This English translation is for information purposes only. For all legal purposes, the original document in Norwegian as published in Norsk Lovtidend – Lovdata is the authoritative version.

This document relates to the Norwegian grading system and structure of education.

Chapter 1 – General provisions

Section 1-1.    Scope

(1) The provisions of these regulations apply to the full-time study programmes at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) and assessments related to these.

(2) The full-time study programmes include our bachelor’s programs (Bachelor in Economics and Business Administration and Bachelor in Business, Economics and Data Science) and our master’s programs (Master in Economics and Business Administration and Master in Auditing and Accounting).

(3) The provisions of these regulations will also, insofar as they are appropriate, apply to exchange students and double degree students from foreign institutions with which NHH has an agreement, assessments during the training component of the PhD programme and the National Translator Accreditation Exam.

Section 1-2.    Supplementary provisions

The Vice Rector for Academic Affairs may adopt supplementary provisions within the framework of these regulations.

Section 1-3.    The academic year

The academic year at NHH is divided into two semesters and has a nominal duration of 10 months. The standardised workload for one academic year is 60 credits in accordance with the European ECTS system.

Section 1-4.    Right of appeal

Pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Sections 11-9 and 11-10, students have a right to appeal against formal errors in connection with exams and grading. Pursuant to the Public Administration Act Section 28, students may also have a right to appeal against individual decisions made by NHH.

Section 1-5.    Appeals board

NHH has established an appeals board pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 14-1. The Board has adopted regulations for the Appeals Board that specify its duties.

Section 1-6.    Adaptation

(1) Students with a disability and students with special needs are entitled to suitable individual adaptation of the learning environment, teaching, teaching materials and examinations, to ensure equal training and education opportunities, cf. the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 10-5. The adaptation must not be at the expense of academic requirements. See also Section 4-6 third paragraph of these Regulations.

(2) Students who need special adaptation of study conditions must apply to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs as soon as the need arises. The need must be documented by a certificate from a doctor/specialist. The certificate should describe the disadvantages for the student and proposed measures to remedy them.

Section 1-7.    Laptop computers

Students at NHH must have access to their own laptop computers in connection with teaching and assessment. Requirements apply in relation to equipment and software.

Chapter 2 – Admission

Section 2-1.    Number of places

The number of places on the programmes is decided by the Board pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 8-3 second paragraph.

Section 2-2.    Admission to the study programmes

(1) Admission to the five-year “Siviløkonom”education takes place in accordance with the Regulations for Admission to Higher Education (Regulations No 13 of 6 January 2017), and is administered by the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (Samordna opptak). Applications to our English taught bachelor’s Programme (Bachelor in Business, Economics and Data Science), that is based on a non-Nordic diploma, are handled locally.

(2) The admission of external applicants for the master’s degree programmes takes place in accordance with the Regulations of the University and University Colleges and is handled locally.

(3) The applicant is responsible for submitting documentation in a readable format within the deadlines.

(4) A Candidate who has already completed a degree at NHH cannot be readmitted to the same study programme that has already been completed.

(5) Readmission to the same or another study programme that includes courses already taken will not cancel out previous assessment attempts, cf. Section 4-8 fourth paragraph.

(6) An assigned study place on a programme can be reserved up to two years due to compulsory military service, pregnancy, birth, adoption and for other weighty reasons. The applicant must accept the offer and apply to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs for a reserved study place within the given deadlines.

Section 2-3.    Right to direct transfer to the master’s degree programme

(1) Completing a bachelor’s degree at NHH entitles students to transfer directly to the master’s degree programmes. In special cases, the Office of Student and Academic Affairs may grant a student who has one course remaining (7.5 credits) the right to transfer to the master’s degree programme. The remaining course cannot be a methods course (code MET), and the reason must be an unforeseen event or that the student has failed one of the courses in the last semester.

(2) The right to direct transfer under the first paragraph applies for up to two years after completion of the bachelor’s degree. The student must apply for transfer or interruption of studies within the deadlines.

Section 2-4.    Right to study

(1) Anyone who, within the deadlines, has accepted an offer of a study place, completed the semester registration, including confirmation of their individual education plan, and paid the semester fee to the student welfare organisation Sammen, is granted a right to study for the nominal length of study set out in the relevant programme description. A student can not have the right to study at more than one study programme at the same time at NHH, cf. Section 2-7 (2).

(2) In order to retain this right throughout the course of study, the student must repeat the semester registration, including confirming their individual education plan, and pay the semester fee within the deadline each semester.

