Permitted support materials during examinations

The faculties and the courses have different rules on what support materials are permitted on examinations. Remember to check before each exam you are sitting.

For each exam you will find all the information needed under “Examination Support Material” in the course description

The use of aids in exams at the University of Bergen is regulated by the Regulations on studies at the University of Bergen, §§   2-3 (2), letter i (external link) and 7-4 (1), letter c (external link). The regulations also include rules that apply to the student's behavior during the exam. Note that random samples of aids may be taken during the exam.

Rules for the use of support materials:

Dictionaries

At school examinations you are often allowed to use a native language dictionary or a spelling dictionary. You must hand in your dictionary at your Faculty Information Centre no later than one week before your exam(s). At the exam an invigilator will provide your dictionary.

General rules for the use of dictionaries
  • The dictionary cannot be lexical/encyclopaedic, meaning that it can't contain definitions.
  • The dictionary must be able to be controlled, meaning that one of the languages must be in English or a Scandinavian language or a language given by the Faculty.
  • Electronic dictionaries are not allowed.
  • There are separate rules for Law exams regulated in the Supplementary Regulations, chapter 3-5 (external link).
Language courses at the Faculty of Humanities

On language courses at the Faculty of Humanities it is stated in the course description if a dictionary is permitted in the exam. You bring the dictionary to the exam room yourself, where it will be checked by a course teacher. Note that on these courses there are often specific dictionaries that are allowed. Other dictionaries, including native language dictionaries, cannot normally be used.

Dictionary at the Faculty of Law

Dictionaries are only allowed on English special subjects, for more information see Inspection of support material at the examination 

Faculty of Psychology

Non-lexical dictionaries are allowed to bring to your exam, see further information at Exams at the Faculty of Psychology | Faculty of Psychology | UiB.

 

Calculator

In courses where the course description states that you can use a calculator, the following terms apply:

If simple calculator is allowed, these models are approved:

The calculator is 

  • not programmable
  • must not be able to receive/send
  • cannot be connected to the mains
  • must not emit noise


     

If any calculator is approved, the calculator must fulfill the following terms:.

The calculator

  • must not be able to receive/send
  • cannot be connected to the mains
  • must not emit noise

 

For all calculator types: It is not permitted to bring user manuals, program descriptions, finished programs or other additional equipment.

You yourself are responsible for obtaining an approved calculator model.

Inspection of support material at the examination at the Faculty of Law

On exams at the Faculty of Law where you are allowed to bring analogue support materials, the support material will be checked in the examination room before the examination starts. You can find information on this at the site for Inspection of support material at the examination.

Make sure to read the regulations concerning support material and references in these in the faculty’s Supplementary Regulations, sections 3-5 to 3-7.

Illegal use of support materials in examinations

UiB is very serious about cheating on examinations. It can have major consequences for you if you bring materials that are not allowed on the exam. This applies even if the material is not used or if it is not helpful for the examination in question. 

Note that a mobile phone at the desk, even if it is turned off, is considered illegal use of an aid.

The University of Bergen has made a brochure about cheating and academic integrity for students. 

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Last updated: 04.02.2026