School Regulations

The School Regulations differ somewhat between Noroff University College and Noroff Vocational School. Choose your regulations beneath. The regulations for Noroff Online Studies depends on wheter the course in question is a University College course, or a Vocational course.

School regulations Noroff University College

The regulations for Noroff University College can be found here.

In the event of differing interpretation of the text in this document, The NORWEGIAN version has precedence.

School regulations Noroff Vocational School

Chapter 1. General provisions (§§ 1-1 - 1-6)
Chapter 2. Admission (§§ 2-1 - 2-6)
Chapter 3. Recognition and exemption (§§ 3-1 - 3-4)
Chapter 4. Examination (§§ 4-1 - 4-11)
Chapter 5. Appeal procedure (§§ 5-1 - 5-5)
Chapter 6. Other provisions (§§ 6-1 - 6-2)

Pursuant to: Established by the Board of Directors at Noroff Vocational School on 7 September, 2017, pursuant to the Act of 20 June 2003, no. 56 regarding vocational education (Tertiary Vocational Education Act) § 4, § 5, § 6, § 9, § 10 and § 13.
Changes: Amended by regulations on March 12, 2018, no. 503, 22 June 2018 no. 1311.


Chapter 1. General provisions

§ 1-1. Scope
  1. These regulations apply to all applicants for all programs at Noroff Vocational School. Moreover, the regulations apply to all students who have received admission and are currently participating in studies and non-credit courses, as far as is appropriate.

Amended by regulation on 22 June 2018 no. 1311.

§ 1-2. The students’ responsibility
  1. The student is obliged to familiarise himself/herself with the regulations and rules, and to keep up to date on the content. The student cannot plead ignorance to the regulations and rules in the event of a violation.
  2. The student is obliged to familiarise himself/herself with the information available on the school's student pages and learning platform regarding the program in which the student is registered. This applies in particular to information regarding the teaching, rules of conduct and guidelines for completing examinations.
§ 1-3. The school’s responsibility
  1. The school is obliged to perform the education as defined in the study plan. The school may make smaller amendments to the education and syllabus if special circumstances so warrant; however, the school must then inform of, and facilitate, this as well as possible.
  2. The school is obliged to inform the students of rules and guidelines for completing the course, and to make these available to the students.
§ 1-4. Absence from compulsory classes
  1. Some of the school’s programs have compulsory classes. Guidelines for this are defined in the study plan for each subject. If the requirements for participation in the compulsory classes are not complied with, the student will risk losing the right to study. A high level of absence may lead to a lack of basis for grading/assessment.
  2. A longer period of absence due to illness, accidents, or the like, and that are documented via a sick note may, after a written application to the rector, grant exemption from compulsory attendance.
  3. A rejection to a student’s exemption from the attendance obligation is a single decision and can be appealed. See chapter 5 for information regarding the appeal procedure.
§ 1-5. Exclusion and expulsion
  1. A student who, despite written warning from the vocational school, repeatedly acts in a manner that is severely disruptive to the work of fellow students, or to the activities of the vocational school in any other way, may be expelled from the vocational school for up to one year, pending a decision from the Board of Appeal.
  2. If a student, despite written warning from the vocational school, does not comply with a decision regarding his/her expulsion, the Board of Appeal may decide to exclude the student from education for up to one year.
  3. The Board of Appeal may decide that a student, who has caused danger to life or health for, or has acted grossly unkind to, someone whom the student has met in connection with teaching or practical training, shall be excluded from vocational school’s education with clinical teaching and practical studies, and be deprived of the right to enter the exam for such education at the vocational school for up to three years. This same applies if a student has violated the statutory duty of confidentiality.
  4. The decision to expel or exclude a student can only be made with at least two-thirds majority of the Board of Appeal. If the processing of cases is delegated to the Local Board of Appeal, in accordance with Section 10 of the Tertiary Vocational Education Act, Exclusion and Expulsion, all 5 representatives must be present, and the decision can only be made with at least four votes.
  5. A student has the right to make a comment before a decision is made in a case regarding expulsion and exclusion.
  6. The decision is a single decision and can be appealed through the National Board of Appeal for vocational education.
§ 1-6. Use of students’ work
  1. Noroff is able to archive material that an individual student prepares in connection with assignments and projects, as part of the school's teaching program, and can reuse this material in the school’s teaching program, and for marketing purposes.
  2. The student has the right to oppose this reuse via written notice, in accordance with the first paragraph.

