Detailed regulations for the Faculty of Law

Norwegian version

For employees of the Faculty of Law

Instructions for examinations and grading
 

Chapter 1 Postponed start of studies, study leave and extended study progression

Section 1-1 General

1. The deadline for applications for postponed start of studies, study leave or extended study progression is 1 February for the spring term and 1 September for the autumn term.
2. The Faculty’s form must be used for applications for leave of absence.

Section 1-2 Postponed start of studies

A student who has received an offer of admission to a study programme at the Faculty of Law may apply for postponement of the start of studies for up to two terms on the basis of:

1. Military or civilian national service
2. Birth/adoption
3. Long-term illness 
4. Other exceptional circumstances 

Applications must be supported by documentation.

A granted postponed start of studies means that the student is given the opportunity to start the programme at the next ordinary start of studies.

Section 1-3 Study leave

1. Only students who have been registered as a student on a study programme at the Faculty of Law for at least one term may apply for study leave.
2. The following applies to all study programmes, with the exception of English-language Master programmes of 1,5 to 2 years' duration; study leave can be granted for up to two terms without any special reason being given. Students who have been granted such study leave may not be given further study leave until 120 study credits have been earned, unless there are special conditions which justify the need for further leave. Such circumstances must be supported by documentation.
3. The following applies to English-language Master programmes of 1,5 to 2 years' duration; Study leave may be granted in the event of exceptional circumstances that justify the need for such study leave. Such circumstances must be supported by documentation.
4. Students on maternity/paternity leave may choose to register themselves for a term, pay the term fee and take subjects during the period they are on study leave. Such study leave may only be granted if documentation has been submitted of the student's own pregnancy or that of the student’s partner. 

Section 1-4 Extended study progression (part-time studies)

Students with special needs may apply for reduced requirements for study progression over and above that which follows from Section 7.1.6 of the Regulations governing studies and examinations at the University of Oslo. Such applications may only be approved in special cases. Applications must be supported by documentation. 

 

Chapter 2 Examinations

Section 2-1 Examination day

1. Candidates must have taken their places and brought everything that will be used during the examination to the examination desk before the examination question papers are distributed. Candidates who report late for an examination will be given provisional access to the examination, but the chief invigilator must immediately contact the examination administration office.
2. The following must be brought to the examination desk:
   a. valid identification
   b. writing implement which produces a legible carbon copy, e.g. a ballpoint pen
3. The following may be brought to the examination desk:
   a. Auxiliary materials which have been approved for the examination
   b. packed lunch, drink, warm clothing, wristwatch, earplugs and the like.
4. Bags/folders will be checked before the candidate takes his or her seat. Everything that is not covered by 2. or 3. above will be kept by the chief invigilator and may not be collected until after the examination has been concluded. Mobile telephones must be switched off and kept by the chief invigilator.
5. Auxiliary materials that are used during the examination must not be removed from the candidates’ places until after the examination has been concluded.
   a. The following applies to courses JUR1000, JUR2000, JUR3000 and JUR4000 only:
   All auxiliary materials shall remain on the examination desk until the answer paper has been submitted on the final examination day.
6. The following applies to criminological, legal/sociological, administrative/informatics and legal/informatics courses (KRIM-, RSOS-, DRI-, FINF- and RINF- ) only:
   During the examination, the examination supervisor, or the lecturer appointed by the examination supervisor, will come to the examination room in order to answer any questions from candidates concerning the understanding of the examination question paper (known as a “reassurance round”).
7. Candidates who withdraw from the examination may not leave the room until one hour after the examination has started. Neither the examination paper nor any draft notes or answers may be taken out of the room.
8. Up to 15 minutes extra will be given to enable the candidates to separate the original copy and the carbon copy. This time may not be used to answer the examination paper.
9. Candidates shall take one of the carbon copies with them when they leave the room for the day. Candidates may not collect a copy of their answer paper at a later date.

Section 2-2 Checking of auxiliary materials allowed during examinations

1. The time for attendance for an examination will be announced for each examination. Candidates who do not attend until after the deadline risk their auxiliary materials not being checked and thus not being permitted to take them to the examination desk.
2. No written or printed material other than that included in the list of auxiliary materials may be taken to the examination desk.
3. Candidates are personally responsible for ensuring that auxiliary materials, etc. that are on or near the examination desk when the auxiliary materials are checked are permitted.
4. Confiscated auxiliary materials: 
   a. A list of confiscated auxiliary materials will be put up on the door of the examination room immediately after the check on auxiliary materials has been completed. Any complaints concerning confiscations must be submitted in writing and handed to the examination invigilator. The student representative will take the complaint and the confiscated auxiliary materials to the examination administration office.
   b. The following applies to courses JUR1000, JUR2000, JUR3000 and JUR4000 only:
   A list of confiscated auxiliary materials will be put up on the door on the morning of the second examination day. Any complaints concerning confiscations must be submitted in writing and handed to the examination invigilator. The student representative will take the complaint and the confiscated auxiliary materials to the examination administration office.
5. The following applies to criminological, legal/sociological, administrative/informatics and legal/informatics courses (KRIM-, RSOS-, DRI-, FINF- and RINF- ) only:
   Auxiliary materials will be checked immediately before or during the examination, unless stated otherwise on the semester webpage. 

