Examen philosophicum
Examen philosophicum (Ex.phil.) is a required exam in most Norwegian bachelor programs, together with Examen facultatum. Ex.phil covers philosophy and clear thinking, while Ex.facultatum teaches how to write academic texts. A version of Ex.phil started in 1675 at the University of Copenhagen, and Norway still uses a reduced form today; Denmark ended the full exam in 1971. In Denmark, passing the exam is a requirement for higher education.
The course has been linked to promoting democracy and has faced criticism for being compulsory and underfunded. It is mandated by university regulations, such as the University of Oslo’s 2005 rules. Most bachelor programs require both Ex.phil and Ex.facultatum; some professional programs and some natural science degrees may be exempt from one or both.
Content varies by field but usually includes philosophy, ethics, and rhetoric; language students get adapted material. The exam has existed since 1675 and gradually narrowed to philosophy as its main focus in 1875.
Originally two or three semesters with many subjects, Latin, Greek, and history were dropped in 1845; natural sciences split into physics and chemistry. In the old cand.mag. system, Ex.phil was worth 5 vekttall (about half a semester); today both Ex.phil and Ex.facultatum are typically 10 ECTS each (about two-thirds of a semester).
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 12:03 (CET).