Amended by regulations on March 12, 2018, no. 503.


Chapter 2. Admission

§ 2-1. Admission
  1. The rector of the department that the application concerns is responsible for the admission of students.
  2. Admission after a prior learning assessment is conducted by the rector in collaboration with the Head of Studies of the program in question.
§ 2-2. Formal admission requirements
  1. Vocational education at the school is based on applicants having completed and passed upper secondary school or possessing equivalent prior learning, i.e. Level 4 in the National Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (NQF). The study plans and information about the studies on the school's website provide information about which educational programs from upper secondary school are required for admission to the various programs, as well as any other admission requirements.
§ 2-3. Admission based on a prior learning assessment
  1. Applicants who do not fulfill the formal admission requirements may apply for admission based on the recognition of prior learning. Prior learning is the competence that a person possesses through education, paid or unpaid work, organisational experience, recreational activities, etc. The study plan provides information about which competence and experience is considered relevant for each program.
  2. Applicants who are 23 or older during the year of admission may be accepted based on equivalent prior learning.
  3. In the case of prior learning, applicants must document sufficient skills in Norwegian and English in order to complete the course. The skills must be at a level that corresponds to the skills achieved by Norwegian Vg1 study preparation or Norwegian Vg2 vocational school program, as well as English Vg1 study preparation or English Vg2 vocation school program.
  4. If an applicant’s prior learning is assessed as being equal to the formal admission criteria, this assessment is also valid if the student applies for admission to the program years later. However, the decision is only valid in relation to the program as described in the study plan at the time of assessment. In the case of significant change to the study plan, Noroff reserves the right to conduct a new assessment, and may possibly change the decision.

Amended by regulation on 22 June 2018 no. 1311.

§ 2-4. Admission for applicants with foreign education/a different mother tongue
  1. Applicants with foreign education must possess qualifications that correspond to level 4 of NQF. The professional qualifications must correspond to the qualifications in the educational program from upper secondary school required for admission to the program in question.
  2. Applicants with an upper secondary school education from a country other than Norway or another Scandinavian country, who is seeking a study position taught in Norwegian, must document knowledge in Norwegian that is equivalent to Norwegian Vg1 study preparation, Norwegian Vg2 vocational school program, or have passed an examination in level 3 in Norwegian for foreign students at a university. or have passed the Norwegian test for adult immigrants from VOX.
§ 2-5. Procedure for admission to vocational school programs
  1. Application for admission to studies is registered via the application form on the school’s website.
  2. All practical, educational and other conditions that form the basis for admission must be documented with certified copies. Applicants who apply for admission on a formal basis must add a copy of their diploma from upper secondary school. Credentials for work experience must state the length of the employment, job percentage and work content. Credentials must be dated in order to be considered.
  3. The school uses rolling admissions, and applications are processed continuously. If several applicants apply for one position, qualified applicants will be placed on a waiting list in the order that the applications are received.
  4. Applicants for location-based studies, who receive an offer regarding a study position, accept the offer electronically via My Page within the given deadline. The contract is considered entered into from the time that the applicant accepts the offer of a study position.
  5. Applicants can apply for a study position before they have taken all the course examinations required for admission. In such cases, the applicant may receive conditional admission, pending his/her examination results. The applicant must upload diploma/confirmation of passed education in the school’s application system before the deadlines specified in the study offer. If this is not done, the offer of a study position expires.
  6. Within 14 days of entering the contract, students are able to terminate the study contract, in accordance with the regulations on the right of withdrawal under the Right of Withdrawal Act.
§ 2-6. Appeal rejection of admission application
  1. The decision of admission is a single decision and can be appealed. See chapter 5 for information regarding the appeal procedure.