(3) The right to study confers a right and a duty to participate in teaching, supervision and assessment, and entails access to learning platforms and other digital services offered by NHH, as well as access to the library, reading rooms, group rooms and other infrastructure on campus.

(4) A student undergoing an additional period of completion pursuant to Section 2-6 has a right to study with the limitations that follow from Section 2-6 second and third paragraphs.

Section 2-5.    Follow-up of progress

(1) Students are responsible for their own study progress, but the Office of Student and Academic Affairs keeps track of it. Students who, at the end of a semester, has a backlog of 30 credits or more according to the nominal length of study may be contacted and receive special follow-up. A student who is contacted is obliged to participate in the follow-up.

(2) A student who, even after follow-up, continues to accumulate a backlog of credits may lose the right to study, cf. Section 2-9 first paragraph letter c).

Section 2-6.    Additional period of completion

(1) A student who has not completed the bachelor’s or master’s degree programme within the nominal length of study set out in the programme description is entitled to an additional period of completion of up to two subsequent semesters. The need for an additional period of completion must be reported to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs in the specified manner.

(2) A student who is granted an additional period of completion shall complete the actual bachelor’s or master’s degree. A student who has remaining examination attempts, cf. Section 4-8, may resit exams in previously passed courses. Students undergoing an additional period of completion pursuant to the first paragraph may not change their most recently adopted individual education plan over and above what is required to complete the programme.

(3) The Office of Student and Academic Affairs may only in exceptional cases grant applications for an extension after an additional period of completion pursuant to the first paragraph. The application must be submitted within the deadline for registration pursuant to Section 4-6 the subsequent semester. Any decisions on special extensions shall be limited in time. In the event of special needs, this limited right to study may be further extended.

(4) Students who are granted special extension after the third paragraph are not entitled to resit exams in previously passed courses. They are only entitled to complete their actual studies and regardless of the stated expiry date, this limited study right will cease when the student has achieved the bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Section 2-7.    Automatic loss of right to study

(1)  In addition to what is stated in Section 2-6, second and fourth paragraphs about automatic loss of study right, the study right at NHH ceases when the student reports that she or he wants to terminate the study in question.

(2) A student who already has the right to study at a study programme at NHH, loses this upon admission to another study programme at NHH, cf. Section 2-4 (1).

Section 2-8.    Loss of right to study

(1) Students may lose their right to study if they:

1. fail to complete the semester registration and pay the semester fee within the deadline
2. have exceeded the nominal length of study in accordance with the applicable individual study plan and the additional period of completion pursuant to Section 2-6
3. at the end of a semester have a backlog of 60 credits or more, cf. Section 2-5
4. have used all their assessment attempts pursuant to Section 4-8
5. in connection with verification, fail to present the original documents forming the basis for admission or the issuing of diplomas
6. are expelled due to cheating, attempted cheating or involvement in cheating

(2) Decisions on loss of the right to study under letters a) to e) are made by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs. Decisions on loss of the right to study under letter f) are made by the Appeals Board on the Office of Student and Academic Affairs’ recommendation.

Section 2-9.    Post-study right

(1) Candidates who have completed the master’s programme in Auditing and Accounting at NHH without achieving the grade required to become a state authorised public accountant may, on application, be granted a post-study right to retake individual courses.

(2) The prerequisite for post-study right pursuant to the first paragraph is that the candidate has remaining exam attempts pursuant to Section 4-8 and that an assessment is carried out in the course. The result achieved will be stated on the transcript of grades, cf. Sections 7-1 and 7-2.

(3) A candidate who within 12 months after completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree at NHH will carry out an internship/practical training period in Europe with an Erasmus+ grant will be registered with a post-study right during the practical training period. The post-study right pursuant to this paragraph does not confer the right to take courses at NHH.

Section 2-10.  Admission to individual courses

(1) Pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 11-4, even those who are not admitted at NHH are entitled to undergo assessment in courses at NHH. The prerequisite is that they fulfills the admission requirements to the study programme the course is part of, as well as any other requirements for undergoing assessment.

(2) The right pursuant to the first paragraph lapses if the programme or course description stipulates requirements for compulsory teaching, practical training, written assignments or similar.

Chapter 3 – Programme descriptions, individual education plans, recognition and leaves of absence

Section 3-1.    Programme descriptions and course descriptions

(1) All study programmes shall be described in a plan setting out the academic content of the programme. All courses included in a programme description shall be described in a course description. Students must familiarise themselves with the relevant programme description and course descriptions.

