Salary placement
Examiners are categorized according to their academic qualifications within the following job codes:
- 1198/1011 Associate Professor
- 1532/1013 Professor
The base salary level for examiners is set at the lowest salary grade/basic salary for an associate professor. This applies to associate professors, assistant professors, or lower-ranked positions, as well as to those examiners not assessed for positions at universities or university colleges.
Individuals employed at, or evaluated for positions at, universities or university colleges are assigned to the relevant code for associate professor or professor according to their qualifications. Any requests for a salary above the base salary grade must be documented.
External examiners from positions outside the higher education sector may be offered a higher salary placement, provided it does not exceed the State salary scale. Justification for the salary level placement must be documented.
Grading is always paid as salary. Read more about it here.
Remuneration and time calculation
1. Basic fee
All appointed external examiners receive a basic fee equivalent to 4 hours of work, except for those grading master's theses, for which separate rates apply. The basic fee covers the examiner's work as an assessment consultant, including tasks such as the preparation of written assessment guidelines, exam preparation, justification for grading, report writing, and similar duties. Only one basic fee is granted per course, regardless of the number of candidates. In exceptional cases, the basic fee may be set at more than 4 hours.
For partial exams, an additional 2 hours per extra part is granted beyond the first (e.g., for a three-part exam, the fee is calculated as 4h + 2h + 2h).
2. Written examination
The hours allocated for grading written examinations are calculated according to the following rates:
| Exam duration | Rate per answer paper |
| 2 hours or less | 0,3 hours |
| 3-4 hours | 0,5 hours |
| 5 hours | 0,7 hours |
| 6-7 hours | 1 hour |
| 8 hours or more | 1,2 hours |
Compensation for co-grading is generally included in the rate per answer paper. In special cases, compensation may be calculated based on the actual time spent, subject to agreement – for example, in the case of extended examiner meetings.
3. Home exams (individual or group) – up to 2 weeks
For home exams, grading is compensated as follows:
- Individual home exam: 2 hours per answer paper
- Group home exam: 3 hours per answer paper
4. Major assignments, including master's theses
Grading is compensated per assignment based on the following number of hours in relation to the number of credits:
4.1 Master's theses
| Number of credits | 1 student per assignment | 2 or more students per assignment |
| Up to 30 | 10 hours | 15 hours |
| Up to 45 | 11 hours | 16,5 hours |
| Up to 60 | 12 hours | 18 hours |
The rates cover the entire workload; therefore, no basic fee is allocated.
4.2 Other assignment submissions, including portfolio submissions
| Number of credits | 1 student per assignment | 2 or more students per assignment |
| Up to 5 | 1 hour | 1,5 hours |
| Up to 10 | 2 hours | 3 hours |
| Up to 15 | 3 hours | 4,5 hours |
| Up to 20 | 4 hours | 6 hours |
| Up to 25 | 5 hours | 7,5 hours |
| Up to 30 | 6 hours | 9 hours |
| Up to 45 | 7 hours | 10,5 hours |
| Up to 60 | 8 hours | 12 hours |
For partial exams, the number of hours is adjusted based on the weighting of each part of the examination. (For example, if an exam includes a group assignment worth 10 credits that is weighted at 1/3, it will be compensated with 1 hour).
5. Oral exams, practical examinations and oral examinations for master's theses
5.1 Oral exams and practical examinations
Compensation for oral exams and practical examinations is based on the time spent at the exam location. Additionally, a basic fee, as outlined in section 1, is granted regardless of the number of candidates.
5.2 Master's theses
Compensation for oral examinations as part of the grading process for master's theses is based on the time spent. This includes the time at the exam location as well as any additional preparation time required for the examination.
6. Courses at PhD level (excluding thesis)
For external grading of papers (semester assignments and other assignments), a basic fee of 4 hours is granted (refer to section 1). Additionally, the external examiner is compensated as per section 4.2, with a multiplication factor of 2.
7. Reassessment of examination grade
Reassessment of examination grades is compensated with a basic fee of 6 hours. Additionally, the regular fee for grading the contested answer paper(s) is provided.
The faculties are responsible for appointing examiners (including reassessment examiners) and registering them in FS within the given deadlines. It is expected that the faculties make preliminary contact with the relevant examiners and inform them of the general guidelines used at the university.
After receiving feedback from the faculties, the exam office sends the formal appointment letter to the examiner, along with the contract, general conditions for examiner remuneration, instructions and exam regulations.
Upon acceptance, the examiner signs the contract and returns it to the exam office. After the exam has been conducted, the exam office sends a pre-filled fee form along with the answer papers to the examiner. The external examiner signs and returns it to the exam office. The exam office checks and signs the fee form and forwards it to the faculty administration for authorization and payment processing.
Before signing, the exam office is responsible for verifying that the resource is correct, and that the individual is an external examiner.
The faculty administration must, before authorization, check that the course belongs to the faculty.
See fees for individual assignments
Reference: Section 37, Regulations relating to study programmes and examinations at the University of Agder.