The Norwegian Register in Keenious

The Register is an official list maintained by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir). It classifies publication channels (journals, series, and publishers) and identifies those approved as academic at Level 1 and Level 2. Level 2 represents the highest standing; however both Level 1 and Level 2 are considered approved academic channels.

In short, we believe the Norwegian Register is a good way to highlight well‑known peer‑reviewed journals, which helps you quickly recognize established scholarly venues.

When a paper’s journal or conference appears in the Register at Level 1 or Level 2, Keenious adds a small label on the result card. The text you see are as follows:

If a venue changes status in the Register, the labels will be updated accordingly. (HK-dir notes that level decisions are made on a cadence and some changes take effect on future-year schedules)

One control lets you choose a venue status! So you can filter based on your preferred level.

A second filter, 'Peer‑reviewed venue' keeps venues whose journals are Level 1 or Level 2.

The Norwegian Register is widely used across the Nordic and South African research ecosystems and administered with subject‑expert oversight. Still, it isn’t exhaustive: many legitimate journals and conferences are not listed or are under assessment, and being unlisted does not imply poor quality. Use the label as one helpful cue among others (topic fit, methods, citations, recency, etc.). Because of this, we do not use the Register to label other venues (Level 0 or unlisted).

What’s the difference between Level 1 and Level 2?

Both are approved academic channels. Level 2 denotes higher international standing within a field and is limited to a smaller share of venues per discipline, as determined by a national expert panel.

Do you ever show labels for “not approved” or “under review” venues?

We only display labels for approved channels (Level 1 or Level 2). This is to ensure that the labels specifically draw attention to established, well-regarded journals. We intentionally avoid labelling other journals to prevent the misleading implication that they are of lower quality simply because they have a Level 0 or no level designation.

Where can I check a venue myself?

You can search the Register directly on HK-dir’s website at https://kanalregister.hkdir.no/en to see a venue’s current status and level.

What’s the difference between “Level 0” and “Unlisted”?

Level 0 means the venue is present in the Register but not approved based on the extensive criteria for Level 1. Unlisted means it is not present in the Register, perhaps because it has not be reviewed or is in the process of being reviewed. Both appear under the Level 0 + Unlisted filter and do not receive labels.

Do preprints or repositories get labels?

Generally no, unless the channel itself is listed in the Register (which is rare).

Do conferences get labels?

Yes, when listed in the Register (e.g., Level 1 may appear as “Peer‑reviewed Conference”).

Can I combine the Register filter with other filters?

Yes - date, open access, cited by count, etc., work alongside it.

How do I submit a venue to the Norwegian Register?

Submissions and evaluations are handled by HK‑dir. Please use the forms/instructions on the Register’s site (kanalregister.hkdir.no). Keenious is not part of the review process and cannot influence decisions, we simply display the Register’s current statuses.