Asker International School vs Oslo International School
Asker International School and Oslo International School are both in Oslo, about 14 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes, and Oslo International School also offers IPC. Published annual fees are NOK 40,500 at Asker International School and NOK 13,200 - 288,700 at Oslo International School, which puts Oslo International School roughly 273% higher. Asker International School takes pupils from 6 to 18, and Oslo International School from 3 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 600 and 600 pupils. Typical class sizes are 21 at Asker International School and 15 at Oslo International School.
The school is located at Gamle Borgenvei 3, 1383 Asker.
Location
Gamle Ringeriksvei 53, 1357 Bekkestua, Norway. Bekkestua is located around 8 km from Oslo city centre and is well served by public transport. Parking is available at the school and in the nearby vicinity.
Stages
Stages
PYP 1-5; MYP 6-10; Upper Secondary and Diploma Programme.
Private international school; IB World School; English is the medium of instruction.
School type
The school is a fully independent not-for-profit international school funded 100% by school fees.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
Over 40 nationalities represented.
Pupil nationality mix
More than 50 nationalities are represented; the school serves students from international and Norwegian families, with about 600 students across 13 year groups.
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
Support for Learning (SfL) provides small-group, individualized instruction. Primary students can receive up to four SfL lessons weekly, Lower Secondary and Pre-IB receive four SfL lessons weekly (split between mathematics and literacy), and Upper Secondary can access SfL services up to four lessons weekly on a tutorial basis. English as an Additional Language (EAL) supports non-native English speakers with developmental instruction.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
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Country affiliation
Norway
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
MYP ends at 15:30 Mon-Thu; 12:20 Fri. PYP ends at 15:00 Mon-Thu; 12:20 Fri (Grades 1-5). SFO finishes at 16:30 on Fridays.
School day structure
School Operating Hours: 08:00–16:00. School start: 08:45; finish: 15:00; supervised playground hours: 08:45–15:00. Upper Secondary may begin and finish outside the standard hours.
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
OIS organises an optional bus service covering parts of Oslo, Bærum and Asker with links to public transport. Space may be limited; space is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. 2026–27 annual bus fees: round trip 25,800 NOK; one-way 15,100 NOK.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application / Admission fee - An administration fee of NOK 2,000 is payable when accepting an offered place (paid at the point the contract is returned and acceptance confirmed).
Tuition — annual and per-instalment amounts (all grades) - Annual tuition (school year basis as stated by the school for the 2026 calendar year): NOK 40,500 per pupil per year. - Billing in 9 equal instalments: NOK 4,500 per instalment (40,500 ÷ 9). Instalments are invoiced and due at the end of January, February, March, April, May, August, September, October and November. - Optional termly payment: two termly payments of NOK 20,250 each (40,500 ÷ 2), payable at the end of January and the end of August if the termly option is chosen and arranged with the Business Manager. - The school states the same tuition level applies across all grade levels for the stated year.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard invoicing: nine equal instalments invoiced and due at the ends of January–May and August–November. - Termly invoicing option available by arrangement; term payments due at the end of January and the end of August. - Use the KID number printed on invoices to ensure correct and efficient payment tracking (commonly used for bank transfers in Norway). The school can invoice an employer if requested. - Late / non-payment procedure: reminder after 5 days; reminder with charges and interest after 10 days; debt-collection warning (inkassovarsel) with charges and interest after 14 days; referral to collection agency (Inkasso) with charges and interest after 30 days. Parents are asked to contact the Business Manager to make payment arrangements before an invoice is due.
Sibling discounts - Third child of the same family: no tuition charge (third child attends free). Fourth and subsequent children: invoiced at 50% of the standard tuition.
