After rejecting Anders Behring Breivik's application of admission to the school's political science program, the University of Oslo has now allowed the 34-year-old mass murderer to study certain political science subjects in his cell.
In August, the university dismissed the application to the degree-granting program claiming 'that his qualifications do not suffice for admission to the bachelor program.'
"The conclusion is that Breivik was judged not sufficiently qualified to start the political science course," said Ole Petter Ottersen, the University rector.
The far-right extremist then sought authorization to study individual subjects within the course, which has now been approved by the university.
"Norwegian law recognizes that all detainees have the right to work and study," said Karl Gustav Knutsen, warden of Skien Prison in southeast Norway, where Breivik is being held under high-security conditions.
Currently, Breivik is serving a 21-year prison sentence for killing 77 people, most of them teenagers, in bomb and gun massacres July 22, 2011. First he detonated a bomb in Oslo's government district and then shot people attending a Norwegian Labour Party's summer youth camp on the island of Utoeya. According to the officials, the sentence can be extended once it expires.
"Breivik does not deserve to be able to study anything," said Ingrid Nymoen, a survivor of the Utoeya shooting.
Breivik will be permitted to study only in his cell, and to borrow necessary books and materials. However, he will not be given any access to the Internet and will not be allowed to have direct contact with university staff.
The prison governor said that a separate study room will be offered to him.
"He won't be able to leave jail and go to campus to study," said Ottersen.
