Higher education
NOKUT accredits higher education study programmes and higher education institutions. NOKUT also conducts supervisions of once accredited programmes and institutions and carries out periodic reviews of institutional quality assurance practices.
Accreditation of study programmes
NOKUT receives applications for study programme accreditation from university colleges and vocational colleges which do not have self-accrediting rights. With the help from appointed expert committees, NOKUT assesses whether these study programmes comply with existing rules and regulations. Based on the assessments, study programmes may or may not be established. A site visit is included if it concerns the establishment of PhD programmes.
Accreditation of institutions
Higher education institutions without full self-accrediting rights may apply for status as accredited university college, specialized university, or university. An expert committee assesses whether the institution meet the formal requirements for self-accreditation rights, based on the application and a site visit. In case of a positive decision by NOKUT, the institution can then apply for the change of its institutional status. Such a change will be formally approved by the King in the Council of State.
Periodic reviews and supervision
NOKUT has the mandate to conduct periodic reviews and supervisions to ensure quality assurance and quality enhancement at the institutions. This includes supervisions of different accreditations at institutional, discipline and programme level and periodic reviews of institutional quality assurance practices. The decisions stemming from these supervisions can result in mandatory revisions for the institution, loss of self-accreditation rights and/or the right to apply to NOKUT for the accreditation of study programmes or a different institutional status.