After-school care (SFO) fees and terms - The school runs its own After-School Services (SFO). For grades 1–3 the government currently funds up to 12 hours per week under national provisions (this is managed through the authorities and subject to their continuing policy). For grade 4 and above, paid SFO options apply. - SFO fees for Grade 4 and above (cost per 4-week period): - 5 days per week: NOK 2,250 per 4-week period. - 4 days per week: NOK 1,800 per 4-week period. - 3 days per week: NOK 1,350 per 4-week period. - 2 days per week: NOK 900 per 4-week period. - 1 day per week: NOK 450 per 4-week period (equivalently NOK 450 per day). - Enrollment for SFO is organised by term; a one-month notice is required for changes to SFO hours. Applications for the free government-funded 12 hours for Grades 1–3 must be submitted by 15 September for that school year; late applications will not receive the free hours.
Boarding - No boarding provision or boarding fees are indicated; the school operates day programmes with supervised opening hours and after-school services.
Other costs and typical additional charges - No separate compulsory uniform fee, separate yearly tuition surcharge by grade, or published boarding charges are listed. Parents may expect occasional charges for specific optional activities, trips, or materials where applicable, but no standard uniform or textbook fee schedule is published on the school's admissions and fees pages.
Refunds and leaving-notice requirements - For withdrawal from the school, a minimum of three months' notice is requested for all grades. SFO changes require one month's notice. No separate, detailed tuition refund schedule (for example, pro rata refunds for mid-term withdrawal) is published on the admissions/fees pages. Contact the Business Manager to discuss any individual refund or exceptional-case arrangements.
Payment methods and invoice handling - Invoices include a KID number for efficient payment reconciliation, indicating bank transfer (bank-payment) is the standard method used. The school also accepts employer invoicing if requested; parents should notify the Business Manager if the invoice is to be sent to an employer. For alternatives to bank transfer (credit card or other electronic payment methods) no standard public instruction is listed on the published fee pages; payment method details should be confirmed with the Business Manager.
Notes on policies and contacts - Termly payment arrangements, employer invoicing, and any special payment plans must be arranged directly with the Business Manager. The school emphasises timely payment and sets out the escalation steps for late accounts.
Brief summary of items not specified in published fee pages - The school's published admissions and fees pages do not provide an itemised list of charges for uniforms, standard textbook packs, or a formal detailed tuition-refund table; they do specify notice periods for leaving and SFO changes. For specific itemised additional costs (uniform, excursion fees, IB examination fees, instrument hire, etc.) parents should consult the school's Business Manager or admissions contact for confirmed billing practices.
Fee details
Application and admission fees - Application fee: NOK 5,000 per student, non-refundable. - Registration fee (new students, Year 1 and above): NOK 25,000, invoiced on acceptance and non-refundable. (Pre‑School entrants are invoiced this fee when re-enrolling into Year 1.) - Enrolment / (Re)Enrolment fee: NOK 10,000, invoiced after accepting a place (or mid‑March for re‑enrolment); this fee is applied to the annual tuition and is non‑refundable.
Tuition fees by year group - Academic year 2026/27 (published figure): Years 1 through IB2 — Annual tuition NOK 288,700. - Academic year 2026/27 (published figure): Pre‑School — monthly price set at NOK 1,200 charged over eleven (11) months (totaling NOK 13,200 per year under the current regulation for Pre‑School). - Where full term-by-term detail is published for the prior year (2025/26), the schedule was as follows and indicates how fees have been split between two invoicing dates (this gives a reference for the school's usual invoicing structure): - Pre‑School 1 and 2 (2025/26): Annual fee NOK 22,000 — Term One NOK 10,000 and Term Two NOK 12,000. *Term amounts include any (Re)Enrolment fee when applicable.* - Years 1 — IB2 (2025/26): Annual fee NOK 277,100 — Term One NOK 124,700 and Term Two NOK 152,400. *Term amounts include the NOK 10,000 (Re)Enrolment fee applied to Term One.*
Billing schedule and payment terms - Re‑enrolling students are invoiced twice yearly. Standard payment due dates for the published schedule were Term One: 15 May and Term Two: 15 November. - New students admitted for the start of the academic year are invoiced for Term One on enrolment (due 15 May or 30 days from invoice) and payment is required prior to attendance. Students who start mid‑year are invoiced for the term they start and full term fees apply; fees are not prorated. - On‑time payment expectation and consequences: the school reserves the right to charge penalty interest for late payments; outstanding accounts can result in exclusion from school, withholding of reports/transcripts, refusal to re‑enrol, and referral to debt collection. IB2 students' fees must be paid in full by 15 November of their graduating year.
