Freely combined bachelor's degree

What is a freely combined bachelor's degree?

Most bachelor students attend a three-year study programme, a coherent and academically integrated course of study. The study programme is designed so that the various parts of the programme build on and complement each other.

You may combine a freely composed bachelor's degree yourself, within a common framework. The degree should be at least 180 credits and should include the following:

• An academic specialisation of at least 80 credits
• A supporting course group of at least 40 credits
• Examen philosophicum and, possibly, examen facultatum
• Elective courses 

Both the academic specialisation and the supporting course group are course groups. When you put these together, you should use UiO's defined course groups [in Norwegian only] as your starting point. A course group is a combination of courses that make up an academic unit, quality assured by the scientific staff within an academic environment.

A freely composed bachelor's degree is named after the academic specialisation in the degree. The name will be either "Bachelor of Arts" or "Bachelor of Science".

How to access the courses?

Single course student

If you are a single course student, you can take a course at UiO without having admission to a study programme. You have access to a number of courses that can be included in the academic specialisation or the supporting course group in a freely combined bachelor's degree.

Note that some courses are only available to students enrolled in specific study programmes. You cannot register for these as a single course student.

Also note that programme students are allowed to register for courses first. Courses may quickly become full when single course students start to register, so you are not guaranteed a place.

This is how admission to single courses takes place.

Programme student on a bachelor's degree programme

If you attend a bachelor's degree programme, you can often choose different courses than those included in your programme. You can use these courses to put together the academic specialisation or the supporting course group in a freely combined bachelor's degree.

Note that some courses are only available to students on certain study programmes. Therefore, read the course group descriptions carefully [in Norwegian only] before you begin a freely combined course of study.

Program student one a one-year programme

If you attend a one-year programme, you can continue as a single course student, cf. above. You can extend the one-year programme to an academic specialisation or use the year unit as a supporting course group in a freely combined bachelor's degree.

Note that some courses are only available to students on certain study programmes. Therefore, read the course group descriptions carefully [in Norwegian only] before you begin a freely combined course of study.

You have to apply 

Do you already have an education of at least three years that meets the requirements? Then you can apply to have it approved as a freely combined bachelor's degree and get a diploma.

Read more about what the degree must contain, diplomas and how you can apply