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About the recognition

You can apply for this recognition if you have higher education from abroad (outside of Norway).

Recently edited : 7. August 2024

Your credential is assessed towards Norwegian higher education. If it meets the requirements for approval, it can be recognised in terms of level and scope.

We do not evaluate:

  • The academic content of the education

We do not recognise:

  • Norwegian higher education
  • Studies with a scope of less than one semester

About the recognition procedure

This is a recognition service for persons with higher education from outside of Norway.

We assess whether your education can be considered equivalent to Norwegian higher education. If your education meets the requirements, you will receive an assessment detailing the level and scope of the education and whether it corresponds to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD.

General recognition of higher education is a voluntary tool for individuals seeking to enter the Norwegian job market.

The legal basis for our recognition service is outlined in the Act relating to universities and university colleges (lov om universiteter og høyskoler) and the Regulations on general recognition of foreign higher education (forskrift om generell godkjenning av utenlandsk høyere utdanning).

You can find the law and regulation on the website lovdata.no (in Norwegian):

How can I use a general recognition of my foreign higher education?

You can use our decision when applying for jobs in professions that are not regulated. It is up to the individual employer if they require you to have recognition from us or not.

The recognition document can also be used as an aid in salary placement.

In addition, the recognition document may be used in connection with admission to further studies in higher education, but you do not normally need recognition from us to apply for admission to higher education in Norway.

Automatic recognition – a quicker alternative

The Directorate for Higher Education and Skills has prepared standardised statements confirming that certain educational degrees from selected counties are considered automatically recognised by us. The document is ready for use right away when you have downloaded it.

The automatic recognition is a available for certain educational degress from selected countries. Read more about automatic recognition.

Regulated professions

Please be aware that your education may require a special authorisation. If it is a regulated profession, a different form of recognition will be necessary. Check the list of regulated professions.