Transfer of credits & degrees

When transferring degrees and credits from a foreign institution the recognition process is normally performed by the Norwegian institution to which you are applying. If you would like a general assessment of your academic qualifications, you can contact the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT).

The Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) supervises and helps to develop the quality of higher education in Norway through evaluation, accreditation and recognition of quality systems, institutions and course provisions. NOKUT is the official Norwegian ENIC-NARIC center.

Recognition of foreign higher education qualifications in Norway
The International Recognitions Unit at NOKUT is responsible for dealing with applications for general recognition of foreign qualifications. NOKUT handles applications for general recognition of foreign qualifications and awards a number of general ECTS credits. They also states whether the level and scope/duration of the course is equivalent to a Norwegian degree.

Higher education institutions decide applications for specific recognition, i.e. whether a foreign qualification is academically equivalent to a degree, part of a degree or other qualification awarded by the institution concerned.

For further information about the recognition requirements please see http://www.nokut.no/sw13120.asp

Diploma Supplement
The Diploma Supplement (DS) is an international document that gives a detailed description of the qualifications attained by a candidate. It does not replace the diploma, but supplements it. The DS has a standard layout and is divided into 8 sections. Section 8, which describes the country’s system of higher education, is a standard text included in all diploma supplements issued in the country concerned. The DS is already an integral part of the electronic student registration systems at Norwegian higher education institutions, FS (the Common Student Registration System) and MSTAS. The DS is provided to graduates free of charge.

Read more about the Diploma Supplement here.

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Norwegian higher education system

Norway has six accredited universities, six accredited specialized university institutions, 25 accredited university colleges, two accredited national colleges of the arts and 29 private institutions of higher education with either institutional- or programme accreditation.

The Norwegian system of higher education comprises all the institutions and/or programmes that are accredited. With the exception of some private university colleges, all higher education institutions are state-run. In general, tuition is not required for study at Norwegian higher education institutions, although fees may be imposed for certain professional education programmes, further and special education programmes and studies at private institutions.

In addition to their teaching activities, all the higher learning institutions, and particularly the universities, are responsible for conducting basic research as well as researcher training, primarily by means of graduate-level studies and doctoral degree programmes.

Degree system
[Fig 1]

Since 2003 Norway has been following the objectives of the Bologna process in the European higher education. Most of the elements have been implemented through the Quality Reform. Central to the reform has been implementation of a 3 + 2 + 3 degree system with a Bachelor's, Masters and Ph.D. structure following the European standards [ see Fig 1 above].

With the introduction of the new degree system it has become easier for students who complete all, or part of their education in Norway, to obtain recognition for their qualifications in other countries.

Credits system and grading
The academic year normally runs from mid-August to mid-June. Courses are measured in “studiepoeng” according to the ECTS standard (European Credit Transfer System credits). The full-time workload for one academic year is 60 “studiepoeng”/ECTS credits.

Grades for undergraduate and postgraduate examinations are awarded according to a graded scale from A (highest) to F (lowest), with E as the minimum pass grade. A pass/fail mark is given for some examinations.

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education system

Student mobility and international cooperation are key objectives for the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. Currently, over 12 000 foreign students are studying in Norway and we look forward to welcoming many more.

Norway is one of the leading countries conforming to the guidelines from the Bologna Process in European higher education. The degree system based on the Bachelor's, Masters and Ph.D. structure has been successfully implemented, together with the ECTS credits system. By adapting to the European standard in higher education it is easy for students at Norwegian institutions to obtain recognition of their qualifications in other countries.

The internationalisation of higher education has been a key factor for the development of programmes where the language of instruction is English in Norway. For the scool year 2007/2008 more than 200 Masters programmes taught in English are available to students, covering a variety of subject areas. Some of the institutions are also offering English-taught programmes at the Bachelor’s level.

There are about 70 public and private institutions of higher learning located throughout Norway, from Kristiansand in the south to Svalbard in the North.

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