In a significant shift, universities in Norway are dropping character requirements for nursing and teacher education programs to fill vacant spots.

This change comes as a response to a critical shortage of nurses, with around 4,300 positions unfilled.

For the first time in years, students can apply for nursing programs without meeting the previous math and Norwegian language requirements, leading to a surge in applications.

Similarly, 23-year-old Espen Amundsen secured a spot in his dream teacher education program after the Kunnskapsdepartementet relaxed entry criteria.

While many celebrate the increased access to education, some experts express concern that removing these requirements may compromise the quality of training, particularly in essential subjects like math and Norwegian, which are vital for effective communication and medication calculations in nursing.