Optional services — School bus and after‑school activities - School bus (2026/27 published): Round‑trip service — NOK 25,800 per student (annual); One‑way service — NOK 15,100 per student (annual). Bus fees are invoiced per term; bus fees already paid are not refunded if the family cancels or changes service during a term and mid‑term registrants are invoiced for the full term. - After‑school activities: Fees vary by activity and season; activities typically run about 11 weeks per season and start from approximately NOK 850 per activity, per season. Payments for after‑school activity fees are taken online by credit/debit card and are charged per participation. Optional school trips are charged at actual cost per participant and payments are non‑refundable once a student commits.
Other costs and typical extras - School lunch: hot lunch service is available as an optional paid service; families may also supply packed lunches. - Consumables and small equipment: certain small items (for example, a recorder for music in Primary) and PE/swim items are normally required by families; specific year‑group lists and recommended clothing for weather are provided to parents. The Parents' Association offers school spirit‑wear for sale.
Uniform / dress code - There is no school uniform requirement at OIS; clothing recommendations are provided for weather and PE needs. School spirit‑wear is available for purchase from the Parents' Association.
Boarding fees - Boarding: not applicable. Oslo International School operates as a day school and does not publish boarding provisions or boarding fees.
Refunds, cancellation and force majeure - Application, registration and enrolment/(Re)Enrolment fees are explicitly non‑refundable. Fees already paid (registration, enrolment, bus, tuition, etc.) will not be refunded if a student withdraws prior to starting school. Early withdrawals during the school year do not entitle parents to a refund of tuition that has been paid; the school does not prorate or refund tuition for the remainder of a term or year. In circumstances of force majeure (including epidemic/pandemic or other events beyond the school's control), there is no obligation for the school to refund tuition for lost instructional days.
Fee payment options and bank details - Standard payment method for tuition and term invoicing: bank transfer to the school's account using the KID number on the invoice; all transfer charges are covered by the payer. The published bank details are shown on invoices (account name: Stiftelse Oslo International School; Bank: Danske Bank A/S; BIC/SWIFT: DABANO22; IBAN: NO25 8601 9268 7223). (These details are published within the school's Schedule of Fees and appear on official invoices.) - Application fees are paid online by credit/debit card at time of application. After‑school activity fees are paid online by credit/debit card. Where a third party pays fees, the parents remain jointly and severally liable for any unpaid balances.
Key points to note (summary) - Years 1–IB2 annual tuition for 2026/27 is NOK 288,700; Pre‑School is charged under the regulated monthly rate (NOK 1,200 × 11 months). - Common one‑off and recurring charges: Application fee NOK 5,000; Registration fee NOK 25,000 (new students Year 1+); Enrolment/(Re)Enrolment fee NOK 10,000 applied to tuition. - Invoicing cadence is normally two terms per year with standard due dates in mid‑May and mid‑November; full term fees apply even if the student begins after the start of a term and fees are generally non‑refundable.
(For specific invoice amounts per term for 2025/26, see the 2025/26 Schedule of Fees figures given above. For the 2026/27 academic year the school publishes the annual figure for Years 1–IB2 and the regulated Pre‑School monthly rate as noted.)
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
The school offers an IB-structured curriculum with Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) and is an authorised World School. It opened in August 2013 and now has about 600 students and over 60 staff. In the MYP, subjects include Mathematics, English, Norwegian, Sciences, Individuals and Societies, Physical Education, Performing Arts, Design, Spanish and Mandarin. English is the language of instruction in the IB programmes, with weekly Norwegian instruction; four languages are taught in the MYP (English, Norwegian, Chinese and Spanish) and two in the PYP (English and Norwegian). Year 11 in August 2026 begins IB Foundation; AIS plans to offer the Diploma Programme and has applied to become an authorised DP School, with consultancy in 2026 and first DP teaching planned for August 2027. AIS is a MOT school, a Dysleksi Norge School and Eco-Lighthouse organisation.
