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

A week consists of a mix of main subject time, electives, and common classes. Every morning starts with a morning assembly, where the whole school gathers.

Main subject time includes Norwegian lessons using different methods, as well as excursions in Bergen and the surrounding area.

Most Saturdays we have seminars, where staff members and guest speakers give lectures on various topics.

Sunday is your day off.

Food and Meals

Our skilled kitchen staff are responsible for preparing all meals served at the school. We follow a traditional Norwegian diet. In Norway, it is common to eat bread with various toppings for breakfast, lunch, and the evening meal. Our chefs therefore bake bread on-site, ensuring that we always serve fresh, homemade bread.

Lunch may also include soup made from high-quality ingredients, or traditional Norwegian rice porridge (risengrynsgrøt). On two days each week, students prepare their own packed lunch during breakfast. Dinner is usually a hot meal.

Meals are normally served at the same times each weekday:

• Breakfast: 08:30

• Lunch: 12:00

• Dinner: 15:30

• Evening meal: 19:00

In addition, we have a student kitchen where you are welcome to prepare your own food if you wish. The kitchen is equipped with a refrigerator and freezer, allowing you to store some personal food items in addition to the regular meals provided.

Holidays

The school is closed during holidays. We do not have supervision (no one at work), and therefore overnight stays at the school are not allowed.

• On departure days before the holidays, there are classes until 12:00 PM. The last meal served is lunch.

• After the holidays, the school always has an arrival day on the day before the first day of school. The first meal served is supper.

If you want to stay in Bergen, we recommend you to stay at Montana Vandrerhjem;

 https://montana.no/

 «Get ready for experiencing a super welcoming atmosphere while staying surrounded by nature and one of the most beautiful landscapes in Bergen. Whether you want to hike and explore the mountains with our volunteers, simply spend a quiet evening by the fireplace in the TV lounge, or kick it with a game of table tennis and table football in our common room: We have what you need!!»

Our language cours is 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.

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 differences 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 offer. 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 mix of courses that create a diverse and creative environment at the school.

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

In addition to your main courses, you can choose from different 6-week long electives, giving you the chance to try something new and develop new skills. Some of the most popular electives includes Arts and Crafts, Hiking in Bergen, and Volleyball.

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.

• 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

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.

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.