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High School in Norway

Norway is a Scandinavian country made up of mountains, glaciers, and deep coastal fjords. Known for fishing, hiking, and skiing, Norway offers visitors many activities in a beautiful, historic landscape. Want to learn more about this amazing country first hand? You can with our high school study abroad programs!

Overview

Our high school exchange program in Norway will enable you to immerse yourself in Norwegian culture while living with an Norwegian host family and sharing in their daily life. You will be attending a local public High school (Videregående skole 11th or 12th grade) depending on your age for the specified program period, and the availability at the local school.

You will have the opportunity to learn about Norwegian culture by actively participating in family, school and community life; and to help improve their written and oral Norwegian skills. High school abroad in Norway is a once in a lifetime experience!

Not interested in studying in Norway? How about Spain! Learn more here.

About Norway

Have you ever imagined being able to see for yourself the dramatic beauty of the Norwegian fjords and glaciers, ski or snowboard on the slopes of Scandinavian mountains, or photograph breathtaking landscapes with sunlight at midnight ? All of this is can be possible in Norway, the Scandinavian country that stretches furthest to the north, reaching the Arctic Circle. In some areas in Norway, you can see beautiful fjords and in other areas, you can enjoy breathtaking landscape and the highest mountain you will ever see. If you are very lucky, you can experience the northern lights. Norway offers great skiing areas as well.

The days are short in the winter and the sun may only rise for a few hours. In the summer the days are long and in some areas you can go for days with continuous light! Research your arrival season so that you have appropriate clothing and can be prepared for these adjustments.

Program Dates & Deadlines

Apply early and get a discount! Submit your application 45 days before the deadline to receive an Early Bird Discount.

These are the approximate start dates. Exact start dates will be provided closer to your arrival.

Spring

Academic Semester: Mid-January – Mid June

Final Deadline for Completed Applications: September 15th

 

Fall

Academic Semester: Mid-August – Mid-January

Academic Year: Mid-August – Mid-June

Final Deadline for Completed Applications: April 1st

Program Costs

COSTS

Semester $13,000
Academic Year $17,000

Discounts & Scholarships

Early Bird Discount – $250 discount if you apply 45 days prior to the application deadline

Host Family Discount – Discount of up to $1000 for families that hosted an inbound student

Area Representative Discount – Discount of up to $500 for children of ISE Area Representatives

ISE Ambassador ScholarshipDesigned for students who would like to engage deeply with their host community and reflect on their experience via blog/video contributions. 

What's Included In The Program

  • Arrival Orientation
  • Comprehensive medical insurance
  • Support and supervision by local representative
  • Host family accommodation including 2 meals a day during the week, and 3 meals a day on the weekends.
  • School tuition and fees
  • Progress reports sent directly to parents
  • 24/7 emergency support
  • ISE Tote bag, luggage tag & lanyard

Additional Expenses You Might Incur

  • Personal Expenses – cell phone bills, personal spending money, travel expenses
  • Transportation to airport at conclusion of program
  • Extra School Fees – Uniform, class trips, extra curricular activities

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be between 15-17, however, if they are applying for August semester or year programs, they must turn 16 before the end of the calendar year
  • If applying for January semester or year programs, applicants must turn 17 before the end of the calendar year

Academic Info

In Norway, school typically starts at 8am. Most students walk or ride their bikes to school if they live close enough or alternatively they take the bus. If the distance is more than 6 km from the house to the school, most of the schools will give the students a free bus card. It is normal in Norway to spend around 1 hour from home to school. Lunch is normally eaten at school, at around 11am. You can bring your own lunch or you can buy food in the cafeteria.

School finishes around 3 pm. Students are expected to do 1-2 hours of homework every night. In the Norwegian school, it is required to have your own computer, so it is important that you bring a laptop to Norway. All schoolbooks are free in Norwegian schools, except notebooks, pencils and that sort of things.  You don´t need a school uniform. It is also necessary for you to bring a cell phone that can use a Norwegian sim card. If you do not have a phone like this, you have to get a new phone before departure or latest 2 weeks after arrival in Norway. 

Orientation

Upon arrival in Norway, there will be a 2 day, 2 night arrival orientation in Oslo or Copenhagen. During this orientation, you will learn about the culture, language as well go on a guided city tour.