Curriculum details
The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for all Upper Secondary students, with a Pre-IB/IB preparation curriculum for Lower Secondary. For younger learners, literacy, mathematics, and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) are taught. The Upper Secondary program is a cohesive, balanced three-year course of study from Pre-IB to IB2, with final examinations that prepare students for university and employment. The IB framework emphasizes developing enquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who foster intercultural understanding and responsible citizenship. At each level, OIS students achieve results that are higher than international standards.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
12-18 students per class.
Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
IB Diploma Programme results for 2025 include a pass rate of 98%, with an average Diploma score of 34.7 points and 32% of graduates earning a bilingual diploma. Over 95% of graduates are admitted to at least one of their top university choices.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
Graduates matriculate at universities worldwide, including University of Melbourne, University of Toronto, Sciences Po Paris, Copenhagen Business School, and the University of Oslo. Almost all graduates go on to university and many receive unconditional offers; university counselling supports applications.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
The school registers your application after you submit it; the application is an expression of interest. When a place becomes available, you will receive an email with the offer and a contract. To accept, sign and return the contract and pay the admin fee of NOK 2000 by the date stated in the email. Once the contract and payment are received, you will receive a confirmation email. The Board prioritises admissions as follows: open to all school‑aged children; if applications exceed capacity, priority goes to the children of staff, siblings of current students, former AIS students who have attended school outside Norway for at least six months (updated September 2020), and the date of application. Applicants are asked to indicate which criteria they meet on the application. Places for grade 1 are offered from the beginning of November in the year before the students start; after this date, contracts are issued based on the criteria listed above. There is continuous admission until the 60 places in grade 1 are filled. For all grades, parents must give a minimum of three months' notice when leaving; if spaces become available during the school year, AIS will fill them as soon as possible. AIS accepts new students as long as capacity allows. When capacity is reached, students are placed on a waiting list. You do not need to re‑apply if you do not secure a place during the school year; there can be no more than one application in the system for a student. In March each year AIS contacts those on waiting lists to confirm whether they wish to remain on the list for the next year.
Admissions
OIS accepts applications year-round. The Admissions Office guides applicants from application to enrolment and prioritises international families seeking an English-language program in the Oslo region. The community includes students and staff from more than fifty nationalities, and instruction is delivered in English. For more than sixty years the school has served international families in Oslo. Applications are submitted via OpenApply and the non-refundable application fee is 5,000 NOK per applicant. All applicants provide a recent photo of the applicant, passport copies for the applicant and for each parent, and a passport copy for each parent; documents can be in English or Norwegian or translated. Primary School applicants provide the most recent school reports and confidential teacher questionnaires; Secondary School applicants provide confidential teacher questionnaires and the most recent academic reports from the previous two years; documents must be in English/Norwegian or translated. Applications are reviewed by the Head of the relevant school section and admission decisions are communicated via OpenApply and enrolment must be confirmed within 14 days if offered. If admitted, the enrollment process includes confirming enrolment, completing the health form and vaccination records, completing year-level forms, and paying the enrolment fee and remaining tuition by the due dates. New student orientation meetings and induction sessions occur before the start of the school year. OIS does not discriminate on race, nationality, sex, or religion in admission decisions.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
No scholarships or financial aid are offered.
Waitlist
Waitlist
If capacity is reached for a grade, applicants are placed on a waiting list. AIS contacts waiting lists in March each year to confirm whether families wish to remain on the list for the next year.
Waitlist
An optional bus service is available for Oslo, Bærum and Asker; seats may be limited and a waiting list will be created. 2026-27 bus fees are 25,800 NOK round trip or 15,100 NOK one way.