Widespread access to AI tools has created a need for an oral adjustment examination for master's thesis in order to ensure a reliable assessment of the student's competence.

The Vice Rector for Academic Affairs has decided to introduce an oral defense for master's theses at NHH for all theses submitted from Spring 2027 onwards.

The submission deadline for Spring 2027 is 15 May 2027. 

The process will be as follows:

• Two examiners will assess the written thesis and assign a grade. Students will be informed of this grade before the oral defence. If the written thesis is awarded a grade F, no oral examination will be conducted. 
• The student(s) will defend the thesis before the two examiners. The defence will last up to 30 minutes. 
• Performance in the oral examination may adjust the final grade either upwards or downwards, with no limit on the number of grade steps. Students who have written a thesis together may receive different final grades.
• The grade awarded for the written thesis may be appealed. The oral examination cannot be appealed. If the grade for the written thesis is changed following an appeal, a new oral examination will be conducted to determine the final grade.
• The final grade (based on both the written thesis and the oral adjustment examination) must be available within the grading deadline of 30 working days from the submission deadline. 

More detailed information will be published by the end of November.