Bergen School of Architecture Meets All Requirements for Accreditation as a University College

Bergen School of Architecture (BAS) has now been accredited as a university college after NOKUT approved the institution's systematic quality assurance work.

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Logo: Bergen School of Architecture (BAS)
Logo: Bergen School of Architecture (BAS)

One of the requirements for institutional accreditation is that the systematic quality assurance work is approved by NOKUT. BAS’s application for university college accreditation was assessed by an expert committee and reviewed by NOKUT’s board in February 2024. The board decided that accreditation could be granted once the systematic quality assurance work was approved. NOKUT approved the systematic quality assurance work last week.

– We congratulate BAS on its institutional accreditation, which means they will have authority to accredit their own study programs at bachelor-level. NOKUT’s approval allows BAS to apply to the Ministry of Education for a change in institutional category. The final decision on the change in status will be made by the King in Council, says NOKUT Director Kristin Vinje.

The expert committee that evaluated the application for university college accreditation highlighted in its assessment that BAS contributes high-quality research and artistic development work and has made its mark internationally. BAS also has satisfactory student throughput and is organized in a way that suits its academic activities.

After BAS addressed certain deficiencies in its systematic quality assurance work, the expert committee concluded that BAS now has satisfactory quality assurance. NOKUT has approved the accreditation application in accordance with the committee’s recommendations.

Accreditation as a university college means that the institution can now accredit its own bachelor-level programs.

  • Abstract

    Norway’s national agency for quality assurance in Education (NOKUT) was established in 2003 with the mandate to review both the quality practices and the quality assurance work at the country’s higher education institutions. NOKUT abides by the European Standards and Guidelines 2015 (ESG) which are operationalized in three pieces of national legislation: the central Act relating to universities and university colleges, the ministerial Quality Assurance Regulations and NOKUT’s own Academic Supervision Regulations.

    The reviews are periodical in nature and each institution gets called upon every six to eight years. NOKUT appoints expert committees for these reviews who, in the first phase, examine targeted documentation from each institution, consisting of strategy, framework and implementation of internal quality assurance systems and systematic quality work. The second phase is a site visit where the committee interviews key stakeholders such as the leadership group, relevant faculty members, administrative staff and students. If the expert committee concludes that the institution falls short of the ESG criteria as operationalized in the laws and acts, i.e., non-compliant, NOKUT might limit the institutions’ accreditation rights.

    Bergen School of Architecture (BAS) was established in 1986 as a private foundation and has received government funding from 1996. BAS’ architecture programme, as well as the architecture programmes in Oslo and Trondheim which BAS is an alternative to, were recognised under EUs council directive for architecture in 2001. BAS offers a single master’s programme in architecture and has 165 students and approximately 20 man-years.

    NOKUT reviewed BAS for the third time in 2023–2024, and the committee concluded that BAS’ quality work was only partially compliant with the national regulations and BAS’ own routines. Hence, BAS had to document that it systematically monitors that the master’s programme meets the requirements in section 3-1 and 3-3 of the Quality Assurance Regulations and section 2 in the Academic Supervision Regulations within 1 July 2024. After reviewing the new documentation from BAS, the committee has concluded that BAS’ quality work is now compliant with the national regulations.

  • Abstract

    Norway’s national agency for quality assurance in Education (NOKUT) was established in 2003 with the mandate to review both the quality practices and the quality assurance work at the country’s higher education institutions. NOKUT is also the accreditation agency governing accreditation of new institutions and degree programmes. Norway has four categories of higher education institutions (HEI), with the designation “university” having the fullest mandate. Institutions cannot either become an HEI or move within the four categories of HEIs without an accreditation from NOKUT. NOKUT abides by the European Standards and Guidelines 2015 (ESG) which are operationalized in three pieces of national legislation: the central Act relating to universities and university colleges, the ministerial Quality Assurance Regulations and NOKUT’s own Academic Supervision Regulations.

    A university college without accreditation applying to become an accredited university college must fulfil all relevant requirements as per the regulations listed above. To ensure this, NOKUT appoints an expert committee to assess the institution. Based on its comprehensive review of the institution’s organization, quality assurance practices and results and a two-day site visit, the committee submits a final report with its recommendation to NOKUT. The report details whether the institution has demonstrated a capability to carry the weight of the mandate a university college designation implies.

    Bergen School of Architecture (BAS) was established in 1986 as a private foundation and has received government funding from 1996. BAS’ architecture programme, as well as the architecture programmes in Oslo and Trondheim which BAS is an alternative to, were recognised under EUs council directive for architecture in 2001. BAS offers a single master’s programme in architecture and has 165 students and approximately 20 man-years.

    On 2 February 2023, BAS applied to NOKUT for accreditation as a university college. NOKUT carried out a review of BAS’ quality assurance practices and quality assurance work simultaneous with the handling of the application, and the same expert committee took part in both processes. The committee first concluded that BAS’ quality assurance work was only partially compliant with the national regulations. After reviewing new documentation from BAS, the committee has, however, concluded that BAS’ quality assurance work is now compliant with national regulations.

    The committee therefore concludes that all requirements for accreditation as a university college are met, and that BAS is able to discharge the duties of an accredited university college.


When applying for institutional accreditation, NOKUT requires that the institution meets the criteria for accredited programs set out in the study supervision regulations. An expert committee assesses whether the requirements in the regulations from the Ministry of Education and NOKUT are satisfactorily met. The assessment is based on written documentation and site visits to the institution.

About Bergen School of Architecture (BAS)

Bergen School of Architecture (BAS) is a private university college offering one accredited program, a five-year master's in architecture. The school is organized as a foundation and was established in 1986. BAS was first granted examination rights under the Private Schools Act in 1990 and received state funding in 1996. In 2001, the architecture program was approved under the EU’s Architects Directive. At the time of application in 2023, BAS had approximately 165 students and 21 man-years.

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