What Bergen Katedralskole does

Bergen Katedralskole is a public upper secondary school (videregående skole) in Bergen, Norway, founded in 1153 by Cardinal Brekespear under papal authority — making it one of the oldest continuously operating schools in Norway. It is wholly owned and administered by Vestland Fylkeskommune (Vestland County Municipality) and operates three campus locations in central Bergen: the main school at Kong Oscars gate 36 (general studies, IB, and minority-language introductory courses), Senter for voksenopplæring at Kalfarveien 2 (adult education), and Avdeling Kyrre at Lars Hilles gate 20B (a specialized mental-health-adapted programme for students aged 16–24).

The school serves approximately 700 students across five distinct programme lines: Studiespesialisering (three-year general studies for university entrance qualification), the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (a two-year pre-university programme taught in English, delivered since 1988 and among the first in Norway), Avdeling Kyrre, Voksenopplæring (adult education), and introductory/online Norwegian courses for minority-language newcomers. A one-year Pre-IB preparatory programme and the Katteli mountain cabin (used for orientation trips and subject excursions) round out the offering. Student achievements include Norwegian wins in the Biology Olympiad (2021), the Informatics Olympiad (2018), the Ocean Space Race (2019, 2020), and European champions in the CanSat competition (KattSat, 2014).

The technology stack is standard Norwegian education infrastructure: Visma InSchool (VIS) for student administration/scheduling/grades, It's Learning as the LMS, Feide for single sign-on, plus content platforms (BookBites, Britannica School, JSTOR, Filmrommet, AV-sentralen, Creaza, NDLA, NRK Skole). The business model is government appropriations rather than commercial revenue: tuition is free for all eligible Norwegian residents aged 16–20, and the only direct student charge is a nominal NOK 10,000/year IB administrative fee. Marketing and admissions operate through the national VIGO application portal, the school website, and information meetings. The school is not an investable commercial entity — it is a public-sector institution with no shareholders, no funding rounds, and no commercial revenue.

Name

Bergen Katedralskole

Legal name

Bergen Katedralskole

Website

https://bergenkatedralskole.vgs.no

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bergen Katedralskole is a public upper secondary school in Bergen, Norway, founded in 1153, offering general studies, IB Diploma, adult education, mental-health-adapted and minority-language programmes to ~700 students, funded by Vestland Fylkeskommune.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Other Schools and Instruction (6116)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

English Learner (EL/ESL/ELL) & Bilingual Education Programs (EDAJAGAB), Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH)

Keywords

• Upper secondary education
• Public secondary school
• International baccalaureate programme
• Adult education services
• Minority language integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Bergen

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: Bergen Katedralskole is a public upper secondary school owned and administered by Vestland Fylkeskommune (Vestland County Municipality). As a public institution, it is funded by government appropriations rather than tuition. There are no tuition fees for regular programs. A nominal administrative IB fee of NOK 10,000 per student per school year (paid in two installments) covers IB programme administrative costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bergen Katedralskole delivers publicly funded upper secondary education through multiple programs including the three-year Studiespesialisering (general studies), two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, Avdeling Kyrre (mental health-adapted program), Voksenopplæring (adult education), and introductory Norwegian language courses for minority language newcomers. Operating across three campus locations in central Bergen, the school serves approximately 700 students with free tuition funded by Vestland Fylkeskommune, supplemented by a nominal NOK 10,000/year IB administrative fee.

