The Norwegian Study Centre in Great Britain is one of a limited number of such centres created by the Norwegian government in selected European countries, and the only one in the UK. It had a forerunner in Nonington, Kent, but its official opening took place in York in 1982. From the following year on, it functionally became a part of the University of York.
The NSC statutes say the following about its functions and financing:
The NSC arranges courses of study in Great Britain with the objective of promoting understanding of British society, language and culture in Norwegian higher education and research, and within Norwegian schools. (…) Its running is dependent on regular funding from the central Norwegian authorities, presently administered by the University of Bergen.
In addition to its two parent institutions (the University of Bergen and the University of York), the NSC also has its own board, elected by the Norwegian National Academic Council for English. The NSC comprises 5 teaching staff, 2 administrative staff and a Director. You can find out more about the staff here.
York Minster (image by Dr. Beck Sinar)
- https://www.york.ac.uk/nsc/
- nsc-director@york.ac.uk
- + 44 (0) 1904 323235
- @nsc_york
Nord students receive their NSC course certificates
The university colleges which have now become Nord University were among the first to establish a connection with and make use of the NSC in the 1980s. The relationship has remained close ever since, first with English programmes in Bodø, Nesna and Levanger, and later with the merged institution as a whole. English students from all campuses have visited York for short courses on a yearly basis, and individual students have attended the YorkCourse (or its precursor) as an exchange experience.
Staff from Nord University have also participated in the running of the NSC as deputy or full board members. A special mention should here be made of Associate Professor Guri Figenschou Raaen from the Levanger campus, who has held positions both as board member, board chair and as resident director. The board chair until and including spring 2020, Dr. Tale Guldal, also worked at the Levanger campus for many years. Professor Jessica Allen Hanssen was elected to serve as a deputy member of the NSC Board as of Spring 2024.
NSC short courses provide a unique and exciting opportunity to experience high-quality academic courses from University of York staff, combined with exploration of the history, literatures, languages and cultures of the beautiful city of York, England.
Programmes are one or two weeks in length and are tailored to university students (BA and MA), teacher trainees (MAGLU, Lektor, GLU) and in-service teachers (KfK) studying in Norwegian Higher Education. Academic content covers aspects of Language and Linguistic Science, English and Related Literature and Cultural Studies, with Education and Didactics a main component in courses for in-service teachers and teacher trainees. Intercultural learning opportunities outside the classroom may include visits to theatres, museums or local schools; guided tours of the city or the magnificent Minster; excursions to the Stamford Bridge Battlefields (1066) or Haworth (Bronte Country).
The NSC’s YorkCourse in English is available to students at Norwegian Higher Education institutions, as well as to qualified teachers of English who are either Norwegian nationals or who are working in Norway. It provides a unique opportunity for students to deepen and expand their expertise in the languages, literatures and cultures of the English-speaking world while living in the UK.
The YorkCourse can be taken either at the undergraduate/BA level (2nd or 3rd year), or at the postgraduate/MA level (as part of a master’s degree in Norway). Students on the 5-year MAGLU or Lektor master’s programmes in Norway are counted as undergraduate students when in their first cycle (years 1-3) and as master’s students when in the second cycle (years 4-5).
Students taking the undergraduate level course may opt for the Research Extension Module, which enables them to write their BA thesis (bacheloroppgave) while in York, subject to approval from their institution in Norway and the NSC.
It is now again possible to apply to the (undergraduate) ‘YorkCourse with School Experience’ option, which integrates up to 10 days of school observation in an English primary school into the course. Note that students who are admitted to this option will be expected to cover e.g. transport expenses themselves. There is also a relatively new option of applying to the undergraduate level course without previous university credits in English (if you have sufficient credits in other related studies). See the ‘How to Apply’ section to find out more.
Further details about this offer can be found on the YORKcourse programme page.
