# Credit transfer: use foreign courses in a Norwegian degree

Studied abroad? Learn who assesses credit transfer, which documents you need and how previous courses can count towards a Norwegian degree.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/innpassing-utenlandsk-utdanning-studiepoeng
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-07T22:17:50.16+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-07T22:17:50.214932+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- The institution assesses courses within the degree Credit transfer depends on the Norwegian degree and the content of education you have already completed.
- A course description shows more than a grade Gather official documentation of content, level, volume and results before applying.
- Wait for a decision before changing your plan Clarify teaching and deadlines while the case is processed, and check registration afterwards.

Credit transfer for foreign education means that previous courses may become part of a Norwegian degree. Apply to the institution offering the degree. It assesses content, level and volume. Recognition from HK-dir does not automatically exempt you from specific courses.

## Who decides whether foreign courses can count?

The university or university college where you will study decides whether previous courses fit the degree. The assessment often takes place at the faculty or study programme.

An **emne** is an individual course within a programme. **Innpassing** means recognising previous education as part of the new degree. A **fritak** is an exemption from completing a particular course because relevant education has already been recognised.

Getting a study place and having previous courses recognised are separate matters. Admission alone does not entitle you to skip the first year. Credit transfer may also be less extensive than you hope.

Universitetet i Bergen (the University of Bergen), abbreviated UiB, has [guidance on recognition of previous education](https://www4.uib.no/for-studenter/dine-studier/godkjenning-av-tidligere-utdanning). It requires a study place and an active user account to apply. This is UiB's process as of 7 October 2026. Check your own institution's process.

SamfunnPrep's overview of [higher education in Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/hoyere-utdanning-lanekassen) explains admission and different study paths. After admission, you can investigate which parts of the education you have already covered.

## Is credit transfer the same as recognition from HK-dir?

No. General recognition from HK-dir assesses the education's level and volume, while the institution assesses which courses fit the particular degree.

HK-dir is Direktoratet for høyere utdanning og kompetanse, the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. Its [overview of recognition schemes](https://hkdir.no/utdanning-fra-utlandet/vare-godkjenningsordninger) explains that general recognition of foreign higher education is not an academic assessment of its content.

A letter stating that your bachelor's degree corresponds to a Norwegian bachelor's degree therefore does not automatically exempt you from a Norwegian statistics course. The institution must consider what you actually learned and what the Norwegian course requires.

General recognition, credit transfer and authorisation for a regulated profession have different purposes. A decision under one scheme does not necessarily settle the others. For background, see the guide to [recognition of foreign education](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/godkjenning-utenlandsk-utdanning).

## Which documents do you need for credit transfer?

You need documents showing both results and course content. A transcript alone may not be enough to compare two courses.

UiB requests documentation of volume, level and content at foreign institutions. The specific list may vary between programmes. Use your faculty's application guidance.

Consider gathering:

- a transcript showing course names and passed results
- a diploma or other confirmation of completed education
- an official course description from the year you took it
- information about the credit system and grading scale
- documentation of level and any practical placement
- translations if the institution requires them.

UiB's guidance allows official course syllabuses or information from the institution's online catalogue. Your own explanation may help the case officer, but does not necessarily replace official documentation.

Keep the originals and give files clear names. A name such as “Statistics_syllabus_2022” is easier to understand than “scan7”. Check that the webpage refers to the year you studied, rather than only today's course version.

## How do you show which courses fit?

Compare the learning outcomes of the previous course and the Norwegian one. A similar title alone does not show that courses have the same content or level.

Find the curriculum for the degree you have been admitted to. Mark courses you think your previous education can cover. Pay particular attention to compulsory courses, electives, placements and specialisation requirements.

A previous course may fit as an elective even if it does not cover a particular compulsory course. Ask how a possible decision affects the entire degree. The number of transferred credits and the number of compulsory courses you can skip are not always the same thing.

A simple worksheet might look like this:

| Previous course | Norwegian course or part of the degree | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| First-year statistics | Possible compulsory statistics course | Syllabus and transcript |
| Second-year language course | Possible elective | Syllabus showing level and volume |
| Final-year placement | Possible practical component | Description of tasks and duration |

The table is an application tool, not advance approval. The faculty decides what can count. Avoid converting foreign credits to Norwegian credits yourself without explaining the system.

## Can you stop attending while you wait?

Do not assume you have an exemption until you receive a decision or clear instructions from the institution. Ask what to do about teaching, compulsory activities and examination registration while the application is processed.

The waiting period may affect which deadlines you can meet. Ask for the expected processing time and notification of missing documentation. A submitted form does not mean the course is already recognised.

You can write: “I have applied for credit transfer in statistics. Must I attend teaching and submit compulsory assignments while the application is processed? Which deadlines must I meet to keep the option of taking the examination?”

Also clarify progression. Credit transfer may make some courses unnecessary, but does not necessarily give you a place in a later year group. Timetables, capacity and other admission requirements may still matter.

## What do you check after the decision?

Check which courses and credits were actually recognised and what you still need to take. Ask for an updated education plan if the decision changes your study path.

See whether the transfer concerns a specific course or elective credits. Check that the result is registered against the correct degree. At UiB, recognition from a previous programme may require a new assessment when you change programmes.

If the outcome is less than you expected, read the reasons. Follow the appeal information in the decision. Explain which information or academic comparisons you believe were not assessed.

A change in course load may affect support from Lånekassen, the state scheme for loans and grants. Clarify support based on the plan you will actually follow. Do not assume a shorter study path automatically gives the same payments.

Keep the decision with the documents you submitted. SamfunnPrep's [tools for life in Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy) can help with other practical tasks as you settle into student life.

## FAQ

### Who do I apply to for credit transfer?

Apply to the university or university college offering the degree. The faculty or study programme usually assesses the courses.

### Does HK-dir recognition automatically give an exemption?

No. General recognition assesses level and volume, not whether content covers particular courses in the degree.

### Is a transcript enough?

Not always. The institution may also need official course descriptions and information about level and the credit system.

### Can I skip teaching while the application is processed?

Do not assume you have an exemption. Ask the institution how to follow teaching and deadlines while you wait.

### Can credit transfer change Lånekassen support?

Yes, changes in courses or credits may affect support. Clarify your actual education plan with Lånekassen.

## Sources

- [Godkjenning av tidligere utdanning](https://www4.uib.no/for-studenter/dine-studier/godkjenning-av-tidligere-utdanning)
- [Våre godkjenningsordninger](https://hkdir.no/utdanning-fra-utlandet/vare-godkjenningsordninger)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Credit transfer: use foreign courses in a Norwegian degree", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-07T22:17:50.16+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/innpassing-utenlandsk-utdanning-studiepoeng