Upper secondary education for adults

This page applies to those who are completing upper secondary education without statutory rights as a young person.

Are you a part-time student?

Please note this:
  • You will receive less loans and grants than if you study full-time.
  • Interest is calculated on loans you already have.
  • You must pay the loan.

Upper secondary education for adults

If you are a pupil in upper secondary education without statutory rights as a young person, you may apply for loans and grants.

Only full-time students are eligible for full basic support 

All students can receive basic support, and this is what most people call a student loan. If you are completing upper secondary education without statutory rights as a young person, you may be entitled to basic support of up to NOK 125,370 for the complete academic year (ten months). You need to be a full-time student in order to qualify for the full amount. The amount you can receive in loans and grants will be less if you are not studying full time.

If you are required to pay tuition fees, you may also receive a loan for tuition fees in addition to the basic support.

The difference between full-time and part-time

The factor that determines whether you are considered a full-time or part-time student is how long you will take to complete your course and how many subjects/hours you will complete during the period.

In order to be considered a full-time student, you need to complete an average of 980 hours per academic year if you are completing vocational education and 840 hours if you are completing university-preparatory. You will be considered a part-time student if you are completing fewer hours than this on average.

The amount you can receive as a part-time student will be calculated based on your part-time percentage. The part-time percentage will be determined based on the number of subjects you are taking (number of hours) and the time it will take to complete your course. If, for example, you are completing 980 hours of a vocational programme over two full academic years, you will have a part-time percentage of 50.

If you start your course after 16 August or finish before 15 June of an academic year, the duration of your course will be considered too short for you to qualify for the full amount of NOK 125,370. You will receive basic support from the date on which you start your course until the date on which you complete your course.

Examples of part-time courses

You are attending school from 18 August 2022 until 6 June 2024 and are taking subjects from a vocational education programme resulting in a total of 954 hours. You will be considered a part-time student and your part-time percentage is 49.58.

Do you receive support for full-time or part-time studies?

Your loan and grant decision will state whether you are eligible for support for full-time or part-time studies.

Do you have statutory rights as an adult?

If you have statutory rights as an adult pursuant to Section 4A-3 of the Norwegian Education Act, you will receive grants and loans for physical education even if you are exempt from the subject. The hours assigned for physical education will be added automatically when the school informs us that you have statutory rights as an adult.

The county council will determine whether you have statutory rights as an adult.

Go to the application

When you have completed your education

No interest will be added to the loan as long as you still receive loans and grants for full-time studies

Parts of the loan may be converted to a grant

When you have completed your course, some of the basic support may be converted to a grant, subject to certain conditions. Basic support that is converted to a grant does not need to be repaid.

You need to repay your loan

When you have completed your course or if you switch from full-time to part-time studies, interest will be added and a repayment plan will be issued. The repayment plan provides an overview of how much you need to pay back each month.

You need to apply for a payment deferral if you are unable to make payment.

Do you have children?

You may receive extra
loans and grants
if you have or get children

If you have children while studying, you may be entitled to additional loans and grants.

Parental grant in the event of birth or adoption

If you have children while studying, your basic support and additional loan for school fees may be converted to a grant for up to 49 weeks.

Child grant

If you have children below the age of 16, you may qualify for an additional grant. If you have several children, you receive more in grants. The child grant is means tested, which means that the amount is reduced if the family has income or assets in excess of the limits stipulated in the regulations. If you are a part-time student, you also get a smaller amount.

Additional loans

You may also borrow NOK 55,820 extra per year when you have children below the age of 16, with an upward limit of NOK 111,640 in total. Income and assets have no impact on whether you can receive an additional loan. If you are a part-time student, you will be offered a loan with a smaller amount.

Read about children and childbirth

Do you have reduced functional ability?

You may apply for an
extra grant
if you are unable to work besides your studies

If you have reduced functional ability that prevents you from working beside your studies, you may be eligible for an additional grant of NOK 4,280 per month. If you are a part-time student, you get a smaller amount.

You may also receive grants and loans during summer if you are unable to work during the summer holiday. A specialist must confirm that you have reduced functional ability.
You apply for loans and grants due to disability on a separate form.

Read more about grants for people with reduced functional ability

Are you above the age of 30?

You can apply for up to
NOK 55,820
in additional loans per year

You can borrow up to NOK 55,820 extra per year if you are a full-time student. If you are a part-time student, the maximum amount you are offered to borrow is reduced. You may borrow up to NOK 111,640 in total, and you may choose how many years you want to allocate the loan across. You apply for the loan on the same form as for ordinary loans and grants.

The loan may not be combined with additional loans for those with children.

Go to additional loan.

 

Are you a refugee?
Read about refugee grants
When you will start repayments
See what happens when you have completed your programme of education

Related regulations