Product overview

Bergen Katedralskole is an upper secondary school founded in 1153, offering a portfolio of educational programmes under three main divisions: the main school (Katten) at Kong Oscars gate 36, Senter for voksenopplæring in Kalfarveien 2, and Avdeling Kyrre in Lars Hilles gate 20B. The core programmes include Studiespesialisering (three-year general studies), the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (two-year international pre-university), Avdeling Kyrre (specialized programme for students in psychological treatment), Voksenopplæring (adult education), and Innføringskurs/Nettilbod for minoritetsspråklege (introductory and online Norwegian courses for minority language students). The school also offers a Pre-IB preparatory year and operates Katteli, a mountain cabin facility for student activities. Administrative systems include Visma InSchool (VIS), It's Learning LMS, and various third-party educational platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Studiespesialisering (General Studies Programme) Three-year general studies programme leading to general university admission qualification. Students aged 16-20 choose between science (realfag) or languages/social sciences/economics tracks, with program subjects in Vg2 and Vg3. Includes six parallel classes per grade level. Free public education.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Two-year rigorous international pre-university programme for motivated students aged 16-19, taught entirely in English. First accredited in 1988, among the first schools to offer IB in Norway. Prepares students for studies at Norwegian and international universities. Nominal administrative fee of NOK 10,000 per student per year.
• Avdeling Kyrre Specialized adapted study programme for students aged 16-24 with psychological challenges who are in treatment. Offers study competence with focus on safe learning environment, relationship building, and mastery. Teaching organized in groups of 8-15 students with 2-22 hours per week. Application deadline February 1st. Free public education.
• Voksenopplæring (Adult Education) Free upper secondary education for adults over 19 who have not completed secondary education. Offers general university admission qualification subjects, building courses, and special admission qualification. Includes Norwegian language courses for immigrants with higher education. Located at Senter for voksenopplæring in Kalfarveien 2, Bergen.
• Innføringskurs for minoritetsspråklege (Introductory Course for Minority Language Students) Preparatory course for students aged 16+ with little or no previous knowledge of Norwegian. Includes Norwegian, English, mathematics, natural science, social studies, and physical education. Helps prepare for starting upper secondary school.
• Nettilbod for minoritetsspråklege (Online Norwegian Courses for Minority Language Students) Online Norwegian language instruction for newly arrived students needing extra Norwegian education. Administered by Bergen Katedralskole in collaboration with nettskolen and OPK. Offers A1 and A2 level courses with ongoing enrollment, available nationally to schools with newly arrived immigrant students.
• Pre-IB Programme One-year preparatory programme for Norwegian-speaking students considering the IB Diploma Programme in Vg2. Follows Norwegian state curriculum with teaching in English, familiarizing students with IB terminology and structure. Students decide at year's end whether to continue with IB or regular general studies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Student numbers on IB programme have doubled in recent years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration25 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lohjan Yhteislyseon lukio (Finland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Erasmus+ collaborative project 'Do my emotions exclude me' focused on student well-being, inclusion, and emotional management. Includes three student and staff mobilities per project cycle: Finland (December 2024), Bergen (March 2025), and Lithuania (September-October 2025).
• Kaunas Varpas Gymnasium (Lithuania)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Erasmus+ partner in the 'Do my emotions exclude me' project. Hosted the final student and teacher mobility in Kaunas, Lithuania (September 29 - October 3, 2025). Focus on overcoming emotional difficulties and managing emotions through art, psychology workshops, and physical well-being activities.
• GriegakademietminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Griegakademiet (University of Bergen) in connection with the music workshop at Avdeling Kyrre. Music therapists offer both individual and group sessions as a temporary programme offering.
• Kom NærmereminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic therapy collaboration at Avdeling Kyrre. Music therapists from Kom Nærmere provide individual and group music therapy sessions to support student well-being in the mental health-adapted programme.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Bergen Private Gymnas: Private alternative gymnasium based in Bergen, offering studiespesialisering tracks. Direct local competitor for Bergen-resident upper-secondary families who might otherwise choose Bergen Katedralskole.
• European School Bergen: Local international school in Bergen offering European Baccalaureate and IGCSE tracks. Competes for internationally-oriented Bergen families who might otherwise pick Bergen Katedralskole's IB programme.

Direct peers

• Oslo katedralskole: Oslo's historic cathedral school and one of the original Norwegian katedralskoler. Same heritage, same Norwegian upper secondary structure, and a comparable mix of general studies and IB provision — directly analogous public-school peer.
• Hartvig Nissen VGS: Historic public upper secondary school in Oslo with strong academic reputation and broad programme portfolio. Comparable as a long-established public gymnasium with similarly wide programme offerings and prestigious brand.
• Norwegian International School (NIS): Private IB school in Oslo serving the international community with IB Diploma and IGCSE. Competes for the same internationally-minded Norwegian and expat families Bergen Katedralskole's IB division targets.
• Trondheim Katedralskole: The fourth historic Norwegian cathedral school, sharing the 1153 ecclesiastical origin story and a modern studiespesialisering/IB portfolio. Closest historical and operational peer.
• Stavanger Katedralskole: Another of the four original Norwegian cathedral schools, offering studiespesialisering and IB. Same historical lineage and public upper-secondary model as Bergen Katedralskole.
• Oslo International School: Private IB school in the greater Oslo area offering the full IB continuum. Comparable as an English-medium international upper-secondary alternative competing for the same IB cohort families.
• Red Cross Nordic United World College: Norway's flagship residential IB World College near Oslo. Directly comparable as an English-taught IB Diploma provider targeting Norwegian and international students seeking rigorous international credentials.

Broad incumbents

• Norges Realfagsgymnas: Nationwide chain of upper secondary schools emphasising mathematics and science. Comparable Norwegian gymnasium provider competing for science-track students at scale across multiple campuses.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/katten_elevraad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bergen-katedralskole

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bergen Katedralskole