Chapter 3. Recognition and exemption

§ 3-1. Recognition of courses
  1. Students can apply to have previously passed vocational school education approved as part of the education. The education must satisfy the academic requirements for the course or courses that recognition is being applied for. Only courses from other approved vocational schools within the same, or closely related, courses, and with the same number of vocational credits, will be recognised.
§ 3-2. Exemption of parts of the program
  1. Students can apply for exemption for parts of the program. Exemption is given based on documented equivalent competence. Relevant competence may be e.g. foreign education, folk high school, adult education, or higher education in equivalent or related courses.
  2. Exemption can also be given based on the recognition of prior learning.
  3. Exemption is not usually given for education at an upper secondary education level.
§ 3-3. Assessment procedure for recognition and exemption
  1. Application for recognition or exemption must contain the necessary documentation of the scope and content of the course that the student wishes to be credited. Examples of documentation are diploma, certificate of competence, course certificates, credentials, study plans, portfolio/work folder, etc.
  2. The Head of Studies of the program in question will conduct a professional assessment of the submitted documentation.
  3. The basis for assessments of recognition and exemption are the learning outcomes for the relevant education or subject, and the vocational school credits or other assessments of scope, level and workload. If the education or course does not contain learning outcome descriptions, the student must document the learning outcomes upon availability of the study plan.
  4. The Head of Admissions makes a decision on a recommendation from the Head of Studies.
§ 3-4. Appeal rejection of application for recognition or exemption
  1. The decision of recognition and exemption is a single decision and can be appealed. See chapter 5 for information regarding the appeal procedure.


