Information in English

Rødde folkehøgskole (folk high school) is one of over 80 folk high schools in Norway, and is situated in Melhus, next to Trondheim. The school has between 80 and 100 students each year. Folk high schools are boarding schools, so you live on campus in a dormitory during the school year.

At Rødde folkehøgskole we have six major subjects three days a week. You choose one of theese subjects when you submit an application. In addition to the major subject, you have electives, common subjects, seminars, project week and study trips. The school year lasts from August to May. All instructions and information during the school year is only given in Norwegian. Norwegians, however, understand and speak English quite well, but we recommend foreign students to try to learn some Norwegian before starting at Rødde.

Rødde has 10 major subjects during the school year 2024/2025:

  • Versatile adventure program filled with exciting activities and new challenges. Rafting, sea kayaking, SUP, ziplining, bouldering, climbing, and cave exploration – just a few of the highlights. The Costa Rica trip tops off the experience!

    Are you ready to push your boundaries, explore the unknown, and experience the rush on our Action Adventure program? Dive into a world of excitement and discovery, with plenty of challenges and opportunities.

    We offer you the chance to step outside your comfort zone, where you can grow personally and professionally. You don't need any prior experience; it's about more than just skills; it's about finding your inner adventurer, building friendships that last a lifetime, and creating memories that will inspire you for years to come.

    From steep mountain cliffs to rolling rivers and tropical paradises – seize the opportunity to explore your own limits!

  • Beats Artist is for those who want to develop their musical talents, take the stage, work on recordings, songwriting, experience concerts and festivals, and embark on an exciting study trip to New York.

    Do you dream of musical growth, creating music that evokes emotions, and traveling to New York? Then Beats Artist at Rødde Folkehøgskole is the program for you!

    We work closely with Beats Production, Rødde's renowned music production program. This collaboration offers you the opportunity to take your music to new heights with professional guidance in songwriting and studio recording. At the same time, you will gain valuable experience in live performances and collaborate with fellow music enthusiasts. Throughout the year, we attend various concerts and festivals, including a longer trip to New York.

    As a Beats Artist student, you will have unrestricted access to our practice rooms and studios – where there's always plenty of activity after school hours. Here, you can play with sound, experiment, and shape your music exactly the way you want it to be.

    Together with other music lovers who share your interests, you will create lifelong memories, develop your skills, and build a valuable network in the industry.

  • Do you enjoy producing and creating your own songs? Beats Production is the program for music production and studio time across all music genres. All levels are welcome!

    Beats Production is the music program for those who love making music on their laptops, playing the guitar, or simply enjoy experimenting with the possibilities of electronic music. At Rødde Folkehøgskole, you'll meet like-minded individuals and have excellent opportunities to develop your skills, regardless of your level or background.

    You'll have ample time for music production in the software of your choice, whether it's FL Studio, Logic, Ableton*, or other DAWs. You'll receive instruction and guidance from talented established artists/producers, access to equipment and software, and you can even bring your own gear.

    You'll have access to a professional studio. You'll learn how to sample, compose songs, record in the studio, create beats, and promote yourself as an artist/producer. The goal is to have fun and release the music you create.

  • Do you want to enhance your rock climbing and bouldering skills and indulge in mountain biking? Then, the "Bratt" program is just right for you.

    "Bratt" is the program where you can climb and boulder as much as your heart desires and tackle numerous trails on your bike. With a focused approach on these activities, you'll experience a steep learning curve, no matter your current skill level.

    To ensure your maximum development and skill improvement, we also incorporate other activities throughout the year, such as canyoning and caving. We work together in the class to push each other, and through this, you'll get to know your fellow adventurers well.

    This program lets you experience growth, mastery, and the joy of it all alongside others who share your passion. What you learn will pay off on our adventurous interrail journey through Europe, where we'll visit Finale Ligure and Fontainebleau!

  • Hikes and freerides on skis or snowboards, avalanche theory, rock jumping and diving course, water skiing, wakeboarding and water jumping, GoPro training and editing in Adobe Premiere. Travel to Japan and experience Japanese powder!

  • Do you love park riding as much as we do? Join us for an adventure in the USA's iconic parks in Utah – Park City, Åre, and Kläppen!

