Educational leave may give you full or partial time off work for up to three years. You normally must have been in working life for at least three years and with your current employer for the last two. The leave is unpaid, and the education and timing must meet the legal conditions.
Who has the right to educational leave?
You must have had work as your main occupation for at least three years and been employed by the employer for the last two years. These are two different periods: your total work experience and your time with the employer you are asking for leave from.
The right generally applies to permanent and temporary employees, including part-time employees. Statutory leave is not deducted from the time with your employer. This follows Arbeidstilsynet’s guidance on educational leave, checked on 3 October 2026.
Leave means time off from your employment. Educational leave is a separate right under section 12-11 of the Working Environment Act. It is not the same as quitting your job or simply signing up for a course.
Make a simple record of your employers, start dates and any statutory leave. If your work history is unclear, ask for help assessing it. Do not assume that admission to a course alone gives you the right to leave.
SamfunnPrep also has an overview of employee rights. It provides background on employment contracts, pay and other questions when planning education alongside work.
What education may qualify for leave?
You must take part in an organised education programme. Education beyond compulsory and upper secondary school levels must be relevant to working life, but it does not have to fit your current position.
You may therefore be able to study for a career change. Your employer cannot refuse simply by saying that the subject is unnecessary for your current job. The programme itself and the other conditions must still be assessed.
The relevance requirement does not apply to education at compulsory or upper secondary school level. Include the study plan or course description with your request for leave. Explain what you will learn, how the teaching is organised and how long the programme lasts.
Self-study in your free time is not automatically an organised education programme. Describe the specific programme instead of only writing “I want to study.” If you have not been admitted yet, say so. Attach your admission letter when you receive it.
How long can you be away, and will you be paid?
The law may give you full or partial educational leave for up to three years. It gives you the right to time off without pay, not automatically to paid study leave.
You can request full leave or an arrangement where you work part time and study part time. For a part-time arrangement, describe both the work percentage and the periods when you need time off. “Time off as needed” is often too vague as a plan.
Before deciding, make a budget for:
- Income you will keep from any part-time work.
- Rent, electricity, food and other fixed expenses.
- Tuition, equipment and travel to classes.
- Any support you have actually been granted.
- How you will manage periods before support is paid.
Arbeidstilsynet refers to Lånekassen, the state agency for student loans and grants. Being able to apply does not mean everyone receives support. Check your funding eligibility separately. If you need help choosing a course, see free career guidance for work and education.
How do you notify your employer?
You must notify your employer in writing and describe the content and duration of the education. Include any admission letter and explain its relevance to working life when required by law.
A clear notice should include the requested start and end dates. Also say whether you want full or partial leave. Attach relevant documents and save a copy of what you send.
You can adapt this message:
I am requesting educational leave under section 12-11 of the Working Environment Act from [date] to [date]. I am applying for [full/partial] leave to take [course/programme]. Attached are the study plan and [admission letter, if available]. The education is relevant to working life because [brief explanation]. I would like to discuss how the leave can be arranged.
This is a suggested message, not an official form. If your employer needs more information, ask which details are missing. Confirm any later changes to the start date or scope in writing.
Can your employer refuse, and when must they reply?
Your employer may refuse if the leave prevents proper planning of operations and staffing. This must be assessed individually, including the duration, your position and whether solutions are possible.
You are therefore not always entitled to start on the exact date you want. It may help to discuss a later start or partial leave. Describe any alternative clearly so you can decide whether it still works with your studies.
The employer must give written notice as soon as possible if they believe the conditions are not met. Section 12-11 of the Working Environment Act sets these outer deadlines, checked on 3 October 2026:
| Requested leave duration | Latest response if the employer claims the conditions are not met |
|---|---|
| Less than one month | Within two months after receiving the notice |
| At least one month but less than six months | Within three months after receiving the notice |
| Six months or more | Within six months |
These are maximum deadlines, not a recommendation to wait until the last day. While you wait, you can ask what your employer is doing to facilitate the arrangement.
What should you do after a refusal or no reply?
A dispute about your right can be sent to Tvisteløsningsnemnda (the Dispute Resolution Board), which decides certain employment disputes. The deadline is normally four weeks after you receive the employer’s written refusal.
If the employer does not reply within the legal response period, you must submit the case within four weeks after that period expires. Silence does not mean you can assume the leave has been approved.
The deadlines and document requirements are set out in the tribunal’s guidance on educational leave, checked on 3 October 2026. Keep your employment contract, notice, refusal and study documents. Get help quickly if you are unsure of the deadline in your case.
Can you take educational leave again later?
A new leave period has its own waiting-time requirements. A period twice as long as your previous leave must have passed, and at least one year must have passed since it began.
The one-year minimum does not apply to leave for a course lasting less than one month. Do not assume this exception removes every waiting-time requirement. Get an assessment of your situation if you are planning several short courses or an extension.
Plan a realistic course of study before giving notice. SamfunnPrep’s practical tools can help you keep track of other tasks. Your employer and guidance services can clarify the right to leave itself.
