Higher education in Norway is offered by a range of eight universities, nine specialised universities, 24
university colleges as well as a range of private university colleges. The national higher education system is in accordance with the
Bologna process, with
bachelor's degrees (
first cycle, three years), master's degrees (
second cycle, two years) and
doctoral degrees (
third cycle, three years). Acceptance is offered after finishing
upper secondary school with general university admissions certification.