What is it?
Introduction to the Nordic Gap Year
What’s the deal, and could it work for my kid?
- What is a folk school?
- The cost
- The language question
- Is it the right fit?
Folkehøgskole · Norway
You've heard of a gap year. You haven't heard about the 75 schools built for it.
Norway has been running them since 1864.
Real, government-recognized schools each with a staff, a campus, a class of kids from around the world and continent-spanning itineraries.
No grades. No exams. No Tuition.
75
Schools
600+
Subject lines
Aug–May
Nine months
1864
Since
What it is.
The Ultimate Gap Year Experience for American High School Graduates
The secret is slowly getting out. Instead of rushing off to college after graduation, some kids are choosing a Nordic gap year at one of Norway's folk high schools — a folkehøgskole.
A folkehøgskole is a one-year boarding school for young adults, 18 to 25 years old. They live, eat, learn and travel together for the year.
Students pick a major— they call it a line and there are over 600 to choose from — outdoor life, music, photography, sports, sailing, cooking, dog-sledding, international politics etc — and go deep on it for nine months.
There are no grades, no exams and no college credits.
This is a true gap year, between high school and whatever comes next, set aside for self-discovery, personal development, adventure and travel.
Learn more about the concept and get the free Intro Guide.
Intro To The Nordic Gap Year →Thinking about it?
The Nordic Gap Year Kit:The American resource stack on all 75 schools.
I spent over a hundred hours researching school options for my daughter. This is the resource I wish I had.
Ålesund · 62.47°N
Our daughter is there right now.
She got into ten colleges this year. She wasn’t excited about any of them.
In August she flew to Norway instead — to a gap year school along a fjord, in a culinary line with an itinerary spanning three continents.
She is journaling each day. You're welcome to join in her experience and see what its like.
Where to start
Three ways in, depending on where you are.
You don’t need all of it today. Start with the free intro and stop there if you’re not inspired.
I’m thinking of going.
The Nordic Gap Year Kit
All the info you need to choose school.
- The Field Guide, a PDF of all 75 schools in an easy-to-browse format
- A filterable, searchable school database
- An AI school matchmaker quiz
- A timeline of the process
- A private facebook community
Wonder what it’s like?
Daily Postcards from Isla
She’s documenting each day on her Nordic Gap Year.
- The daily play-by-play, in her own words
- Photographs and video from inside the year
- What it’s like being the American there
The part nobody tells you
There aren't many spots
Norwegian regulations cap students from outside Europe at 10% of any school’s enrollment.
Applications open October 15th, and schools begin sending acceptances on November 15th.
It’s first come, first served until they’re full. So if you’re interested, don’t delay — get the free guide now and start your research.
