Based on their long cultural and social history, the Nordic countries have developed a unique model of the welfare state in which education is crucial. The Nordic model of education is based on public and free education. It places a special emphasis on equal opportunities and minimizing inequalities. Both the Nordic comprehensive school and higher-education institutions benefit from this model. In recent years, the Nordic countries have been very successful in international comparative evaluation studies. At the same time, the Nordic countries have maintained their position among the world’s leading countries in political rights, civil liberties, and quality of life. The general trend in post-industrialized societies towards a more market-oriented ‘enterprise university’ can also be found in Nordic countries. However, true to the Nordic historical and cultural roots, the higher-education model has managed to retain social-democratic principles, such as the right to study in institutions of higher education free of charge and ready geographic access to higher educational institutions.