Norway adopts new adaptation regulation for Forsvarets høgskole

The Norwegian government has adopted a new regulation establishing exemptions from and adaptations to the Universities and University Colleges Act for Forsvarets høgskole (the Norwegian Defence University College), published in Norsk Lovtidend on 24 August 2026. The regulation, issued by royal decree on 21 August 2026 and promoted by the Ministry of Education and Research, takes effect on 1 September 2026.

The so-called adaptation regulation for FHS is grounded in section 1-2, third paragraph, letter a of the Universities and University Colleges Act of 8 March 2024. Its stated purpose is to safeguard the special requirements that allow the Defence University College to deliver high-quality, relevant higher education.

New board and leadership structure

The board of Forsvarets høgskole will be composed of nine members, replacing the general composition rules of the Universities and University Colleges Act:

• Three representatives elected among the institution’s staff, one technical or administrative and two in research and teaching posts.
• One student representative, with a second student entitled to attend with speaking and proposal rights.
• The chiefs of the three armed services — Hæren, Sjøforsvaret and Luftforsvaret — hold permanent seats by virtue of their posts, each with a deputy.
• Two members, including the board chair, with no ties to the defence sector, bringing academic competence, leadership experience and research background.

The rector is appointed under the Armed Forces’ employment regulations, and the general provisions on rector election do not apply. Staff outside civilian teaching and research posts are likewise hired under the Armed Forces’ employment regulations.

Special admission rules

From 1 January 2027, the college is exempt from the national coordinated admission system, and the general admission regulation applies only with the special rules set out in the new text. The Armed Forces may issue regulations on exemptions from the general study competence requirement, on special admission requirements, and on ranking of applicants:

• Applicants with a special admission test are ranked by the admission regulation, by test results, or by a combination of both.
• Service beyond initial conscription earns one additional ranking point.
• The Armed Forces may set quotas for applicants with ties to Nord-Norge (Northern Norway), subject to documentation of residence in the region for the past ten years.

Suitability assessment and appeal bodies

Students are assessed for suitability for the profession of officer, non-commissioned officer or specialist in the Armed Forces, applying the general suitability criteria together with two defence-specific ones: conduct contrary to the core values of the Armed Forces’ value base, and disciplinary punishment under section 65 of the Defence Act. A suitability committee of nine members is appointed by the board, and a five-member appeal board is appointed by the Ministry of Defence.

The regulation also covers exclusion and expulsion where a student loses security clearance or no longer meets medical requirements, and allows the Chief of Defence to waive parts of the Act in war, when war threatens, or during force build-up. It repeals the earlier partial-application regulations of 30 July 2018 and 16 December 2005.

The new framework affects all military higher education and officer training in Norway, aligning the Defence University College’s governance, admissions and suitability controls with the specific demands of the armed forces while preserving the quality standards of an accredited institution.

Source: Norsk Lovtidend, Avd. I, 24 August 2026, p. — (official reference: LTI-2026-08-21-1658).