Section 2-3 Legitimate absence

1. Medical certificates and other documentation must be post-marked or submitted no later than three days after the last missed examination day.
2. Reasons for legitimate absence:
   a. Illness.  The certificate must explicitly state that the candidate was unable to sit the examination on the day(s) concerned due to illness. The provisions applying to medical certificates shall also apply to certificates from dentists, psychologists and psychiatrists.
   b. Birth close to an examination.
   c. Military service, of which the candidate was unaware at the time of the deadline for withdrawal.
   d. Other circumstances outside the control of the candidate. However, see 3.
3. The following are not deemed to constitute grounds for legitimate absence, even though they are outside the control of the candidate:
   a. Delays in traffic, including those on public transport, of less than one hour.
   b. Ignorance of the time and place of the examination.
   c. Sleeplessness, nervousness, etc., unless documented by a medical certificate or a certificate from a psychologist/psychiatrist.
4. In the case of home examinations, it is a condition that it is documented that the illness or other hindrance as referred to above had a duration corresponding to at least one sixth of the examination period. Shorter periods will not be accepted as legitimate absence.
5. In the case of legitimate absence, the student may choose whether he or she wishes to be re-registered for a postponed examination, if such an examination is to be held, or to have the examination attempt annulled. The candidate may sit the next ordinary examination in accordance with the student’s own wishes. The entire examination must then be re-taken.
6. Annullment of an examination means that the attempt will not count in relation to the exemption rule.

Section 2-4 Terminated examinations

1. On the examination day:
   a. A candidate who is present in the examination room after distribution of the examination papers has commenced but fails to submit an answer paper shall be deemed to have terminated the examination.
   b. A terminated examination will count as an examination attempt in relation to the exemption rule.
   c. An application may be submitted for a terminated examination to be annulled. Such applications must be accompanied by documentation in accordance with the same rules as for legitimate absence.
   d. A terminated examination in the case of illness or similar will not give the right to be registered for a postponed examination if the candidate was present at the time the examination papers were distributed, even if the examination is annulled.
2. The following applies to courses JUR1000, JUR2000, JUR3000 and JUR4000 only:
   Between examination days and for the written examination only:
   If the candidate has submitted an examination answer paper for one or more days but was legitimately absent on other days, the student will be given the opportunity to have the examination attempt annulled in its entirety.

Section 2-5 Postponed examinations

1. A student who has been registered for an ordinary examination and documents legitimate absence for the entire examination or for parts of the examination (cf. Section 2-3) will be given the opportunity to sit the examination as a postponed examination if such an examination is held.
2. Only students referred to in (1) will be given the opportunity to sit a postponed examination. Other students will be referred to the next ordinary examination.
3. For home examinations:
4. If the candidate has submitted an examination answer paper for a home examination and has legitimate absence for an oral examination, the candidate will be given the opportunity to sit the oral examination as a postponed examination.
5. For portfolio submissions and written examinations/oral examinations:
6. If the candidate has submitted a portfolio examination but has legitimate absence for the written examination, the candidate will be given the opportunity to sit the written examination or oral examination as a postponed examination if such an examination is to be held. The candidate may attend for the next ordinary examination in accordance with the student’s own wishes. The entire examination must then be re-taken.

 

Chapter 3 Special examination arrangements

Section 3-1 General

1. The deadline for applications for special examinations is 1 February for the spring term and 1 September for the autumn term.
2. If a need for the provision of special examination arrangements arises after the application deadline, the application must be submitted without undue delay.
3. The necessary documentation must be enclosed with applications for special examination arrangements. The documentation must describe why such special examination arrangements are necessary, and ideally suggest how the need for such arrangements can be met.
4. The Faculty of Law will insofar as is possible take the action that is necessary to enable different groups of disabled students to sit the examination at the Faculty.

Section 3-2 The student’s responsibilities

Students must submit the requests they believe they are entitled to have met based on the documentation. A medical certificate must generally be enclosed with each application. Exceptions may be made from this for chronic disorders. The medical certificate should state the type of dispensation arrangement required. 

Section 3-3 Instigation

In consultation with the student and, where appropriate, the Tilretteleggingstjenesten (a service group for disabled students) the Faculty of Law will determine the initiatives that should be instigated.

Section 3-4 Anonymity

In connection with the grading of examination papers, the candidate’s anonymity will be retained wherever possible.

Section 3-5 Special measures

Accomodative steps related to exams, should consider all professional and formal demands that actual exam is subject to.

The Faculty will ensure that the candidate has been familiarised in advance with the use of the support materials, including technical aids, writing aids, any interpreter for the deaf or other assistance that will be used during the examination. 

