The study programme portfolio must be developed within the framework set by legislation, regulations, political guidelines and NTNU's strategy. The Regulations to the Universities and University Colleges Act are particularly important.

NTNU's portfolio policy

The faculties' long-term plans for portfolio development and specific proposals for changes to the study programme portfolio must be based on the “Policy for Quality and Development of the Study Programme Portfolio”. The policy supports NTNU's strategy and provides a basis for making sound strategic choices that strengthen the quality of the study programme portfolio and in each individual educational provision.

When deciding whether to establish, continue, change or discontinue educational provision, NTNU places particular emphasis on five prioritized quality areas:

• Strategic significance
• One university in three cities
• Learning environment
• Academic sustainability
• Financial sustainability

Policy for Quality and Development of the Study Programme Portfolio (NTNU's portfolio policy)

The faculties' long-term plans for developing the study programme portfolio form part of the quality report to the rector. The plans describe the development and follow-up of the faculty's overall study programme portfolio over a three to five year period, in light of the quality areas in NTNU's portfolio policy. They are updated annually.

The long-term plans for portfolio development are the starting point for establishing and discontinuing educational provision. They must set out plans for development work and specific portfolio changes. This allows strategic relevance to be discussed as part of the education dialogue and relevant executive committees to be involved early in the process.

The faculty's long-term plans for developing the study programme portfolio, including any proposals to establish, discontinue or coordinate educational provision, are discussed in dialogue meetings between the pro-rector for education and the faculties in January and February.

The rector decides on accreditation (establishment) and discontinuation of educational provision of 60 credits or more. This is based on proposals from the faculties, in consultation with executive committees where relevant. For educational provision of fewer than 60 credits, the faculties themselves decide whether to establish or discontinue the educational provision.

Changes to educational provision of 60 credits or more

The long-term plans for portfolio development, described in the faculty's quality report, are the starting point for establishing and discontinuing educational provision.

The application process for establishing and discontinuing educational provision of 60 credits or more has two stages:

Advance notice (stage 1): The annual deadline for faculties to submit a brief advance notice of planned establishment and discontinuation of educational provision is 15 January. Note that for international collaborative programmes, the deadline is 15 October of the preceding year. The advance notice must include a strategic justification for the educational provision, including an overall description of its profile and framework.

Final application (stage 2): The annual deadline for faculties to submit final applications for establishment and discontinuation is 1 May. For international collaborative programmes, the deadline is 1 December of the preceding year.

The application process takes place in KASPER's portfolio module

The rector quality-assures the applications and formally decides on establishment and discontinuation in a rector's decision in June. Accreditation is conditional on the new educational provision meeting the requirements applicable to educational provision under the Regulations to the Universities and University Colleges Act, the National Curriculum Regulations and NTNU's own regulatory framework.

NTNU has its own guidelines on how faculties prepare proposals for new study programmes and for discontinuing existing programmes, and what should be considered when revising courses and study programmes and developing the study programme portfolio:

• The Portfolio Guide provides more detailed information on the process and requirements for establishing (accrediting) and discontinuing study programmes

• The Programme Description Guide is used to describe new study programmes and courses and to review and revise existing educational provision annually

• The Handbook for Joint and Double Degrees at NTNU provides a comprehensive overview of procedures, processes, regulations and best practice for developing, establishing, operating and discontinuing international collaborative programmes

Establishing and discontinuing programme options

The faculties themselves may decide to establish or discontinue programme options associated with study programmes that have already been accredited.

Changes to educational provision under 60 credits

The faculties themselves decide whether to accredit or discontinue educational provision of fewer than 60 credits. It is important to note that the same accreditation requirements apply as for study programmes of 60 credits or more. The faculties are responsible for ensuring that all requirements are met and for documenting compliance.

Changing the name of a study programme

The name of educational provision of 60 credits or more is approved as part of the rector’s decision to establish the study programme. Development work, such as periodic evaluations, may identify a need to change the name of the study programme. The faculties may then propose a name change in accordance with the “Guidelines for applications to change the name of a study programme”.

Applications for name changes are submitted in KASPER by 15 September. The rector decides on name changes.

The faculty or executive committee decides on name changes for educational provision of less than 60 credits.

Changing admission requirements

Changes to admission requirements must be made in close dialogue with the Unit for Admissions. Requests to change admission requirements are submitted in KASPER by the applicable deadlines (see below).

The Regulations relating to admission to higher education apply to admission and ranking for first-degree education. Changes to these admission requirements follow the Ministry of Education and Research’s admissions calendar. Faculties wishing to make such changes must send information to the Education Division no later than 1 February in the calendar year before the changes are to take effect.

NTNU's admission regulations apply to admission to:

• other credit-bearing programmes and courses at NTNU
• qualifying courses that do not carry credits
• Norwegian language courses for non-native speakers

For these programmes and courses, the faculties to determine the admission requirements, in consultation with the Unit for Admissions. The deadlines are 1 September for international master’s programmes and 1 December for other educational provision with local admission.

Admission requirements must be stated in programme or course descriptions for all programmes and courses with separate admission, see Section 2 of NTNU's admission regulations.

The faculty may set minimum academic requirements for admission to certain master's programmes, for example, minimum grade requirements. Minimum academic requirements must be announced no later than 1 September, so that potential applicants who need to retake examinations have time to do so before the registration deadline of 15 September. The interests of applicants must be given considerable weight.