Chapter 4. Examination

§ 4-1. Examination and assessment methods
  1. The vocational school’s programs use the following examination and assessment methods:
    1. Written school examination
    2. Oral examination
    3. Home examination
    4. Course assessment
    5. Semester assessment
    6. Portfolio assessment.
  2. The examinations and assessment methods mentioned are described in their own guidelines.
§ 4-2. Grades and diploma
  1. Noroff Vocational School uses both a grading scale (A to F) and passed/failed (P/F) as assessment methods. When Noroff Vocational School uses the grading scale passed/failed, this must be an independent assessment method without connection to the grading scale A-F.
  2. Noroff Vocational School has established the following general descriptions for the legal grading scale:
    A Outstanding Outstanding performance that clearly stands out. The student shows a great level of independence.
    B Very good Very good performance that is above the average. The student shows the ability for independence.
    C Good Average performance that is satisfactory in most areas.
    D Satisfactory Performance below the average, with some significant shortcomings.
    E Adequate Performance that meets the minimum requirements, but no more.
    F Failed Performance that does not satisfy the minimum requirements.
  3. The examination grades will normally be published on My Pages within 20 (twenty) business days after the exam.
  4. Once the education is completed and passed, a diploma will be sent via the post to the student’s home, as soon as all the appeal processes have been completed.
  5. The student is responsible for keeping abreast of his/her examination results throughout the school year.
  6. The school documents completed and passed vocational school education with diplomas.
    1. The issuance of a diploma presupposes that the tuition fee is paid in full.
    2. The school only issues one diploma to each student.
    3. A fee will be charged when ordering a new diploma (duplicate).
§ 4-3. Conditions for writing the examination
  1. The student has the write to write the final exam when he/she has:
    1. accepted the study contract and purchase conditions by accepting the offer of a study position
    2. paid overdue registration fees and overdue school fees
    3. passed all compulsory work requirements as described in the study plan and/or the course description at least 14 days before the examination.
§ 4-4. Examination information and registration for the exam
  1. The students’ semester plan, available on the school’s learning platform, states the examination periods that appear in the study plan.
  2. Students are automatically registered for the exams that appear in the study plan.
  3. Students who do not wish to write an exam that they are registered for must opt out of the exam on their own. A student who leaves during the examination for no reason, or who fails to attend without having opted out of the exam, is considered to have attended the examination.
  4. The Head of Studies will appoint the examiner(s). The examiners will be internal, external, or a combination of these, as stated in the study plan. The examinations and assessment methods mentioned are described in their own guidelines.
  5. If several examiners are to be used, it must be decided in advance who has the final say in the case of grading disagreements. It is the external examiner who has the final say should there be a disagreement between the examiners concerning a grade.
§ 4-5. Mitigating circumstances
  1. Students who, for medical or other reasons, consider themselves eligible for extended time when writing the exam, and/or need special aids/assistance, must apply for this.
    1. The application form is published on the website and must be submitted within the given deadlines.
    2. In the event of acute injuries/illnesses, an application can be submitted as soon as possible after the need has arisen.
    3. The application must be documented with a medical certificate, or other relevant documentation.
  2. A student with valid absence during the home examination may receive an extended deadline.
    1. A extension will not exceed 14 days.
    2. Application for an extended deadline during the home examination must be sent to the school’s administration via email.
    3. If the student is unable to deliver at the time of the new extended deadline due to valid absence, the student must re-write the exam in accordance with § 4-7.
  3. The decision is a single decision and can be appealed. See chapter 5 for information regarding the appeal procedure.
§ 4-6. Illness or absence from an examination
  1. Being absent from an examination, or not submitting an assignment due to illness, must be documented with a medical certificate.
    1. Other reasons that prevent the student from attending or delivering before the submission deadline, e.g. the serious illness or death of a close family member, must also be documented.
    2. If the absence cannot be documented, the student is considered to have attended the examination.
    3. Documented absence is considered to be valid absence.
  2. If the student becomes ill during a written school examination, he/she may leave the room.
    1. A sick leave notification for the examination must be sent to the school’s administration within 48 hours to prevent the absence from counting as an exam attempt.
§ 4-7. Re-examination
  1. A student has the right to re-examination within the first calendar year after the regular examination.
    1. An examination can only be re-written 2 (two) times.
    2. In the cases where changes to subject content or subject composition are made, it will be possible to re-write 1 (one) time, in accordance with the old scheme.
  2. Students who have failed the exam, or who wish to improve their grades, can write the re-examination.
  3. Students must register for a new examination themselves.
  4. The re-examination entails a re-examination fee. Students who have valid absence from an examination are able to re-write the new exam free of charge.
  5. Re-examinations are usually conducted during re-examination periods that the school arranges each semester. For some courses, it may be necessary to wait until the next usual examination period.
§ 4-8. Appeal of a grade
  1. The student has the right to receive a reason for a grade.
    1. In the case of an oral examination or the assessment of practical skills, the requirements for such a reason must be submitted immediately after the grade has been given.
    2. If the grade is announced electronically and the student demands a reason in the same manner, the demand for a reason must given within one week after the grade was announced.
    3. In the event of a different type of announcement, the demand for a reason must be given within one week after the student became aware of the grade, but no longer than three weeks after the grade was announced.
    4. A The demand for the reason for a grade must be sent to the study unit in question.
  2. The reason must be given within two weeks of receiving the student’s request.
    1. If the reason cannot be given within two weeks, the student must be notified of this and, at the same time, be told when to expect the reason.
    2. The reason shall state the general principles on which the assessment is based, as well as the assessment on which the student's performance is based.
    3. The reason can be given verbally or in writing.
  3. If written guidelines have been provided for the assessment, these must be available to the students after the grade has been determined.
  4. A student can submit a written complaint regarding his/her grade within three weeks after the examination results have been announced. Complaints about grades must be sent to the school’s administration within 3 (three) weeks after the grade is made known to the student, or 3 (three) weeks after the student has received the reason for the grade. The complaint must be dated, and should contain a reason for the complaint.
  5. The assessment of an oral presentation and assessment of practical teaching, or the like, which, by their nature cannot be verified, cannot be appealed.
  6. The grade from a new examiner cannot be appealed.
  7. In the event of a grade complaint, a new assessment must be made. The Head of Studies will appoint new examiner(s), of which at least one must be external. In the event of a new assessment, the examiners will not receive the original grade, the examiner’s reason for this grade, or the student’s reason for the complaint.
  8. Changes may be made that can be both a benefit or disadvantage to the appealing student. If the final grade is determined based on of both written and oral examination, and the grade changes after a new assessment of the written part of the examination, a new oral examination will be held to determine the final grade.
  9. The assessment should be available within three weeks, unless special reasons make it necessary to use more time.
§ 4-9. Complaints about formal errors during the examination
  1. Students who have written the exam are permitted to complain about formal errors in exam assignments and/or examination procedure. Complaints about formal errors during the exam must be submitted in writing at the latest within three (3) weeks after the examination has occurred. Formal error may include errors in the examination assignment, the examination procedure, or the implementation by the examiner.
  2. If the complaint process reveals that errors have been made that may have had an impact on the student's performance, or the assessment thereof, the assessment must be canceled and a new assessment must be made.
  3. A new examiner (s) must be used for a new assessment. The grade established by a new assessment under this section may be appealed in accordance to the rules in § 4-8.
  4. If the formal errors in the examination or in the exam procedure are of such a nature that it must be canceled, the student must attend a new examination free of charge.
  5. The Board of Appeal at Noroff Vocational School is the appeal committee for decisions under this section.
§ 4-10. Annulment of an examination
    1. The Board of Appeal may annul the result of an examination, test, or other work that is assessed with a grade, that a student has been allowed to attend by using a false diploma, other false documents, or other forms of fraudulent conduct. The same applies to the approval of a course that a student has been allowed to participate in on an equivalent wrongful basis. The Board of Appeal may also annul the result of an examination, test or similar, and the passing of a course if a student has intentionally or grossly negligently cheated, or intentionally attempted to cheat, in connection with the examination, the test or the like, or during the completion of the course.
    2. The Board of Appeal may annul the recognition or exemption received by using a false diploma, other false documents, or other forms of fraudulent conduct.
    3. Decisions regarding annulment pursuant to points (1) and (2) may be appealed by the student to the National Board of Appeals for vocational education.
    4. The access to annulment does not become obsolete.
    5. After a decision has been made regarding a annulment, any diplomas or transcripts must be returned to the vocational school.
    6. Actions or conditions that are aimed at giving the student, or a fellow student, an unwarranted advantage are considered cheating. The same applies to actions that result in the student’s, or a fellow student’s, knowledge and skills not being tested and assessed in an impartial and academically sound way.

