Accreditation

Since 2003, formal accreditation of institutions of higher education, spesific degree programmes and other programmes in Norway has been subject to the authority of NOKUT (the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education), an independent Norwegian government agency established by law in 2002.

Before 2003 accreditation of institutions as well as academic programmes was given by decision of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research.

As a state owned university college (Norwegian: høgskole), TUC is accredited to establish undergraduate programmes (4 year teacher education, 3-year bachelor's degree programmes or shorter programmes) under the authority of the Board. Accreditation is based on standard quality criteria set by NOKUT. Furthermore, TUC has special accreditation by NOKUT for several master’s degree and Ph.D. programmes (see list below).

Telemark University College has fully implemented the European standard of degrees, grading and credit system - 3 yr. bachelor’s degree programmes, 2 yr. master’s degree programmes and 3 yr. Ph.D. programmes. In addition, TUC offers the standard 4 yr. Norwegian Teacher Education Certificate. A full-time one year work-load for a student is 60 credits (European standard), and the grade marks are A (excellent) – F (fail to pass). E is the lowest passing grade.

About the Norwegian accreditation system

Generally speaking, under the Norwegian University and Colleges Act, an accredited full university may establish any academic programme of any duration, at any academic level and within any academic discipline or profession (short-term programmes, bachelor’s degree programmes, master’s degree programmes and Ph.D. programmes).

An accredited university college may establish any undergraduate programme and any bachelor’s degree programme it finds suitable. In addition, a university college may establish selected master’s degree programmes or Ph.D. programmes subject to the accreditation of NOKUT and the final decision of the Ministry of Education. Institutions with an accredited Ph.D. programme, may establish any master’s degree programmes within the subject area covered by this particular Ph.D. programme.

All institutions are required to maintain a system for Quality Assurance in Education, monitored by NOKUT. In addition, NOKUT sets the standards and criteria for the content of any degree programme, and will also regularly review and secure re-accreditation for any regular educational programme (bachelor -ph.d levels).

For more information on the Norwegian system of higher education, accreditation and quality assurance in higher education, see NOKUT’s web-site through the right-hand box "External Links".

For a full description of our academic programmes, see our online prospectus by clicking on the link under "Related Pages" to the right.