Binding study advice
The binding study advice means that you need to obtain a minimum amount of credits in your first year of registration to be able to continue your studies. One year of studies adds up to 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits. 1 ECTS credit is roughly 28 working hours.
In the first year you need to obtain a minimum of 40 ECTS credits out of 60 ECTS credits. Every course in the first year is equivalent to a set number of credits. The credits for the courses you have passed can simply be added up in order to determine the total amount of credits you have earned and how many you still need to earn to fulfil the requirement.
What happens if you obtain 40 or more ECTS credits?
If you obtain 60 ECTS credits, you pass the first year and you will be given a positive study advice. If you obtain between 40 and 60 ECTS credits, you also fulfil the standard of the binding study advice and will be given a positive advice. You will be allowed to subscribe for another year in order to obtain the 60 ECTS credits for the courses of the first-year programme. If within a period of two years after enrolling in the programme you have not been able to obtain the 60 ECTS credits belonging to the first year programme and if there are no special personal circumstances, you will also be given a negative binding study advice, meaning that you must stop your study and that you are not allowed to re-apply for the programme for the next three years.
What happens if you do NOT obtain 40 ECTS credits in the first year?
If you do not fulfil the standard of the binding study advice, and if there are no special circumstances, you will be given a negative study advice that is binding. This means that you are not allowed to continue the programme. You are then not allowed to re-apply for the programme for the next three years.
The procedure throughout the year
There is continuous monitoring by the Examination Board. After each round of examinations you will receive, in addition to an overview of your study results, a written advice from the Examination Board concerning your progress. In case your results are not sufficient, the Examination Board will give you a warning advice. This advice is meant to inform you that if you do not improve your study results in the next examination period(s) the chance you will be given a negative binding study advice at the end of the year is high. Depending on the number of credits you have obtained, you will be invited to consult the student adviser, Ms. Thea den Hartog.
Personal circumstances
If you have personal circumstances, such as illness, handicap, special family circumstances etc. that affect, or might be expected to affect your results, you must notify the student adviser within four weeks after these particular circumstances started. In order to prevent problems later in the year, you must create a study plan together with the student adviser.
