Evaluation, explanation and appeals

Anouncement of the grade

The grade is published in Studentweb, and the grading is normally 15 working days after the exam. For master's theses, the deadline is six weeks after submission.

Explanation of grades

What is an explanation of grades?

An explanation states the general principles on which the assessment was based and explains the assessment of your performance. Anyone who has taken an exam is entitled to receive an explanation for the grading of their own performance, pursuant to the Act relating to universities and university colleges § 11-8.

Deadline for requesting an explanation:

• Written examinations: one week after the grade is announced in Studentweb.
• Oral or practical exams: immediately after you have received your grade.

The explanation should normally be provided within two weeks after the request is submitted. The examiner decides whether the explanation is to be given in writing or verbally.

You submit a request for explanation of grades in Studentweb under Results - Explanation of grades and appeals. You will receive an email notification once the justification has been provided by the grading committee, and you will then find it in WISEflow.

Appeal against grades

The deadline for appealing an exam grade is three weeks after the result has been announced. We recommend that you request an explanation and read the sensor guidance before deciding to appeal. If you have requested an explanation, the deadline for appealing is three weeks after you have received the explanation. Appeals are usually processed within one month; however, please note that processing times may be longer during the summer. Once the result is ready, you will receive an email notifying you that you can view the result in Studentweb.

If the new assessment deviates by two or more grades from the original grade, a further evaluation will be conducted before the final grade is determined, pursuant to the Act relating to universities and university colleges § 11-11.

It is not possible to appeal the assessment of oral or practical exams that cannot be re-evaluated.

If you have failed an exam and are waiting for the outcome of an appeal, you must register for the resit (continuation) exam in the course before the registration deadline. It is not possible to register after the deadline if your appeal is not successful. Supplementary information regarding appeal regulations can be found in the Act Relating to Universities and University Colleges, the Regulations for Admissions, Studies and Examinations at Volda University College, and the guidelines for explanations and appeals.

If you wish to appeal a grade, you must register this in Studentweb via Results - Explanations and appeals.

Note: The decision made by the appeals committee is final, and you do not have the right to appeal this decision, pursuant to the Public Administration Act § 28, 3rd paragraph. Any issued diplomas or transcripts must be returned if the grade is changed as a result of the appeal. By submitting an appeal, you consent to this. You still have the right to request an explanation for the new grade result. Such a request must be made within one week after the new assessment decision has been announced, pursuant to the Act relating to universities and university colleges § 11-8. If you wish to receive an explanation following an appeal, you must send an email to studentsorvis@hivolda.no within one week.

Complaints against formal errors in connection with exams

If you believe that formal errors have occurred in connection with your test or exam (for example, errors in the examination papers, in the way the examination is conducted, or in the grading process), you may appeal against formal errors pursuant to the Act relating to universities and university colleges § 11-9.

Appeals regarding formal errors must be sent to postmottak@hivolda.no, and the complaint must be substantiated. The deadline is three weeks after you know, or should have known, the alleged errors upon which the complaint is based. If the appeal is not taken into account by the administration, it will be forwarded to the Appeals Committee at Volda University College.

If an error has occurred that may have influenced your performance during the exam or the assessment of it, the grade awarded shall be annulled. If the error can be rectified through a new assessment, a new assessment shall be conducted. Otherwise, a new examination shall be arranged.

If you have requested an explanation or registered an appeal against a grade, the deadline for appealing against formal errors does not begin until you have received the explanation or the result of the appeal assessment.

Appeals against individual decisions

As a student, you have the right to appeal individual decisions made by Volda University College, pursuant to the Public Administration Act § 28. However, not all decisions made by Volda University College can be classified as individual decisions. According to the Public Administration Act § 2b, an individual decision is an administrative decision relating to the rights or duties of one or more specific persons. This means that it is not possible to appeal against the administrative decisions such as the time and place of an exam.

Decisions can be appealed within three weeks of receiving the decision. Appeals against individual decisions must be submitted by e-mail to postmottak@hivolda.no, and the complaint must be substantiated. If the appeal is not taken into account by the administration, it will be forwarded to the Appeals Committee at Volda University College.