Application Process

  1. Explore our programs, options and countries to find your best match. 
  2. Complete our interest form and, if applicable, let us know who referred you to us.
  3. Schedule a meeting with one of our Travel & Study Abroad experts.
  4. Submit your application and a $200 application fee. This non-refundable fee will be applied to your overall program costs.
  5. Upon acceptance, you will be required to pay a deposit of 50% of the total program costs, up to $1500. The final payment is due several weeks before your departure. 

Parent FAQs

Moving away from your support network and into a new and unfamiliar environment can be difficult even for the most well-adjusted students. Students with pre-existing mental health conditions may find this adjustment particularly challenging, which could worsen any issues they were previously facing. 

We conduct a thorough screening of all applicants to ensure they are in the right mindset to participate. While the majority of students are eligible to participate, we may not be able to accept students who have recently struggled with mental illness and/or are reliant on medication to treat mental illness in order to protect the student’s well-being. 

Pre-existing mental health conditions include, but are not limited to:

  • Severe anxiety
  • Depression
  • Eating Disorders
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

For students prepared to take on the challenge, absolutely. It is, however, important to consider a student’s level of maturity prior to the program because it directly impacts their success. 

Ideally, our programs will push students beyond their comfort zone and into what is referred to as their stretch zone. It’s in the stretch zone that learning, growth, and development - along with challenges and risk - occur. 

If a student is not ready and/or willing to move beyond their comfort zone, plunging into a new and unfamiliar environment could actually have an adverse effect and place them in what is referred to as the panic zoneParents should make an honest assessment of their child’s maturity level and understand that study abroad will not fundamentally change their child’s personality or behavior when considering the program.

study abroad stretch zone

While abroad, your child will be fully supported. First, they will receive a personal Program Manager to assist with everything from the initial request to your child’s departure. Then, they will be supported abroad by a dedicated Local Coordinator who will frequently check in on the student and provide monthly progress reports. Your child will have the contact information of their Local Coordinator and can contact them at any time. There is also a 24/7 emergency line managed out of ISE headquarters.

No. Visits of any kind are not allowed during our programs. If you plan to visit your child, you should plan to do so after the program has ended.  

High School Program FAQs

There are many benefits to attending high school abroad, including but not limited to:

  • Developing new language skills
  • Developing problem-solving skills
  • Identifying interests to better select your college major
  • Inspiring insightful college admissions essays
  • Improving academic scores upon your return home
  • Developing cross-cultural collaboration skills

We can’t offer any guarantees that certain classes will be offered at your host school. We can provide you with general curriculum information, but often students are not able to sign up for specific classes until after they arrive in the host country. In certain instances, virtual high school options for required classes might be a useful option.

You will not be able to take the SATs while abroad. We highly recommend that you take the SATs prior to or after the program.

Upon successful completion of the program, everyone is guaranteed a Certificate of Attendance. Transcripts (i.e. grades) have to be earned. To earn the grades, you will have to excel in your classes abroad, in the language of your destination country. All of our high schools abroad are accredited institutions, therefore their grades are transferable to the United States. Please visit Scholaro for more information on translating and evaluating grades from abroad. As part of the preparation process, you have to check with your guidance counselor which classes/credits you will need to graduate or to advance to your next year of high school. Some classes, such as US History might not be offered abroad, and therefore you will have to find a way to earn those credits either before your study abroad year or after. One option to consider is a virtual high school.

Yes! Contact us for more details.

Yes. Additional expenses to consider include (estimates):

  • Stationary and school supplies: $100
  • School excursions and trips: $50
  • Cell phone service: $20-$50/month
  • Personal expenses (shopping, movies, nights out, etc.): $300/month
  • Bus pass/transportation: $10-$20/week

General FAQs

ISE’s Travel & Study Abroad Program will take your academic, career, and life opportunities to new levels! College admissions and employers love compelling personal growth stories, and Travel & Study Abroad will supply you with those stories. 

Some of the many benefits of participating in our programs include:

Academic & Career Benefits

  • Stand out during the college admissions process
  • Develop new language skills in an immersive environment
  • Develop problem-solving skills
  • Identify interests to better select academic & career paths
  • Establish cross-cultural skills
  • Improve academic scores

Personal Benefits

  • Improve personal organization and time management skills
  • Develop a sense of adaptability, independence, and self-reliance
  • Boost self-confidence
  • Learn about new lifestyles
  • Experience new cuisines
  • Make lifelong friends
  • Gain life experience

Since 1982, our nonprofit organization has remained committed to educating future leaders and making a positive, long-lasting impact in communities.

