🌐 English vs Norwegian in IT: what employers really need

If you are aiming for product and engineering roles ‘here,’ language is a key factor. Below is how to read job requirements, where to filter English-language vacancies, and where to quickly brush up on Norwegian without overload. At the end, there is a mini-roadmap for the first few weeks.

❓ Do you need to know Norwegian to work in IT?

In private product companies and start-ups, English is often the working language, helped by the high average level of English proficiency in the ‘land of fjords’ (EF EPI 2024: 2nd place in the world; Oslo is in the ‘very high’ proficiency zone). Public organisations have a language policy: government agencies are required to use Norwegian (Bokmål/Nynorsk), so fluent Norwegian is often required, especially when working with users and documents. Conclusion: English is often fine for private products; for the public sector and customer service, be prepared to use Norwegian.

🔍 How can you tell from a job description that the working language is English?

Look for clear markers in the ad and filters: ‘Arbeidsspråk: Engelsk’, ‘working language: English’, ‘Fluency in English required’, ‘Norwegian is a plus’.

On Arbeidsplassen (NAV), there is a filter ‘Arbeidsspråk → Engelsk’ that immediately filters out roles with English as the working language. You may also see mixed formulations such as ‘Engelsk eller norsk’. Startup boards add ‘You are fluent in English.’ All of these are signs that communication, documentation, and team rituals are in English.

📚 What Norwegian courses are suitable for a busy schedule?

Check out evening and hybrid formats offered by municipal and private providers. Oslo VO Rosenhof clearly states that it offers daytime and evening courses divided into levels.

In the ‘technology capital’ at Trondheim voksenopplæring, evening classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the next eight-week session starting on 26 August 2025 and ending on 23 October 2025. Among private schools, Folkeuniversitetet (courses approved by the UDI) and Lingu (personalised and evening slots) offer convenient online courses. As part of its integration programmes, the municipality may offer evening/digital Norwegian courses, which are convenient for those who work during the day.

🧑‍💻 Which requirements can be compensated for with a portfolio and case studies?

If the team is English-first, some of the ‘soft’ language expectations are offset by strong practical experience:

• a live GitHub/portfolio with mini-cases and (context, metrics, contribution, retro);
• demo video/README in English;
• test assignments with explanations of solutions and checklists.

Be honest about your Norwegian language level and learning plans in your CV; predictability and progress are important to employers. Official application guides (Work in Norway/NAV) remind you to highlight relevant skills and languages so that recruiters can quickly see where you meet the requirements and where you need to improve.

🗺️ Quick route (2–3 weeks)

• Filter roles with ‘Arbeidsspråk: Engelsk’ on Arbeidsplassen and save alerts.
• Check the wording in the descriptions: ‘English required’, ‘Norwegian is a plus’, ‘Engelsk eller norsk’.
• Sign up for the nearest evening course: Oslo VO (evenings/levels) or Trondheim voksenopplæring (Tues/Thurs 17:30–20:00, 26.08–23.10.2025).
• Prepare 2–3 mini-cases and a demo in English; update your CV with your norsk level clearly stated.

For private products in the western and capital regions, English is often sufficient, but ‘norsk-mod’ greatly expands the funnel — especially in clusters with government contracts and a customer front. Set a double goal: look for English-first roles now and take evening courses in Norwegian at the same time. This removes barriers and speeds up the process of getting an offer.