Supplementary provisions for examinations and examinees at VID Specialized University

Adopted by the Prorector for Education on 20 November 2024, and revised 2 September 2025.

The supplementary provisions are based on Act No. 9 of 8 March 2024 relating to Universities and University Colleges (Universities and University Colleges Act) and the Regulations of 4 June 2024 relating to Admission, Studies, Examinations and Degrees at VID Specialized University.

 

1 Adaptation of examinations and alternative forms of assessment

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of adapting examinations or alternative forms of assessment is to compensate for the disadvantages students face, while ensuring, as far as possible, that students are tested equally. Academic requirements shall be the same as for ordinary assessment, see Section 6-11 of the Regulations relating to Admission, Studies, Examinations and Degrees at VID Specialized University.

 

1.2 Documentation

(1) The need for adaptation must be documented by a doctor or other experts, cf. Section 6-11 of the Regulations relating to Admission, Studies, Examinations and Degrees at VID Specialized University. The medical certificate must specify the need for adaptation or alternative form of assessment in examination situations. The documentation must be of recent date, usually no older than two years.

(2) Documentation of reading and writing difficulties must be in the form of a report with a conclusion and recommendation based on an assessment of the student’s reading and writing difficulties. The report may be more than two years old. A medical certificate is not regarded as valid documentation of reading and writing difficulties.

(3) If the above-mentioned documentation is not submitted, the application will be rejected.

 

1.3 Application deadline

(1) Students who for medical or other reasons have a need for adaptation shall apply for this no later than four weeks before the examination starts.

(2) In the event of acute illness or worsening of chronic illness, adaptation of the examination may be granted even though the application deadline has expired. The medical certificate must document that the illness is of an acute nature or has worsened. The medical certificate must also specify the type of adaptation needed.

 

 

2 Various forms of adaptation

2.1 Extension

(1) For written examinations with invigilation (in-person examinations), an additional 10 minutes will be granted for each hour of the allotted time for the examination.

(2) For written examinations without invigilation (home examinations), additional time will be granted according to the following principles, based on the allotted time for the examination as specified in the course description:

a) Examinations lasting up to 72 hours – 10 minutes per hour of allotted time for the exam

b) Examinations lasting up to 1 week (168 hours) – original time of submission + 24 hours

c) Examinations lasting up to 2 weeks (336 hours) – original time of submission + 48 hours

d) Examinations lasting up to 3 weeks (504 hours) – original time of submission + 72 hours

e) Examinations lasting up to 4 weeks (672 hours) – original time of submission + 96 hours

f) Examinations lasting more than 4 weeks (672 hours) including bachelor’s theses – if the student becomes ill during the final four weeks prior to the submission deadline, the student may be granted an extension of up to 1 week (168 hours) beyond the original time of submission for the days covered by a medical certificate.

g) Master’s theses – if the student becomes ill during the final four weeks prior to the submission deadline, the student may be granted an extension of up to 2 weeks (336 hours) beyond the original time of submission for the days covered by a medical certificate.

(3) No extension is given for a group examination. An exception is made in the case of bachelor’s and master’s theses if the group consists of 2 persons, and one of them becomes ill:

a) Bachelor’s theses – if one of the students in the group becomes ill during the final four weeks prior to the submission deadline, the group may be granted an extension of up to one week (168 hours) beyond the original time of submission for the days covered by a medical certificate.

b) Master’s theses – if one or more of the students in the group becomes ill during the final four weeks prior to the submission deadline, the group may be granted an extension of up to 2 weeks (336 hours) beyond the original time of submission for the days covered by a medical certificate.

(4) No additional time is given for oral examinations during the questioning/presentation. In the case of an oral exam with preparation time where the task is handed out on the exam day, the following applies:

a) Individual examinations: 5 minutes additional time if the preparation time is less than 30 minutes. If the preparation time is from 30 to 60 minutes, 10 minutes additional time is granted.
b) Group examinations: no extension is granted.

 

2.2 Adaption of examinations for students with reading and writing difficulties

Examples of types of adaptation that can be granted include:

a) Extension (see subsection 2.1)

b) Loan of a PC with reading and writing software (applies to written in-person examinations)

 

2.3 Adaptation of examinations for students with dyscalculia  

Students with dyscalculia may be granted an extension (see subsection 2.1) if the examination for which an application is made requires considerable numeracy skills.

 

2.4 Bilingual dictionary  

Students whose native language is not Norwegian can apply to use bilingual dictionaries for examinations with invigilation throughout their entire period of study. VID may require that dictionaries be handed in prior to the examination so that they can be checked. The dictionary will be handed back to the candidate at the start of the examination.

 

2.5 Other

Other forms of practical adaptation of the examination can be applied for.

 

2.6. Alternative forms of assessment

Application can be made to take the examination in a different form to that which is stipulated in the course description.

 

 

3 Requirements relating to a candidate’s own computer

3.1 All candidates are responsible for having a computer available to use during the examination.

 

3.2 For digital in-person and home examinations, candidates are responsible for preparing their own computer for the examination. Candidates must themselves ensure that their computer meets the applicable system requirements.

 

3.3 Prior to a digital in-person examination, candidates must download the latest version of Lockdown Browser to their laptop computer by taking a demo test on VID’s digital examination system.

 

3.4 The candidates are responsible for the functioning of their own computer during the examination. VID does not offer technical support for a student’s machine on the day of an exam.