To make cross-cultural experiences accessible to more people, we offer the best pricing available to our participants...and we do so without compromising the quality of the experience or level of support offered

We assign each participant a personal Program Manager, so you’ll receive assistance throughout your entire program experience by someone you know by name. We also provide 24/7 support from our dedicated Student Services Team.

Lastly, the trusted international organizations we partner with have been trained and certified over the course of many years working to provide study abroad programs

The summer abroad experience does lend itself to some very important essays that students write.” Deputy director of admissions for the University of Texas 

A lot of schools, including ours, are looking for a diverse perspective, and international experiences lend themselves to that.” - Admissions Advisor, University of California

Anything that makes your application stand out is a good thing.” - Admissions officer, University of Chicago

Not only does studying outside the United States help build necessary language fluency for all college-bound students, it shows those headed to elite institutions will go outside their comfort zone and expand to meet the challenge. Nothing speaks to the ethics of those institutions quite like a commitment to that kind of excellence and personal achievement.” - Admissions Advisor, New York University

First and foremost, program candidates should be mature, open-minded, and adaptable. Wondering if our Travel & Study Abroad Program is right for you? Check out our article Should You Study Abroad? 8 Signs You’d Make a Great Exchange Student to find out!

During the Academic Year (Visit Our High School Programs Page for Specific Dates)

  • Short Term Option (1-2 months)
  • Trimester and Semester Options
  • Full Year Options

During the Summer (Visit Our Summer Program Page for Specific Dates)

  • Program options from 1-8 weeks

Post-High School Gap Year (Visit Our Gap Year Page for Specific Dates)

  • 12-month program option

For the majority of our programs, you’ll be living with a host family. 

A few of our programs offer boarding schools. In those cases, you will be living with other students in a dormitory.

We offer placements in big cities, medium-sized suburbs, and small towns. For select programs, you can choose the specific location you’d like to stay in for an added fee.  

We don’t include airfare in our pricing because we know that allowing people to shop around for the most competitive rates and convenient airport locations is best. Not to mention you might have frequent flyer miles that you could use towards the purchase of a ticket, why take that opportunity away?

You may see other programs that include flights, but it should be noted that often these flights will cost more than what participants could find on their own and/or depart from less convenient locations.

Yes, pick up and drop-off at the airport is included in all of our programs.

Yes, a travel medical insurance policy is included in the program price for all participants.

To attend a high school you must be sufficiently proficient in the native language of the country you would like to visit, but you don’t have to be fluent. Your language skills will improve quickly once you are culturally immersed! 

Don’t speak another language? Don’t worry - we offer several programs in English-speaking countries.

We try to make the application process as simple as possible. Here are the steps you should follow if you’d like to apply:

  1. Explore our programs, options, and countries to find your best match.
  2. Complete our interest form and, if applicable, let us know who referred you to us.
  3. Schedule a meeting with one of our Travel & Study Abroad experts.
  4. Submit your application and a $200 application fee. This non-refundable fee will be applied to your overall program costs.
  5. Upon acceptance, you will be required to pay a deposit of 50% of the total program cost, up to $1500. The final payment is due several weeks before your departure.

All program fees must be received before departure, usually 6-8 weeks before.    The usual payment schedule is: $200 student application fee, $1500 deposit before your application is forwarded to our partner in the country of choice and a remainder 6-8 weeks before departure.    Personalized installment plans are also available, where a minimum payment is set at $500.    We understand that financing a study abroad program might be challenging for some, therefore we want you to know that we are here to help as much as we can. Please visit our Scholarship and Fundraising pages for additional financing hints.

Minors are not permitted to travel alone or with other minors. You may travel with your host family, local representative, or with a school. Students above 18 years old, must coordinate with their host family and local representative before making any travel plans.

Making the best decision on how to prepare for a trip to another country where different currency is used takes a bit of planning. Besides US dollar banknotes, that you can exchange anywhere in the world, most debit and credit cards are also accepted worldwide. Before leaving the US you should speak to your bank to make sure that you won’t be charged exorbitant international fees. Many banks in the US offer cards with no international or ATM fees. Also, consider inquiring about prepaid cards. Another option might be traveler’s checks that are an alternative to cash and cards. It is not very common that you will be able to open a local bank account to which you could transfer money to. However, since we live in an ever-changing world, you should never disregard this option; we encourage you to inquire about it upon your arrival. Our local representative will always be happy to assist you. Remember, never keep all of your cards and cash in one place.