Chapter 4 Instructions for invigilators and student representatives

Section 4-1 Invigilators

1. Persons who have agreed to invigilate an examination must attend in person. Absence must be notified as soon as possible. In the event of absence without illness, a suitable deputy shall be provided in consultation with the examination section.
2. The duration of examinations varies depending on the type of examination concerned. Times will be announced in connection with the announcement of examinations. Invigilators must arrive half an hour before the examination starts each day. They must report to the chief invigilator, who will direct them to their place. Invigilators must follow the chief invigilator’s instructions.
3. All examination rooms have a student representative. The student representative is appointed by JSU with the approval of the examination administration. The student must be notified in the event of a dispute between a candidate and an invigilator/chief invigilator. The invigilators may not answer questions from candidates concerning the examination question papers. In the event of such questions, the chief invigilator and student representative must be contacted.
4. The chief invigilator is responsible for ensuring that the sealed envelopes containing the examination question papers are not opened more than 15 minutes before the examination is due to start each day. A suitable number of examination question papers will be given to the invigilators. Invigilators must ensure that the question papers are not visible to the candidates before they are distributed when the examination starts.
5. Invigilators shall ensure that there is peace and quiet in the examination room. They may not have discussions amongst themselves, read the candidates’ answers or eat in the examination room.
6. The chief invigilator shall decide when the invigilators may take meal breaks.
7. Invigilators shall ensure that reasonable requests from candidates are met and that additional paper is distributed as necessary. Discussions concerning examination question papers and subject matter are not permitted during breaks outside the examination room. Discussions between candidates and persons other than the invigilator, including by telephone, are not permitted.
8. Candidates wishing to use the toilet shall be accompanied by an invigilator, who will ensure that no bags, etc. are taken into the toilet. The invigilator will choose the cubicle that the candidate is to use and check it to ensure that no messages or similar have been placed inside it. Similar checks will be performed when the candidate leaves the cubicle.
9. Suspicions of cheating shall be reported to the chief invigilator and student representative immediately. The chief invigilator shall notify the examination administration.
10. If the examination room has to be evacuated, the invigilators are obliged to lead a group out and continue the inspection where possible. The chief invigilator will immediately instruct the candidates not to talk to each other during the evacuation, so that where possible the examination can continue if the room can be used again relatively soon afterwards.
11. Checks performed by invigilators: When a candidate indicates to the invigilator that they wish to submit their answer paper, the invigilator shall go to the examination desk and check that the necessary information has been provided on each of the answer sheets. This concerns the headings for the examination, term, year, examination question paper number, candidate number and the number of pages. As regards the examination question paper number, only one number should be given for each of the days, even if there are several questions or parts to the examination paper. After this check, the candidate shall take the answer paper to the chief invigilator him- or herself. The invigilator shall ensure that the candidate does not take support materials out of the room in breach of Section 2-1, 5a.

Section 4-2 Student representatives in the examination room

1. Student representatives are appointed by JSU and approved by the examination administration.
2. Student representatives shall arrive half an hour before the examination is due to commence.
3. On days where a book check was carried out on the evening before, the student representative shall arrive one hour before the examination is due to start (applies to the second examination day for JUR1000, JUR2000, JUR3000 and JUR4000).
4. The student representative shall contact the chief invigilator in the room and be shown his or her place.
5. If the student representative has been delegated tasks in a number of rooms, he or she must ensure that the chief invigilator(s) in the other rooms is/are aware of where he or she is.
6. The student representative reports to the head of the examination administration.
7. Student representatives shall be subject to a confidentiality obligation with regard to the content of the examination question paper until the end of the examination day on which the examination paper is given.
8. Student representatives shall be required to assist the chief invigilator (or invigilator) when an examination candidate wishes to ask a question concerning the examination paper and in connection with irregularities.
9. Questions concerning the interpretation of the examination paper may not be answered.
10. Student representatives should familiarise themselves with the rules concerning absences and postponed examinations in the examination regulations in order to be prepared for questions in connection with illness.
11. A chief invigilator or assistant shall always be present when the student representative answers a query from an examination candidate.
12. If a question is asked concerning a possible error in the examination question paper, the student representative shall immediately contact the examination administration.
13. As regards complaints concerning conditions in the examination room, illness or the like, the student representative shall contact the chief invigilator and ask him or her to contact the examination administration immediately. The examination administration shall contact the examination supervisor if necessary.
14. Student representatives are obliged to be present in the examination room throughout the duration of the examination (except during lunch breaks and necessary trips to the examination administration office).
15. The chief invigilator shall be notified when the student representative has to leave the examination room.
16. Student representatives shall otherwise comply with the same instructions as invigilators.

Chapter 5 Amendment authority

Section 5-1 Amendment authority

The Dean shall approve amendments to the Detailed regulations for the Faculty of Law. 

 

For employees of the Faculty of Law

Instructions for examinations and grading