Fellesfagene

Fellesfagene, or the common subjects, are the core set of subjects that all students in Norway’s videregående opplæring (upper secondary school) study regardless of which study programme they choose. They provide a shared educational foundation, promoting language proficiency, mathematical literacy, scientific understanding, social awareness, and physical well-being. The fellesfag are designed to ensure that all graduates have a broad and comparable level of knowledge, enabling civic participation and access to further studies or vocational pathways.

A typical fellesfag composition includes Norwegian language and literature, English, Mathematics, Naturfag (natural sciences), and Samfunnsfag (social studies, including elements like history and geography). In addition, Religions- og livssynskunnskap (RLE) is often included as part of the fellesfag, and Kroppsøving (physical education) is normally treated as a fellesfag subject. The exact subjects and the distribution of hours are defined by the national curriculum and may vary slightly with reform changes, but the overall aim remains consistent: to provide a common, nationwide standard across programmes.

Structure and assessment are organized so that fellesfagene form a stable backbone alongside the programme-specific subjects, or programfag. The combination of fellesfag and programfag determines a student’s diploma and eligibility for higher education or vocational tracks. The framework emphasizes a balance between broad, general competencies and specialised study, with grades assigned for each subject.

Historically, the concept emerged with reforms such as Kunnskapsløftet (2006) and continued under LK20 reforms, which reaffirmed the distinction between fellesfag and programfag as central to Norway’s upper secondary education.