Admission for pupils with preferential rights

As a rule, admission to upper secondary education in school is decided on the basis of points, see the article . Some groups of applicants may, however, have preferential rights to admission. The preferential right may apply to all levels of upper secondary education.

The deadline for application for admission with a preferential right is 1 February.

Preferential right to a specific education programme at Vg1

If you have a comprehensive need for and difficulties that make it necessary for you to follow a special (specific) education programme, you have a preferential right to admission to Vg1. Your difficulties must be such that your choice of education programme will be of great significance for you being able to complete upper secondary education with vocational competence or university admission certification. If it is probable that you can complete three different education programmes, you do not have a preferential right to a specific education program.

If you wish to apply for a preferential right, the municipality must, by 1 October and with your permission, send the county authorities notification of your needs, so that the county Educational Psychology Services are able to make a final expert appraisal. In this notification, the municipality must include the latest decision concerning special education with an expert appraisal, and describe

• the problems underlying the decision about special education and why they believe you meet the requirements as to admission to a specific education programme
• previous decisions
• the significance of your difficulties for upper secondary education 

When you personally apply, you must have chosen the education programme on the basis of and in accordance with the expert appraisal.

Preferential right for applicants with severe functional disabilities

If you are entitled to and have severe mental or physical functional disabilities, you may apply for a preferential right if you need to be admitted to a school that is specially adapted. There must be documentation confirming your special needs.

You are entitled to placement at Vg1 on one of three chosen education programmes, but the county authorities make an individual assessment as to whether there are weighty reasons indicating that you should be admitted to a particular school. You do not have the right to admission to a particular school. 

The municipality must, by 1 October and with your permission, send the county authorities notification that you have severe functional disabilities. 

You may also apply for a preferential right to admission to Vg2 and Vg3 pursuant to this rule. This also applies if you were not admitted to Vg1 with a preferential right. You will then have the right to admission to a Vg2 or Vg3 that builds on the education programme or programme area you have previously completed. If you were admitted to Vg1 with a preferential right, you have the right to continue at the same school. If you have not previously used your preferential right due to severe functional disabilities, you are not entitled to admission to a particular school.

Preferential right for applicants with the right to instruction in the use of sign language and through the medium of sign language  

 If you have the right to instruction in the use of sign language or through the medium of sign language, you can apply for a preferential right to

• admission to Vg1 using an interpreter in a regular upper secondary school
• admission to a mainstream school (Norwegian: knutepunktskole)

See the article . In your application you must state your highest priority. In connection with your application, there must be an expert appraisal that considers and decides

• your need for instruction in the use of and through the medium of sign language
• whether your needs are best satisfied in a sign language environment or by instruction in an regular school with an interpreter
• whether you have any additional difficulties apart from your hearing impairment so that you may need special education 
   

You are entitled to admission to one of three chosen education programmes. The county authorities may place you at a school that is differentiated in accordance with your needs. If you are admitted to a mainstream school, you will normally have the right to finish your education path at this school.

If you were admitted to a regular upper secondary education with an interpreter or to a mainstream school at Vg1, you may apply to be admitted with a preferential right to regular upper secondary education with an interpreter at a Vg 2 or Vg 3 that builds on the education programme or programme area you have completed. The county authorities may place you at a school that has been differentiated. 

Admission to Vg2 or Vg3 is conditional either on your having passed all subjects at the lower level, or that the county authorities, after a total and overall assessment, finds it justifiable to admit you to the next level with your academic prerequisites.

Preferential right for applicants with a decision as to extended time  

If you have a decision that you are entitled to and need several years at Vg1, you are to be admitted to Vg1 on the same education programme on the basis of an individual assessment and before the admission process based on points. 

If you have a decision as to extended time, you are to be admitted to a Vg 2 or Vg 3 that builds on the education programme or programme area you have completed. You will be admitted on the basis of an individual assessment before the admission process based on points. You must either have passed all the subjects on the lower level, or the county authority must, after a total and overall assessment, find it justifiable to admit you to the next level with your academic prerequisites. If you have a decision as to extended time and need more years on the same level, you will also have a preferential right pursuant to this rule.