NOKUT (Norway)

The accreditation procedure

Institutions subject to the Universities and Colleges Act may apply to NOKUT for accreditation of the institution.
NOKUT shall appoint experts to conduct the academic assessment of the application for accreditation of institutions and lay down terms of reference for the evaluation.
NOKUT shall send the report of the experts to the institution concerned, which shall be allowed a time limit of at least six weeks to submit its views before NOKUT makes a decision.
If an institution’s application for accreditation in another institutional category is rejected, NOKUT may decide that a new application may not be submitted until a period of two years has elapsed.
NOKUT’s decisions concerning accreditation as a college, university or specialized institution at university level shall be forwarded to the Ministry.

Institutions may apply to NOKUT for accreditation of programmes that the institution does not have the authority to establish.
NOKUT shall appoint experts to conduct the academic assessment of such an application for accreditation of programmes and lay down terms of reference for the evaluation.
NOKUT shall send the report of the experts to the institution concerned, which shall be allowed a time limit of at least six weeks to submit its views before NOKUT makes a decision.
NOKUT shall issue regulations providing the standards on which accreditation of study programmes shall be based. Prior to this, NOKUT shall procure proposals from the sector.
NOKUT shall ensure that the standards comply with the international standards that Norway is obliged to follow.
Any regulations laid down pursuant to The Universities and Colleges Act and framework plans shall be taken into consideration in relation to the accreditation.
If an accreditation application is rejected, NOKUT may decide that up to two years must elapse before a new application may be submitted.