(2) Pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 11-1, it is the Board that adopts new programme descriptions. The Vice Rector for Academic Affairs may adopt changes to existing programme descriptions.

(3) A course description is devised by the person responsible for the course and adopted by the person authorised to do so under a mandate or supplementary provisions.

(4) The programme description shall, as a minimum, specify:

1. expected learning outcomes
2. what courses the programme includes
3. scope of credits
4. the possibility of stays abroad
5. which courses make up the specialisation in the degree
6. the structure of the study programme, what is compulsory and elective, and the order of courses
7. requirements for study progress, if applicable

(5) The course description shall, as a minimum, specify:

1. expected learning outcomes
2. requirements for prerequisite knowledge and special admission requirements, if applicable
3. the teaching semester and whether assessment is offered outside the teaching semester
4. academic content
5. learning methods
6. language of instruction
7. scope of the course in the form of credits
8. any compulsory activities (work requirements)
9. the assessment arrangement, grade scale and internal weighting between the various forms of assessment that make up the final grade
10. any credit reduction due to overlapping courses
11. restricted admission, if applicable

Section 3-2.    Individual education plans

(1) Pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 11-3, NHH and students admitted to programmes with a scope of 60 credits or more shall draw up an individual education plan. In principle, the plan shall be devised so that the student can complete the planned study programme within the nominal length of study in accordance with the applicable programme description.

(2) The plan shall, as far as possible, be drawn up within the deadline in the first semester of the programme. Subsequent changes to the plan must be made before it is adopted each semester within the deadline, cf. Section 2-4 second paragraph. The plan can also be changed by agreement between the student and NHH.

Section 3-3.    Recognition

(1) Students with a right to study can apply for recognition of courses previously taken, cf. the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 9-1. The application must be submitted to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs within the deadlines. The relevant course(s) must correspond to a course offered at NHH. The relevant course(s) must have at least the same scope measured in credits, be at least on the same level (bachelor/master) and have the same content/learning outcomes (breadth/depth) as the NHH course. A passed NHH course cannot be replaced by an external course as described here.

(2) The general requirement for institutional affiliation set out in Section 6-1 and the special requirement in relation to the issuance of a new degree set out in Section 6-2 may restrict the opportunities after the first paragraph.

(3) A student may be granted approval of up to 30 credits based on courses taken at an educational institution abroad in connection with an exchange organised by NHH. For double degrees awarded in cooperation with international partner institutions, separate rules apply.

(4) A students who has been granted recognition of a course can still choose to take the course at NHH. In such case, the decision granting recognition will lapse.

Section 3-4.    Leave of absence

(1) Leave of absence is granted based on Sections 10-6 and 10-7 of the Universities and University Colleges Act.

(2) Leave of absence can also be granted for the fulfillment of particularly demanding duties in student associations or other public duties.

(3) Applications for leave of absence are submitted to the Office of Student and Academic Affairs. The reason must be documented in the application, which must be submitted by 1 September or 1 February. If the need arises after the application deadline has expired, the application must be submitted as soon as the student becomes aware of the need for a leave. Leave can be granted no earlier than from and including the semester in which the application was submitted.

(4) A period of leave according to this provision extends the right to study the student had when the application was submitted.

(5) A student who return after a leave must comply with the programme description in effect at the time of return.

Chapter 4 – Assessment (exams) and compulsory activities (work requirements)  

Section 4-1.    Principles for assessment

(1) Pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 11-6, NHH is obliged to ensure that students’ knowledge and skills are tested and assessed in an impartial and academically sound manner.

(2) Only a student with a valid right to study are entitled to undergo assessment.

Section 4-2.    Prerequisite knowledge and compulsory activities (work requirements)

(1) Any requirements for prerequisite knowledge and compulsory activities (work requirements) that are a condition for assessment shall be clearly specified in the course description.

(2) Students who do not complete the required compulsory activity (work requirements) will not be given an opportunity to undergo assessment in the course. See also Section 4-5.

Section 4-3.    Deadlines for submission

(1) Students are obliged to familiarise themselves with and meet the deadlines for written assignments that form part of courses at NHH. Set deadlines related to an assessment arrangement are absolute. Other deadlines relating to completion of the course are absolute unless the course coordinator states otherwise.

(2) In connection with assessment (exams), it is not possible to supplement or replace a submitted assignment after the deadline for submission. Regardless of the set deadline for submission, a submitted master’s thesis cannot be supplemented or replaced afterwards.

