Anders Behring Breivik applies to study politics at Oslo University

Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik has applied to study political science at Oslo University, causing outrage among staff.

The head of the university's political institute, Ole Petter Ottersen, confirmed that Breivik made a request for a place in the department.

"We don't know if his candidacy will be accepted," he said.

Several members of the university's staff said they were opposed to any dealings with Breivik, who is serving a 21-year sentence for killing 77 people on July 22, 2011.

"I understand very well that this causes reactions, it is human to feel that," Ottersen said.

Political scientist and politician from the Labor Party's youth wing Per Anders Torvik Langerod noted that studying the university program might make Breivik confront his own extreme beliefs.

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"Blindern [Oslo University] is a place where one learns that one should pursue one's opinions with words," he said.

"You cannot tape over the mouths of those you disagree with, or shoot them, and that's some of what I hope will be a punishment for Breivik. If he wants to relate to these studies and get what he wants, credits, he must do it our way."

Knut Bjarkeid, the director at Ila Prison, where Breivik is serving his sentence, said he encourages all inmates to get an education.

"The prison will always try to pave the way for inmates to get a formal education, so that they are able to get a job when they come out," he said.

But Breivik also faces a formal obstacle to be accepted by the university, since he lacks enrolment qualifications because he did not complete high school.

If accepted by Oslo University, Breivik would only be allowed to use a special prison-run internet server with plenty of filters.

He has the use of a laptop without internet and can order books from the prison library, which is part of the public library network.

Breivik was convicted of killing 77 people and wounding 242 others when he detonated a bomb in central Oslo and then opened fire at a Labor Party youth camp two years ago.