About the guideline
The aim of the guideline is to ensure equal treatment of applications for approval of educations for students at the University of Inland Norway.
Superior documents
- Act on Universities and Colleges (Norwegian)
- Act relating to procedure in cases concerning the public administration (Public Administration Act)
- Regulations on admission, studies and examinations at University of Inland Norway
- Regulation on the Approval of Norwegian and Foreign Higher Education and Practical skills
- Norwegian qualifications framework for lifelong learning
1.Criteria for approval of education
Students are entitled to recognition of successfully completed higher education from another Norwegian institution, when it is documented that the education provides a learning outcome equivalent to what is set at INN, cf. Act on Universities and Colleges § 9-1.
Education from foreign institutions, vocational schools or Practical skills may also be considered for approval, cf. Act on Universities and Colleges § 9-2.
When approved, the student does not need to retake the equivalent exam with associated compulsory activities.
2. The criteria’s
Applications for approval are assessed based on the following criteria:
- An academic evaluation must be conducted against the curriculum and learning outcomes for a specified module/education/course at INN. The requirement for equivalent learning outcomes does not imply that the learning outcomes must be the same. It suffices that the subject matter aligns with the education that the student is pursuing at INN.
- It must be documented that the external education is at least at the same level as the education for which recognition is sought at INN. Subjects at the bachelor's level are not recognised as subjects in a master's degree. Subjects at the master's level can be recognised as subjects in a bachelor's degree. Learning outcomes recognised from other institutions must be documented with a successfully completed examination.
- If a previously passed subject corresponds to the academic requirements of a part-examination, this part-examination can be recognised. When a subject at INN only has one exam, parts of the subject cannot be recognised. Education that forms part of the admission basis for a degree cannot be recognised as part of the degree.
- There is no double credit for the same subject content within the same degree
- The basis of the application for approval must be adequately documented. The level of vocational school education must be assessed in each case according to level descriptions in the National Qualifications Framework. Some two-year vocational school educations correspond to learning outcome descriptions at the level of university college candidates
3. Credit Allocation
Credits are awarded equivalent to the corresponding course at INN, with no additional credits beyond those obtained at the original institution.
Example 1 (cf. Act on Universities and Colleges § 9-1): For a course worth 5 credits at the original institution and 10 at INN, the student receives 5 credits at INN. They may need additional credits to meet degree requirements.
Eksempel 2 (cf. Act on Universities and Colleges § 9-1) For a course worth 10 credits at the original institution and 5 at INN, the student receives 5 credits at INN.
4. Compulsory activities
Individual compulsory activities are not recognised unless the entire course or associated part-examination is recognised.
5. Framework-Guided Education
Where regulations on framework-guided education have special provisions for recognition, these rules apply to the assessment.
6. Affiliation Requirement
To be awarded a degree from INN, a minimum of 60 credits included in the degree must have been completed at INN, according to the Regulations on admission, studies and examinations at University of Inland Norway cf. § 10-1 second paragraph.
7. Prerequisites for Awarding a New Degree
When approving education that previously formed the basis for an awarded degree at INN, or as part of a degree or vocational education, the student must complete a minimum of 60 new study points before a new degree can be awarded from INN. The Rector can set a requirement of up to 90 new study points for specific study programmes, according to the Regulations on admission, studies and examinations at University of Inland Norway cf. § 3-7.
The same study points can count towards two degrees, but the student must complete a minimum of 60 new study points at INN to be awarded a new degree. The academic requirements for the new degree must be met.
8. Diploma
The approval will be reflected on the diploma.
9. Pre-approval
Applications for recognition are only processed once the student has received an offer of admission and accepted the place. Pre-approval of education is not granted.
10. Appeal
There is a right to appeal individual decisions about the approval of education. according to the Public Administration Act section 28. The deadline for appeal is three weeks from the point of time the decision has been communicated to the party, cf. Public Administration Act section 29.
This guideline has been approved by Director of Academic Affairs 1st August 2024.