Section 4-4.    Assessment forms, assessment arrangements and grade scales

(1) The assessment arrangement used in a course may consist of one form of assessment alone or a combination of several forms (parts). There may be special requirements for carrying out an assessment arrangement. The course description shall specify which form of assessment is used, cf. Section 3-1 fifth paragraph. If a combination of several forms of assessment are used, the weighting of the different parts must also be specified. Passed result presuppose that all parts are passed.

(2) Pursuant to the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 11-7, the grades pass/fail or a grade scale with grades from A to E for pass and F for fail shall be used in connection with exams, tests, the evaluation of assignments or other form of assessment. The two assessment expressions cannot be combined in the same course. For conversion purposes, letter grades correspond to the following numerical values: A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2 and E=1.

Section 4-5.    Assessment semester

(1) In all courses, assessment is carried out in the teaching semester. If the Programme manager decide that assessment also is offered outside the teaching semester, it shall be specified in the course description cf. Section 3-1 fifth paragraph.

(2) Assessment is carried out according to the syllabus, the requirements for prerequisite knowledge, the requirements for compulsory activities (work requirements) and the assessment arrangement that is established for the course at the time of assessment.

(3) When a compulsory course is discontinued, assessments shall, as a rule, be carried out for two subsequent semesters after the last ordinary assessment.

(4) In special cases, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs may decide that assessment shall be offered over and above what follows from this provision.

Section 4-6.    Registration, deadline for withdrawal and applications for adaptation

(1) Students are responsible for registering for assessment by 1 September and 1 February.

(2) The deadline for withdrawal from an assessment pursuant to the first paragraph is set out in the supplementary provisions to this Section. Failure to withdraw from assessment by the deadline will count as one examination attempt, cf. Section 4-8.

(3) Students who, due to a disability or other special needs, need adaptation in connection with assessments, must apply for it within the deadline for registration pursuant to the first paragraph. If the need for adaptation arises after the deadline, an application must be submitted as soon as possible. The reason must be documented in the application. See also Section 1-6.

Section 4-7.    Non-attendance and termination of assessment

(1) A student registered for assessment who fails to attend at the set time will be registered as ‘did not attend’. Non-attendance will count as one attempt pursuant to Section 4-8.

(2) To avoid having the attempt count pursuant to Section 4-8, a student who does not attend or who is unable to complete/go through with the assessment must, on the first working day after the interrupted assessment at the latest, submit documentation that the interruption was due to illness or other circumstances beyond their control (force majeure).

(3) A paper submitted by a student cannot be exempt from grading.

Section 4-8.    Number of attempts

(1) On the condition that assessment is carried out, a student has two attempts to undergo assessment in the same course. Students in the master’s programme in Accounting and Auditing have three attempts to undergo assessment in the same course. The best result applies.

(2) Changes in the requirements for compulsory activity (work requirements) and changes in the assessment arrangement, may force a student to retake the whole course, cf. Section 4-5 second paragraph.

(3) If the assessment arrangement consists of several parts or forms of assessment, the number of attempts applies to the assessment arrangement as a whole and not to the individual parts or forms of the assessment. Even if a student only completes one of several forms of assessment (parts) of the assessment arrangement, this counts as one attempt.

(4) The limitation in the number of assessment attempts applies to the whole course. Previous attempts count even if the course has changed code, is included with different codes in several study programmes or the student has been admitted to the same or a different study programme where the course is included.

(5) In special cases, the Office of Student and Academic Affairs may grant a student who has used all attempts pursuant to the first paragraph, without having passed the course, one more chance to undergo assessment in the same course.

(6) Master’s students may only submit a master’s thesis once for the same master’s degree programme at NHH, cf. Section 6-3. The student will only be given an opportunity to submit a reworked thesis for assessment if they are awarded a fail grade.

(7) Students with a special extension pursuant to Section 2-6 third paragraph will not be given an opportunity to undergo a new assessment pursuant to the first paragraph.

Section 4-9.    Special deadlines for announcing grades

(1) The Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 11-7 fourth paragraph authorises the Board of NHH to make an exception from the ordinary three-week deadline for announcing grades in two types of cases. This applies to

1. a general time-limited exception set out in temporary regulations
2. exceptions for dissertations and similar large written works stipulated in regulations

(2) The Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Section 11-7 fourth paragraph sets out a special deadline for announcing grades of six weeks for master’s theses, dissertations or similar written works with a scope of at least 10 credits.

