The GSU-List was created to provide an overview of what qualifications from a specific country will fill the requirements for Higher Education Entrance Qualification. Foreign education can be recognized as higher education in Norway when it is at a level equivalent to Norwegian higher education. A foreign education is at a level equivalent to Norwegian higher education when it exceeds the requirements for Higher Education Entrance Qualification.
The list was originally compiled through a project of cooperation between Norwegian universities and university colleges. From the beginning it was based on experiences regarding how foreign students were managing in Norway. Gradually, criteria have been developed based on three factors; time, age and content/learning outcome.
Time: How many years of schooling are required to achieve a qualification giving access to higher education in the country of origin.
Age: Age at the start of primary education and at the completion of the qualification giving access to higher education in the country of origin.
Content/learning outcome: What subjects are part of the qualification giving access to higher education in the country of origin.
The list was previously maintained by a committee consisting of representatives from the universities and university colleges. When NAIC (National Academic Information Centre) was established in 1991, a representative from NAIC was appointed as permanent secretary to the committee.
The GSU-List was gradually acquired by other actors (NAIC-UiO, NAIC-NNR). Today, NOKUT is responsible for quality assurance of the GSU-List. It is regulatory for admission to first-cycle studies, normative for Norwegian educational institutions with regards to admissions, and guiding for NOKUT when making decisions regarding general recognition of foreign higher education in Norway. The State Educational Loan Fund uses it as a basis for decisions regarding pledges of financial support.
The previous advisory GSU-committee was founded in December 2007. The Ministry of Education and Research has stated that a new advisory committee will be appointed.