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Upper secondary school: the right to education and adaptation

Draft, translated: translated from the Norwegian original with the help of a language model, and may contain errors. The Norwegian version is the authoritative one. See the Norwegian original →

You have the right to upper secondary education until you have achieved a qualification for higher education or a vocational qualification. Pupils with individually adapted education have their own rights, and an earlier application deadline, 1 February.

Norwegian original last checked against official sources: 16 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so always check the official site before you act.

The move from lower to upper secondary school (videregående skole) is often demanding, especially for pupils who have had special education. The county authority (fylkeskommunen) is responsible for upper secondary education.

The right to complete

According to the Directorate for Education and Training (Udir), the right to upper secondary education applies until you have achieved a qualification for higher education or a vocational qualification, not just for three years. However, the right lasts no longer than the end of the school year that begins in the year you turn 24 (Education Act § 5-1).

Pupils who need individual adaptation

If the pupil still needs individually adapted education and an individual education plan (IOP), an expert assessment from the PP service is required. Read PPT and special education and individual adaptation.
For pupils with an IOP, the right is not limited to three years, and they can complete with a qualification based on the goals in the IOP.
According to Udir, the old rule of up to two extra years has not been continued in the current law. Instead, the county authority can offer a course that runs over a longer time, but it is not a right.

Application and deadlines

You apply on vigo.no.
The ordinary deadline is 1 March.
If you apply to have your application considered individually or with priority because of special needs, the deadline is 1 February. This also applies to some other groups, such as recently arrived young people.
Enclose documentation, for example the expert assessment and statements from a doctor or the school.

If you are unsure which deadline applies, contact the admissions office at the county authority in good time.

Tip: Ask for a transition meeting between the lower secondary school, the upper secondary school, PPT and your family well before the school year starts. If the pupil has lasting needs, see also Statped and child coordinator.

Sources

Kontaktpunkt24 gives general information, not legal advice. If you need help with your own case, contact a lawyer, a legal aid service, or the relevant authority.

This page is translated from Norwegian with the help of a language model, and may contain errors. The Norwegian version is always the authoritative one.