Section 4-10.  Plagiarism check

NHH can carry out plagiarism checks both of submitted work during subjects and work submitted as part of an assessment arrangement, including the independent work in a master's program. Furthermore, NHH can store and use such work in connection with future plagiarism checks of similar works.

Chapter 5 – Cheating

Section 5-1.    Cheating

(1) Cheating is a serious breach of trust in relation to NHH, fellow students and society in general. NHH therefore responds strongly to all forms of cheating when conducting courses and assessments at NHH.

(2) The following are examples of cheating:

1. acting in contravention of Chapter 5 of the supplementary provisions adopted pursuant the regulations
2. using or being in the possession of non-permitted support material during assessment
3. presenting other people’s work as one’s own
4. presenting one’s own previous work, which has yielded credits or the right to undergo assessment, as something new (self-plagiarism)
5. quoting sources or in other ways using sources in written work without properly stating the source
6. gaining access to assessment by cheating in a test or similar activity that is a condition for undergoing assessment
7. being granted approval, on false grounds, for participation in compulsory teaching activities or other compulsory activities
8. unlawful cooperation or contact with others during an assessment
9. manipulating a paper after it has been submitted
10. dishonest acts or circumstances aimed at giving a candidate an unfair advantage in connection with meeting conditions for compulsory activities (work requirements) or in connection with assessment
11. acts that in other ways may prevent the candidate’s knowledge and skills from being tested and assessed in an impartial and academically sound manner (cf. Section 4-1)

(3) Attempts at and involvement in cheating can be sanctioned in the same way as cheating.

Section 5-2.    Criterion of liability and sanctions

The criterion of liability and sanctions imposed in the event of cheating follow from the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Sections 12-4.

Chapter 6 – Requirements for degrees

Section 6-1.    Requirement for institutional affiliation

Pursuant to the University and University Colleges Regulations, at least 60 of the credits that are to be included in the calculation basis when awarding degrees or issuing diplomas must be taken at NHH.

Section 6-2.    Requirement for new education – Bachelor and Master of Economics and Business Administration

(1) Students who are granted recognition of education that has previously formed part of the calculation basis for a bachelor’s or master’s degree must take at least 90 new credits at NHH before they can be awarded a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration, cf. the University and University Colleges Regulations.

(2) An exception applies to degrees awarded in cooperation with other Norwegian or foreign institutions, and in cases where parts of the degree are recognized on the basis of another master’s degree taken at NHH.

(3) The student must inform NHH of any diplomas issued by another university or university college.

(4) A new degree will not be awarded for a new programme option/specialization in the same study programme.

Section 6-3.    The master’s thesis – the independent work

(1) The master’s thesis must be completed as part of the master’s degree programme at NHH. Degrees awarded in cooperation with other Norwegian or foreign institutions are exempt from this requirement.

(2) An exemption from the main rule set out in the first paragraph can also be made for students who complete the master’s programme in Auditing and Accounting as a one-year supplementary study to another master’s degree programme.

Section 6-4.    Siviløkonom – additional designation to Master of Economics and Business Administration

Students who, when they are admitted to the master’s programme in Economics and Business Administration, meet the requirement for the combination of subjects stipulated by the Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institutions (UHR), will be awarded the protected title siviløkonom as an additional designation on their diploma on having completed the master’s programme in Economics and Business Administration.

Chapter 7 – Diplomas and transcripts of grades

Section 7-1.    Diplomas

(1) Diplomas for degrees are issued when the student meets the requirements set out in the applicable programme description. A student who achieves the degree before the expiry of what is stated as the normal time in the programme description may choose to postpone the issuance of the diploma to the ordinary study right pursuant to section 2-4.

(2) Each diploma can only be issued once. If a diploma is lost, NHH can issue a copy of the diploma on application. NHH may withhold a student’s diploma if it emerges in connection with verification that the student has failed to present the original documents forming the basis for admission or issuing of the diploma.

Section 7-2.    Transcripts of grades

(1) A student who has taken credits at NHH may ask for a transcript of grades containing an overview of all courses the student has passed at NHH.

(2) Transcripts of grades are normally issued digitally. A paper copy of the transcript may be issued to students who can document that they need it.

(3) Courses passed after the requirements for a grade are met will only be documented by a transcript of grades.

Chapter 8 – Concluding provisions

Section 8-1.    Entry into force

(1) These regulations enter into force on 1 August 2024.

(2) Regulations (No. 1956 of April 29 2021) for full-time study programmes at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) are repealed from the same date.