 

3.5 System requirements and information regarding digital examinations are published on VID’s website.

 

 

4 Provisions for examinees taking written examinations with invigilation (in-person examinations)

4.1 The candidate is not permitted to enter the examination venue until the invigilators are in attendance.

 

4.2 The candidate shall attend the examination venue no later than 30 minutes before the examination starts. Candidates who arrive after the examination has started must consult an invigilator. Candidates who arrive more than 30 minutes late will only be permitted to sit the examination in special cases. Candidates will not receive additional time to compensate for late arrival.

 

4.3 Bags, outerwear, turned-off mobile phones, wristwatches and other items shall be placed in the specified area. The only items that may be taken to the assigned seat before the start of the exam are ID, writing materials, permitted examination aids, food and beverages. The candidate may not write or note down anything before the examination starts.

4.4 All permitted examination aids that are brought to the examination venue will be checked before the examination starts. The candidate is responsible for obtaining the permitted examination aids. Borrowing examination aids from other candidates is not permitted.

 

4.5 No extra computer equipment is permissible.

 

4.6 The candidate shall present a valid photo ID when registering attendance. The Student ID smartphone app cannot be used as valid ID for a written in-person examination.

 

4.7 In the event that an in-person examination is not undertaken digitally, candidates shall only use the sheets of paper provided. Candidates must use black or blue ballpoint pen, and are themselves responsible for ensuring that all copies are legible.

 

4.8 No form of communication between the candidates is permitted during the examination. Contact with persons outside the examination venue is not permitted. The candidate must consult one of the invigilators if they have questions.

 

4.9 During the examination, the candidate may only leave the examination venue accompanied by an invigilator. The candidate is not permitted to leave the venue for the first 30 minutes after the examination has started.

 

4.10 Section 6-5 of the Regulations relating to Admission, Studies, Examinations and Degrees at VID Specialized University applies in the event of illness, withdrawal, blank answers and the like.

 

4.11 Candidates must notify an invigilator when they wish to submit their exam script. The candidate must remain seated until the invigilator has checked that the candidate has logged out of the digital examinations system.

 

4.12 Should an in-person examination not be digital, all writing on the exam script shall cease as soon as the examination time expires. The candidate has up to 15 minutes of additional time to fill out the necessary information on the answer sheets. The candidate is responsible for entering their candidate number on all answer sheets. When self-copying examination answer sheets are used, the candidate is responsible for separating and sorting the sheets.

 

4.13 The candidate shall leave the examination venue immediately after the exam script and unused answer sheets are handed in. The candidate may take the question paper, one copy of the exam script and any used rough workings paper with them when they leave. Exam scripts that have been handed in will not be returned to the candidate under any circumstances.

 

 

5 Provisions for examinees taking oral examinations

5.1 The candidate shall arrive no later than 15 minutes before the specified time.

 

5.2 The candidate must present a valid student identification card or valid photo ID.

 

5.3 Candidates who wish to receive an explanation of the reasoning on which their grade is based must request this as soon as the grade is announced.

 

5.4 Special provisions relating to digital oral examinations:

1. On the day of the examination, the candidate must log on to the specified digital examination system 15 minutes prior to the start of the examination.
2. Candidates are themselves responsible for ensuring that their own equipment is functioning correctly on the day of the examination: pc, microphone, sound, camera and the internet.
3. If the requirements in relation to technical equipment are not met, the candidate may not be allowed to sit the exam.
4. The candidate must be able to show the examiner around the room if required. The camera and microphone must be switched on throughout the exam.
5. Sound and video recordings are not permitted during the exam.
6. If a student experiences an unforeseen technical problem during an exam, they must immediately get in touch with their contact person at the faculty. An individual assessment is carried out in each case of whether the student should be allowed to resit the exam at a later time or sit a rescheduled examination.

 

 

6 Provisions for written examinations without invigilation (home examination, portfolio assessment etc.)

6.1 Candidates are personally responsible for ensuring that their computer and other aids function satisfactorily. No extension will be granted on the basis of technical problems, for example of a computing/IT nature.

 

6.2 The exam script shall be submitted with the standard cover page where the student’s candidate number, course code and number of words must be given. The candidate number for individual examinations can be found on Studentweb.

 

6.3 The exam script must be submitted within the specified deadline. Exam scripts delivered after the specified deadline will be rejected, and no supplementary material can be submitted after this. Candidates are personally responsible for ensuring that the correct file has been submitted.

 

6.4 For group examinations, one member submits the exam script on behalf of the entire group. All members of the group must check that they are registered in the correct group and that the correct exam script has been uploaded.

 

 

7. Improving grades

7.1 Students may sit an exam up to three times including for the purpose of improving their grade. A fourth attempt to improve a grade is not permitted.

 

7.2 A student who wishes to improve a grade can register for an ordinary or rescheduled exam. Rescheduled exams are only arranged if there are students who have valid absence or who have failed the ordinary examination.

 

7.3 Students who wish to improve their grades must pay the applicable examination fee. This will not be returned.

 

7.4 Students who have written a bachelor’s or master’s thesis may improve their grade. Students who wish to improve their grade should submit a revised version of the thesis at the second attempt. See the guidelines for bachelor’s and master’s degree theses. Students who have participated in a group thesis can improve their grade as a group. In cases where some of the group members do not wish to improve their grade, one or more of the group members may edit the exam script. It is a proviso that the group members have consented to this beforehand in the group exam contract they have entered into.