Curricular norm values quantify the total teaching effort required for the proper education of a student in the respective degree programme, measured in course hours.

Degree programmes with a high proportion of courses with small groups and face-to-face courses therefore have a higher CNW than those with a high proportion of independent study or a higher proportion of large courses such as lectures. The CNW can be interpreted as a coefficient that quantifies the relationship between teaching capacity and student (first-year) places as a function of the programme structure.

The universities in Lower Saxony must apply the CNW specified by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture when calculating their enrolment capacity. From the 2011/12 academic year, a new regulation for determining CNW will apply in Lower Saxony. Uniform CNWs apply for the degree programmes assigned to a study area (according to official statistics).

Annex 3 of the Capacity Ordinance (KapVO) contains the current curricular standard values for the degree programmes at the universities and colleges.