Special Syllabus

A special syllabus is a theoretical and/or practical assignment that has not been specified as a separate course or as part of a course in the online version of the course descriptions.

A special syllabus can also be taken in connection with the master's thesis to give the student additional academic competence in connection with his/her work on the thesis. This syllabus may consist of a more extensive, in-depth study of a topic or of a broader approach to the subject area than provided by NMBU’s courses.

Special Syllabus Agreement

Prior to any work with the special syllabus commences, an agreement must be drawn up between the student(s)/PhD candidate and the particular course supervisor at the faculty at which the syllabus is affiliated.

The electronic agreement about special syllabus must be completed and signed by the student(s) and the supervisor. The agreement must be approved by the faculty. The agreement must contain a title in both Norwegian and English, learning objectives, learning outcomes, level, form of evaluation, progress plan and responsibilities, both in relation to guidance in the written part of the assignment, and also for any laboratory work and the scope of the work. The progress plan and outline for the special syllabus are to be filled in or attached to the agreement.

Remember the registration deadline!

• Learning goals and -outcomes - mandatory to register in the form

  Learning outcomes mean the knowledge and skills that the student can be expected to have when the special syllabus has been completed. In line with the National Qualification Framework, this is divided into three groups: knowledge, skills and general competence.

  The learning outcomes are written with a verb explaining what the student will be able to do as a result of the learning activities in the subject.

  The learning outcome description should not explain anything about the degree of achievement of the outcome, only the type of outcome. It is the grade that will show the extent to which the student has achieved the benefit.

  The description should bring out the most important learning outcomes for the special syllabus in relation to the role it is intended to have in the education.

• Deadline for registration and completion

  Registration deadline

  Identical deadlines as for other courses as described in the Academic Calendar.

  Completing the special syllabus

  The special syllabus must be completed by the last day of teaching within the teaching period. This means that a report/assignment has been submitted and any oral or locally arranged written test has been completed.

  Exception: special curriculum linked to a master's thesis or at PhD level.

• Limitation to number of Special Syllabuses and ECTS

  It is the faculty's responsibility to ensure that the workload is adjusted according to the number of credits required within the agreement. When several students write an assignment together, the workload must be increased correspondingly.

  The number of credits cannot be changed while the special syllabus is in progress.

  • A special syllabus related to the master's thesis must be at the master's level.
  • A special syllabus may be taken by a single student or a group of students.
  • No more than two special syllabuses may be included in each degree.
  • A bachelor's degree may include a special syllabus of up to 10 credits.
  • A two-year master's degree may include a special syllabus of up to 20 credits.
  • A five-year master's degree may include a special syllabus of up to 30 credits.
• Assessment deadline and grade system

  The deadline for assessment is 3 weeks after the last teaching day in the parallel/block period.

  Grade system

  • Special syllabuses related to a master's thesis are assessed with a letter grade.
  • Special syllabuses related to a doctoral degree (PhD) are assessed with a ‘pass’/’fail’ grade.
  • Other special syllabuses are assessed with letter grades or ‘pass’/’fail’.

Supplementary information

A special syllabus must lie clearly within the faculty's area of expertise and teaching capacity. Two or more faculties may collaborate on a special syllabus, and the supervisor(s) for the special syllabus is/are responsible for checking that the student(s) has/have an adequate academic background.

The special syllabus is described in NMBU's Academic Regulations. There are special guidelines for special syllabus in connection with degree thesis.

Please read the Academic Regulations before completing the Special Syllabus Agreement Regulations and Guidelines at NMBU.