which is why the schools do not have exams or give grades.

We believe that you learn the most if you want to learn.

Norway’s folk high schools welcome international students: they add exciting diversity at school and can give us new insights into how Norwegian students view the world.

You live at the school around the clock, together with your fellow students. You eat all your meals at school.

You can choose from more than 80 folk high schools scattered throughout Norway. The schools vary in size, location and course structure.

A folk high school year lasts nine months, from August to May. Most students attend folk high school right after graduating from high school (upper secondary school). Most folk high school students are between 18 and 25 years old.

Our expectations

You are interested in learning a new language
You are willing to participate in our class program
You show up and participate actively
You want to develop yourself and your skills
You contribute to creating a creative and pleasant student environment

Application and visa process

There is no deadline for applying. Students are admitted until the school is full or until the beginning of the school year.

Courses in Norwegian language and culture usually fill up quickly. We recommend early application, especially for students outside of the EU who need to apply for visa.

The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) requires that applicants from countries outside the EU/EEA make a security deposit in the school’s bank account before processing an application for a residence permit. This will be refunded if the visa application is rejected.

National identity number and bank accounts

In Norway, there are two types of identification numbers: National identity numbers (often called personal identity numbers) and D numbers. You get a national identity number if you live or settle in Norway, whereas a D number is a temporary identification number.

If you plan to stay in Norway for more than six months you should register with the National Registry so that you can be assigned a national identity number. If you are an EU/EEA national, you must make an appointment with the local tax assessment office to get your identity number.

In order to open a bank account in a Norwegian bank, you will need a Norwegian identity number. Norwegian banks have advanced solutions for online banking, allowing you to administrate your accounts, pay bills and transfer money online. Foreign credit cards are widely accepted in Norway.