      Examples of cheating are:
      1. submitting an assignment that has been downloaded from the Internet, and in part, or in whole, presented as one’s own assignment
      2. submitting work that is in part, or in whole, created by persons other than the student
      3. submitting work that has been completely, or in part, used by the student during a previous examination or test
      4. to reproduce/cite textbooks, other academic books, other people's assignments, material retrieved from the Internet, etc. that has been presented without source reference or quotation marks
      5. to have illicit aids available during an examination or test.

      This list is not exhaustive.

 

  1. In the event of a written examination at the school, or other approved venues, any cheating or attempts at cheating will be reported, in writing, by the examination invigilator to the Head of Studies.
§ 4-11. Return of assignments
  1. Practical assignments must be fetched at the school once the appeal deadline has passed. Further information on the deadline for fetching assignments will be given before the final assessment.
  2. Once the deadline for fetching an assignment has passed, the assignment will be shredded.
  3. The assignments must be fetched personally, or by others with authorisation from the student.
  4. The assignments will not be returned via the post.


Chapter 5. Appeal procedure

§ 5-1. Right of appeal
  1. A student has the right to appeal all single decisions made by the school. All single decisions must be in writing and contain a reason for the decision.
  2. If the reason is not presented with the decision, the student can contact the person who made the decision and ask for a reason.
§ 5-2. Deadline for complaints and appeal addressee
  1. The deadline for complaints of all single decisions is 3 (three) weeks after notification of the decision has been received by the party, cf. further provisions of the Administrative Law.
  2. If the student has asked for a reason for the decision, the appeal deadline applies from the time in which the reason has been received, or when he/she has otherwise been made acquainted with the decision.
  3. The complaint is addressed to the authority who made the decision.
§ 5-3. Contents of the appeal
  1. An appeal must be made in writing and contain information regarding the decision that is being appealed, and the change that is desired to the decision being appealed.
  2. The appeal must be justified.
  3. The appeal must be signed and dated.
§ 5-4. Guidance, help and support
  1. The school must inform the student of his/her right to appeal, the appeal deadline, the appellate, the procedure of the appeal, as well as the right to view the case’s documents. This information must be given in all single decisions.
  2. The student may receive help and support from the school’s administration to prepare a written complaint. If the complaint applies to a disciplinary sanction, the student has the right to be assisted in all stages of the case procedure, for example by the Board’s student representative.
§ 5-5. The appellate
  1. Noroff’s central administration establishes a Board of Appeal on behalf of the Board at Noroff Vocational School. The Board of Appeal shall have a composition that meets the requirements of Section 5-1 (1) of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, and Section 13 of the Tertiary Vocational Education Act.
  2. The Board of Appeal at Noroff Vocational School has five members with personal deputies:
    1. The Head and the Head’s Deputy Member must meet the statutory requirements for team judges.
    2. The Head and the Head’s Deputy Member shall not be employed by the institution.
    3. Two of the members must be employees.
    4. Two of the members must be students.
  3. In the event of a complaint regarding grading, new examiner(s) will be appointed. Such complaints must not be processed by the appellate. See § 4-8 for more information.


Chapter 6. Other provisions

§ 6-1. Detailed rules
  1. The Board may establish supplementary regulations, general administrative provisions for conducting admissions, studies and examinations, for the processing of cases regarding cheating, and for the issuance of degrees and diplomas.
§ 6-2. Commencement
  1. (1) The regulation comes into force on 20 October, 2017.

In the event of differing interpretation of the text in this ENGLISH version of the School regulation, The NORWEGIAN version has precedence.

     
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