High School in Norway

Norway is a country of breathtaking glaciers and fjords and avid winter sport enthusiasts. Check out a traditional folk festival or one of Norway’s famous stave churches, which are among the oldest wooden buildings on earth. You might even get to see the spectacular aurora borealis, the northern lights.There is a strong sense of history and civic engagement and on special occasion some Norwegians wear traditional clothing, bunad. During the warm months Norwegians of all ages love to be outside, hiking, fishing and barbecuing are popular.

Study Abroad in Norway

After a year of living with a Norwegian family and attending a local school, you might never want to go home. Experience the Norwegian values of friendship, tolerance, independence, and equality. You’ll find that because of the long winters, spending time outside is a high priority for Norwegians and you’ll get lots of opportunities to explore their breathtaking glaciers, mountains, waterfalls, pristine forests, and coastlines. If you’re into skiing, it’s tough to do better than Norway, where it’s actually the official national pastime.

Things to know

Norwegians tend to have a strong sense of history and civic engagement and on special occasions you can expect to see many Norwegians wearing traditional clothing, or bunad. Vegetarianism is not common in Norway but fish is a major part of the diet, so if you’re flexible and ready to try new things, a study abroad in Norway is a good fit for you

Airfare
Airport Pick-up
Host Family Placement
Housing
Meals
School Placement
Medical Insurance
24/7 Emergency Support
Domestic Transport
Pre-Departure Orientation
Orientations during your time abroad
Re-entry Orientation

Vaccinations
School Transport
Visa and Passport Fees
School Materials
Project Materials
Stipend

Meeting Your Norwegian Host Family

AFS students have lived all over Norway but most host families live in small rural communities of less than 20,000 inhabitants. Norwegian families tend to be small but relatives often live in the same town. Norwegian children help out around the house and you should expect to have the same kinds of responsibilities that you’re used to in the U.S. People are often good friends with their neighbors, even in the cities, so you’ll have the opportunity to really get to know the whole community.

Settling into daily life in Norway

Teenage Life

You’ll have lots of chances to make new friends and socialize at school and during your free time. Young people in Norway tend to have lots of hobbies including sports, music, or arts and crafts. They also often take part in organized community activities like scouting and youth politics, or debate and discussion groups. Like teenagers everywhere, they also spend time going to the movies, having parties, and just hanging out in cafes. During the warm months Norwegians of all ages love to do things outside; hiking, fishing, boating, and barbecuing are all popular.

Your High School

During your study abroad in Norway, you’ll likely be enrolled in the second year of Norwegian Upper Secondary School. These schools offer several areas of study and you’ll probably be placed in the general studies track. Norwegian schools don’t usually offer extracurricular activities but there are often options in the community for drama classes, choir, and sports. During your time in school you’ll really have a great opportunity to meet new people and expand your horizons.