    Come with us to the USA and the iconic parks in Utah – Park City for two weeks. Three Kings and Woodward Park City. Here, you'll find everything you could wish for in the park, including numerous rails and big airs of all sizes. The proximity to Salt Lake City allows us to experience the city life in the USA. Perhaps a legendary burger or a basketball game with the Salt Lake City Stars?

  • Exploring and learning a variety of activities like surfing, longboard, wakesurf, waterskiing, Stand Up Paddle (SUP), skating, bmx and downhill cykling, rappelling and zipline, snowboard and skiing, offroad car, minicross and snowscootercross, trampoline.

  • Learn African culture and wildlife, refugee work together with the Red Cross, South Sámi culture and history, safari and Serengeti, Climbing, rappelling, Stand Up Paddle (SUP) and rafting, dog sledding and ice swimming, photography course.

  • Work as a volunteer or attend a folk high school? Why not do both! Spend a month in Tanzania: Two weeks of volunteer work, a safari, and snorkeling in Zanzibar. Collaborate with the Red Cross in Norway. Experience nature and social engagement!

    Work Tanzania is for those who can't quite decide between volunteering, traveling, or attending a folk high school. Here, you get to do it all!

    Throughout the year, we engage in various exciting activities and go on different trips. We paddle on SUP boards along the beautiful Istra River in Åndalsnes and hike up to Rampestreken, which offers a spectacular view. We receive training in aquatic life, including snorkeling, to prepare for snorkeling in Zanzibar. We embark on a three-day offline trip in a lean-to, experiencing a digital detox, and we have a week of kindness - a week dedicated to helping others.

    In addition, we engage locally by contributing to the Red Cross's refugee work in Melhus and learn about the Southern Sami culture. We explore global social responsibility through topics such as humanitarian aid, animal welfare, sustainability, and health. A year at Work Tanzania provides you with a life-changing experience while contributing to a better world!

  • Are you inspired by fresh, local ingredients and find it exciting to explore new flavors that leave you craving for more?

    Do you want to impress in the kitchen, or perhaps dream of starting your own restaurant or food truck? Begin your journey with a year at Yes Chef! at Rødde! In our recently upgraded classroom, you can learn the art that will impress, whether it's for yourself or others.

    You'll learn how to compose menus that captivate both the eye and the palate, along with shortcuts to healthy and flavorful cuisine. Gain inspiration and an appetite from some of the world's best chefs.

    Our kitchen typically has the equipment you'd find in a regular home, allowing you to learn to cook dishes that can bring joy to yourself and others in the future in your own kitchen.

What is folk high school?

Folk high school is a Nordic school type which has existed for over 100 years. The school year is often a break between hight school and higher education. These schools have no grades nor exams, and the students experience a different form of learning, based on inner motivation and interaction with other people in different learning arenas, rather than theory subjects and exams. The subjects can vary a lot both within the school and from school to school. At a folk high school, you get to practice what you learn, not merely immerse yourself in its theory. Supervised and encouraged by dedicated teachers, you find yourself a member of a small class, generally consisting of only 10 to 20 students.

The students at folk high schools live at dormitory during the school year. We believe that living with fellow students, creates an outstanding learning environment. By sharing accommodations with people who are different from yourself you learn to work together and handle problems. You also get to know your fellow students in a completely different way when you are with them around the clock.

A folk high school year lasts nine months, from August to May. Most students attend folk high schools right after graduating from high school (upper secondary school). The folk high school year is for most students a year of maturation and makes them better prepared to study or work and the life to follow.

When you have completed the school year, you will receive a diploma. Folk high school qualifies for 2 credits for higher education in Norway. The year at folk high school qualifies to loan and grant in the Lånekassen (a bank and a part of the welfare state, under the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research with the purpose to make education possible).

Eight reasons to attend a folk high school:

  • You learn more in-depth and try your hand at subjects you care about

  • You get to know people from all over Norway and other countries

  • You learn to work with people who are different than yourself

  • You learn without the pressure of grades

  • You become more involved and engaged in the world around you

  • A diploma detailing the subjects you have taken

  • Personal guidance and counselling by teachers with relevant expertise

  • Practical experience

Read more about folk high school in general at: https://www.folkehogskole.no/en/about

Study permit for foreign students

For foreign students who are going to study in Norway for more than three months, you have to apply for a study permit. For foreign students outside the EU / EEA area you also have to guarantee that you can pay the school tuition. For the school year 2022/2023 the guarantee amount is set to 109 962 NOK.